AusLeisure

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has announced that it will continue to broadcast local football leagues across Australia, but it wants to strike new deals with state sporting organisations for financial and logistical support because of falling ratings and pressure to show other programs.
The national broadcaster had been considering axing state-based Australian Rules competitions, Queensland's Rugby League competition and NSW's Shute Shield but has said it would begin negotiations in the coming weeks for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said the broadcaster understood local football coverage was important to state leagues in developing profile and grass roots support, stating "while the ABC appreciates the importance of local football to passionate fans, the reality is that audiences have declined markedly in recent years.
"To cover the amount of local sport that the ABC currently broadcasts is expensive and the ABC must ensure that it is delivering value for money to its audiences and other stakeholders.
"The ABC strives to deliver a compelling mix given its limited budget and the extensive coverage already provided on commercial networks."
The ABC's deliberations over whether to continue broadcasting local football leagues had led to a groundswell of opposition from state football bodies, backed by politicians.
In Victoria, Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten called on the ABC to "disown this bad idea" of dumping the VFL, adding "VFL football is in many ways the heart and soul of Victoria's suburban and local football story. It's football the way football used to be."
State football leagues also feared that the loss of the ABC coverage would slash their audiences and deny them a platform to promote their codes.
Scott added that to fulfil all sports fans desires was impossible, so decisions had to be made, continuing "in a sports-proud nation, it is impossible to satisfy the demands of all codes and all fans. Our strategy acknowledges that times have changed ï¾ the ABC no longer has the ability to compete with commercial networks or pay-TV for big sports broadcasting contracts.
"We have had to re-assess our connection with some sports because of audiences, programming choices and costs. Our strategic priorities are towards the Paralympics and women's sport.
"The ABC understands that local football coverage is important to the state leagues in developing profile and grass roots support.
"The key is achieving this while ensuring the ABC's limited resources remain available to provide coverage to other sporting events that struggle to attract the interest of the commercial media.
"The ABC will look to work with the major football codes to secure the substantial support, both financial and logistical, that is necessary to continue the coverage of local football on ABC TV."
Federal Sports Minister Mark Arbib welcomed the ABC's decision and praised it for listening to the community.
Senator Arbib stated that "the ABC has long been a friend of sport, particularly smaller sports which don't generate coverage on commercial network television."
Senator Arbib also urged on ABC TV Sport to renew its agreement with Bowls Australia for is Saturday afternoon coverage, adding "I know from my discussions with Bowls Australia that they are very disappointed with the decision and are hopeful the ABC will reconsider.
"Providing television coverage of local sport and sports like bowls on the ABC encourages more people to get out and play sport which has obvious health benefits."

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