Sportsplay
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| History | |
| Launched | 1985 |
| Closed | 1987 |
Sportsplaywas an Australian satellite television service that operated from 1985 to 1987.
Sportsplay was one of three Australian satellitehotel televisionchannels that emerged following the launch of theAussat A1satellite, and was owned by Powerplay International, then-owners of football league teamSydney Swans.Sportsplay commenced transmissions from their Sydney studios on the 1st of December 1986, with programming consisting largely of harness racing and greyhound racing from around Australia, distributed exclusively to hotels and clubs.[1][2]
In 1987, Sportsplay attempted to purchase satellite rights forVictorian Football Leaguematches from rightsholder Broadcom, with plans to show in subscribing venues nationwide, outside metropolitanMelbourne.This resulted in a dispute with the VFL and theVictorian Country Football League,with the VFL planning to enforce its existing statewide ban on screening its Saturday afternoon games live on television in Victoria.[3]
This setback with the VFL, along with financial troubles and losing the hotel market share to rivalsSky Channel,saw the station reporting losses of up to $1 million per month in 1987.[4][5]After a failed attempt to float the company coupled with thestock market crash of 1987,Sportsplay was bought byAlan Bondand Bond Media, and was thus absorbed into Bond'sSky Channelin November 1987.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^McKay, Ian (7 August 1986)."Spectators Unlimited".The Age.Retrieved30 December2021.
- ^Hill, Robin (29 August 1987)."Pub Patrons Switched off Satellite TV".Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved30 December2021.
- ^"Country VFL baulks at television deal".The Canberra Times.17 February 1987.Retrieved18 July2024– via Trove (National Library of Australia).
- ^McKay, Ian (7 August 1986)."Spectators Unlimited".The Age.Retrieved30 December2021.
- ^Pollak, Alex (10 October 1987)."Broker quits Sportsplay float".Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved30 December2021.
- ^Grant, Trevor (November 3, 1987)."Sportsplay is Bond's for $5m".The Age.Retrieved30 December2021.
- ^Knight, Elizabeth."Bond Snaps Up Sportsplay".Financial Review.Retrieved30 December2021.