World Footy News

WFN updates a couple of recent US stories on the 2006 USAFL Nationals and the 2006 US television coverage of the AFL season - including confirmation of Las Vegas as location for this year's national club championships and two broadcasters (Setanta broadcasting live, MHz carrying match of the week) bringing footy to US television.

The USAFL has confirmed the 2006 US Nationals will be played in Las Vegas on October 7 and 8 as previously reported here. The USAFL Board will take on the management of this year’s Nationals with support of the newly formed Las Vegas Gamblers.

As for AFL broadcasts the latest news reported by AFANA is that Fox Sports World which became Fox Soccer Channel last year will no longer carry AFL content. Setanta Sports will now be broadcasting the AFL season with Live broadcasts in addition to the MHz match of the week and highlights package as reported on WFN recently. Both Setanta and MHz are available through Globecast World TV and Setanta Sports can also be subscribed to through DirecTV for around US$12 a month. Overall this coverage will benefit some viewers and disadvantage others depending on their access to the respective broadcast systems. While the prospect of live matches is a huge bonus for those that have access to them, others that were able to see footy in 2005 may have to go without in 2006.

For more information we recommend you visit the AFANA website and sign up for their free newsletter. There is still no confirmation on the exact content and schedule even though the AFL season has now officially started but AFANA will distribute them in their newsletter and post them on their web site as soon as details are available. So Round 1 coverage is looking doubtful, although maybe shown delayed up to two weeks after the event with coverage expected to start mid April.