SBS is reportedly planning to significantly scale back its coverage of soccer, after a 35-year relationship with the sport.
Fairfax Media reports that the SBS Content Division has recently decided to cut ties with the sport in a “dramatic programming overhaul”.
SBS currently has the rights to the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League as well as one Friday night A-League match a week, but has been in talks with other free-to-air broadcasters about taking on the Friday night match.
The national broadcaster shares rights to A-League matches with Fox Sports, in a contract due to expire in 2017. Channel Seven has declared an interest in taking on the rights beyond 2017.
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Rival free-to-air channels have also expressed interest in broadcasting international competitions, particularly the World Cup, over the last two years. The ABC broadcast Australia’s successful Asian Cup campaign, having controversially bid against SBS for the rights.
SBS has broadcast the World Cup since 1990, but could stand to make a huge amount of money on-selling the rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to other broadcasters.
