Sorry, but it is a very poor outcome. It says no more than "we will continue to be hidden away and the clubs will do their best to tread water for 3 years as it all goes to s*&t".Geez the unhinged anger on the socials is something else, and 90% don't even follow A-League! It's just people with no idea who like to shit on easy targets. Stan waaaa, Optus waaaa, Foxtel waaaa... well did anyone else actually bid??
I've said previously that we should reduce to one match pw on FTA because we don't have enough big matches to advertise (a second FTA can do more harm than good). And the rights are increasing. It sounds like good news to me. 3 years allows the league to first see where the national teams end up on their next deal, then decide the next move.
I am sorry, but the clubs acquired independence on a platform of more investment and we have not seen it. Now may be a good time to dig deeper into their pockets and cover the increased short term losses that is required to gain exposure. There is no (and I mean no) coverage of Paramount in pubs and clubs. I was at a local bar in Newcastle before the Jets v Syd FC semi and not one TV had the A-League women final on it. Further, there is no cross-promotion with newspapers nor cross-promotion with the extensive European football following. The deal is pointless.
In no way can anyone sit back over the period of APL independence and the 10/Paramount rights and say it is working out well for the A-League.