West Perth issues response to Channel 9 and Channel 7 situation

Please find following a notice to all members outlining the West Perth Football Club's position in relation to Channel 9 and Channel 7.

In addition, and in response to a number of queries, please be assured that the $8000 that is contributed by each WAFL Club towards the WAFL joint marketing strategy will not be allocated towards production costs of the Channel 7 broadcast.

West Perth Football Club wishes to sincerely thank its members and supporters for backing the Club’s decision to honour its long-term sponsorship arrangement with Channel 9.

The Club welcomed Channel 9 as its Major Sponsor in March, 2014, at which time the WAFL television rights were held by the ABC. The ABC broadcast several West Perth games in 2014 while the Channel 9 logo was displayed on the front of the Club’s jumpers.

It was only in February this year that the WA Football Commission (WAFC) announced they had reached an agreement with Channel 7. The agreement signed by the WAFC or any details of that agreement, has not been disclosed to the WAFL Clubs, despite repeated requests. Channel 7 appears to be dictating the terms of the television schedule and, as announced on Saturday, has decided not to televise any games involving West Perth.

During the course of negotiations over the past few weeks, Channel 9 graciously agreed to allow West Perth to wear jumpers without the Channel 9 Nine News logo for the Club’s biggest game of the year – International Round in Round 14. The Club offered the WAFC and Channel 7 the opportunity to televise this match, however, the WAFC has rejected the offer on the basis that such a deal would amount to West Perth nominating which of its matches would be televised.

In signing the deal with Channel 9, the directors of West Perth Football Club had the Club’s short and long term future firmly in mind. At the time, the Club had just recorded a loss of $288,000 in its premiership year of 2013. After signing the Channel 9 deal, which runs until at least the end of 2016, the Club was able to achieve a very modest profit of $2,300 in 2014. Without Channel 9’s sponsorship, the Club would have again made a significant loss.

To finish 2014 in the black was an amazing achievement after the struggles the Club has faced since moving to Joondalup in 1994, when it entered into a tenancy agreement with Venues West. The move to Joondalup stripped the Club of many of its traditional sponsors and supporters and put it, at times, in a perilous financial position.

Without Channel 9’s sponsorship, the Club’s financial future was dire. It could not afford to reject any sponsorship proposal offered on reasonable terms let alone a major sponsorship deal worth approximately $300,000 over three years. Despite this and above any other circumstances, the Club was delighted to have secured a reputable high profile partner in Channel 9, a partner that shares the Club’s vision and aspirations for the community it services and represents. WPFC President Brett Raponi said Channel 9 had recently committed further funding to improve match-day experiences for patrons attending games at Joondalup and would also help the Club to increase its revenue. He said Channel 9 was committed to its contract and the Club was committed to its major sponsor.

“Football on free to air TV is great for the WAFL competition. My concern has always been the financial impact upon the Clubs that any broadcast contract may have, particularly with time changes to home games and the venues themselves. Given that football (WAFC) sourced the entire funding for production costs, I expected the WAFC would have had more influence upon Seven,” Raponi said.

“The Club was only informed three weeks ago that a directive from Channel 7 had come to the WAFC for West Perth to remove the Channel Nine News logo from its playing jumper or face the prospect of a black out.  The Club has suggested a number of options which required collaboration from all parties, but at this point in time a satisfactory alternative has not been reached.

“The West Perth Football Club would like to continue discussion with Channel Nine, Channel Seven and the WAFC as the season progresses to obtain a more desirable outcome for all parties.”

“Personally and on behalf of the Board I wish to thank our members, supporters and sponsors for their overwhelming support of the Club over the past few weeks. Membership and sponsorship is strong and we now all look forward to Round One at Fremantle Oval against the Bulldogs.”

The Club’s 2015 budget was set in October 2014 and the sponsorship provided by Channel 9 is crucial to the Club’s efforts to meet its financial obligations. For the Club to cancel or abrogate from Channel 9’s sponsorship is, therefore, not an option.

Does your heart beat true?

David Crute
Chief Executive Officer