WAFL ABC Television broadcast

THE West Australian Football Commission has been advised by ABC Television that it cannot commit to the broadcast of the 2015 West Australian Football League season.

ABC Television Head TV Sport & Events, Justin Holdforth, said: “ABC TV is unable, at this stage, to commit to the broadcast of the WAFL in 2015 and beyond.”

WAFC Chief Operating Officer Nick Sautner said the WAFC was extremely grateful for ABC’s outstanding coverage of the WAFL for more than 25 years and thanked them for their long-term support of the premier State League competition.

“On behalf of the WAFL, I thank the ABC for broadcasting the WAFL since 1987. The coverage has been outstanding and highly valued,” Mr Sautner said.

“However, we also believe it is extremely important for the WAFL competition to be televised and the WAFC is exploring other opportunities to achieve certainty of statewide coverage going forward.”

Mr Holdforth added: “The ABC fully understands the necessity for the WAFC to achieve certainty around WAFL broadcasts next year. As in Tasmania and South Australia, we would not stand in the way of the WAFC securing a sensible commercial deal. In the end the most important thing is that the people of WA are not denied access to television coverage of the WAFL.”