Panasonic and Harvey Norman are among the main sponsors of Network Ten’s coverage of AFL football in 2009 included in the deal is the AFL Grand Final and exposure on Tens new sporting channel ONE.
Sony is believed to have pulled out of sponsoring Network Ten’s HD sporting channel One citing cut backs in marketing expenditure.
However ChannelNews has been told that Sony who are struggling globally and who recently sacked 32 employees in Australia has cut a deal with Seven Media.
Among the other sponsors of the AFL coverage are Toyota, Foster’s, NAB, Hungry Jack’s, Bunnings, AAMI, Red Rooster, Ashley & Martin and Powerade.
Network Ten’s national sport sales manager, Wayne Lightfoot, said: “This is a landmark year for Network Ten’s AFL coverage – with the launch of ONE and all it offers. We are delighted that such an impressive line-up of Australia’s leading brands share our vision and have committed to partnering with
us, with a number of new sponsors and others increasing the level of their involvement with us.”
Panasonic managing director, Steve Rust, said: “This is a significant deal for Panasonic, allowing us to showcase our High Definition credentials as we join Network Ten as its AFL High Definition broadcast partner and Player of the Match Award sponsor, as well as becoming the official consumer electronics partner of the AFL.”
“High definition is without peer for sports viewing. Network Ten, through its AFL coverage on ONE HD, provides the perfect platform for Panasonic to present its HD expertise and products such as our HD VIERA TVs and Recorders,” said Mr Rust.
Network Ten’s AFL telecasts will be shown on TEN and its new 24-hour sports digital channel, ONE, which will broadcast from 26 March 2009 in High Definition (HD) on Channel 1 and also in Standard Definition (SD) on Channel 12.
