Seven to cover VFL next year
Channel 7 is set to cover the Victorian Football League next season in a move that could boost the network's chances of broadcasting the WAFL.
No deal has been signed between the network and the VFL but negotiations are understood to be significantly advanced.
The VFL's move to Channel 7 would mirror the arrangements in South Australia where the network has returned strong ratings in the first year of its SANFL coverage.
The inaugural match between Port Adelaide and new team Adelaide drew a peak of 81,000 viewers on 7mate - an audience larger than an AFL match broadcast into Adelaide that weekend
The WA Football Commission has identified Channel 7 as its preferred broadcast partner for the next three years and is attempting to find sponsors to underwrite the coverage.
The Victorian development, coming so soon after the SANFL success story, is likely to bolster the commission's bid to find sponsors.
Seven West Media, which operates Channel 7 and publishes _The West Australian _, was confident that progress was being made by the commission.
"I am confident that we have made substantial progress in finding support in the corporate market," Channel 7 managing director Mario D'Orazio said.
"We are confident that the football commission will eventually find the necessary support."
D'Orazio's confidence was matched by WAFC chief operating officer Nick Sautner, who has been charged with establishing a new broadcast deal.
"We are working in collaboration with Seven and continue to put proposals forward," Sautner said.
"We strongly believe that Seven and the commission's relationship will increase football coverage in 2015 and beyond."
The ABC has covered the WAFL for nearly 30 years and while proving to be the league's primary promotional asset, it is likely to have little presence in the State leagues next year.
Justin Holdforth, the ABC's head of TV sport, said in July that: "ABC TV is unable, at this stage, to commit to the broadcast of the WAFL in 2015 and beyond."
Sautner was adamant that the ABC would not be involved in the WAFL next year.
"The ABC has made it clear to us that they won't be broadcasting the WAFL in 2015," he said.
