AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) and the Indigenous Community Television (ICTV) service is thrilled to announce a partnership that will see selected games of the remaining TIO CAFL season delivered live into Alice Springs, as well as remote Indigenous communities and made available online for general consumption.
Starting this Sunday 28 July with the Community Cup game between the Areyonga Tigers and Nyirripi Demons and culminating with the Senior Men’s Grand Final in September, there are 10 CAFL games of the remaining 2019 season that have been earmarked for TV.
The project, which has been in the works with AFLNT and ICTV for over 12 months now, wouldn’t be possible without the backing of Power and Water Corporation, Batchelor Institute and the Indigenous Eye Health Unit of Melbourne University.
The CAFL broadcast will be accessible via ICTV (Channel 41) in Alice Springs, Broome and Roebourne and narrowcast via channel 601 on the VAST satellite for people in remote communities with active SmartCards.
The last count of registered SmartCards used to access the VAST service was in excess of 320,000, meaning more than 320,000 households have direct access to watch CAFL games without having to travel hundreds (or thousands) of kilometres on a road trip to Alice Springs.
In addition, ICTV will be supplying a live feed of the coverage to the AFLNTv YouTube channel, which will take the CAFL to audiences anywhere in the world that YouTube can be accessed; either live or on replay.
AFLNT CEO, Stuart Totham said he hoped it was only the beginning of a long-term partnership between AFLNT and ICTV.
“We are excited to embark on this project with ICTV and to take our unique brand of CAFL footy to more people and places than ever before.
“There are thousands of little stars running around in our Indigenous communities and by providing them with the opportunity to watch and get excited by an organised competition like the CAFL speaks directly to our AFLNT vision; through access to football, unite and inspire the Northern Territory.
“This partnership delivers against AFLNT’s strategic agenda in terms of growth, engagement and community impact, and though it’s only a short trial period to end the season, we are enthused by the possibilities that might develop from here.
“We cannot underestimate the powerful impact community footy has on the communities themselves, so we thank ICTV, Power and Water Corporation, Batchelor Institute and the Indigenous Eye Health Unit of Melbourne University for backing us in,” he said.
In addition to the live coverage, ICTV’s video-on-demand online platform, ICTV Play will add the games to its platform a week after it first airs, while those fans who prefer to watch via TV will also be able to catch game replays on the ICTV channel.
The most recent audience survey conducted by ICTV in partnership with McNair yellowSquares in 2018 indicated that the majority of respondents watched ICTV regularly and that sports content was one of the most popular types of content for the channel.
ICTV General Manager, Rita Cattoni said she was thrilled to be able to give audiences what they’d been asking for.
“The live telecast and web streaming of local AFL games direct from TIO Traeger Park over seven weeks fulfils a long-term goal of the organisation (ICTV) to deliver regular live high-interest content to its audiences in remote communities.
“For many years we have received repeated requests for regular live football on ICTV, and we are very excited to realise this goal, which has only been possible because of the support of AFLNT, Power and Water Corporation, Batchelor Institute and the Indigenous Eye Health Unit of Melbourne University,” she said.
Below is the intended coverage schedule of the CAFL on ICTV and AFLNTv YouTube channels. People are encouraged to check local programming closer to each date for confirmed fixtures.
Community Cup Round 9 - 1:30pm Sunday 28 July - Areyonga Tigers vs Nyirripi Demons
Community Cup Round 10 - 1:30pm Sunday 11 August - Nyirripi Demons vs Titjikala Hawks
Community Cup Semi Final (1 game TBC) - Sunday 18 August
CAFL Senior Men’s Semi Final (1 game TBC) - Saturday 24 August
Community Cup Preliminary Final (details TBC) - Sunday 25 August
Country League Preliminary Final (details TBC) - Sunday 25 August
CAFL Senior Men’s Preliminary Final (details TBC) - Saturday 31 August
Community Cup Grand Final (details TBC) - Sunday 1 September
Country League Grand Final (details TBC) - Sunday 1 September
CAFL Senior Men's Grand Final (details TBC) - Saturday 7 September
