ABC Sport is the division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that delivers sports programming to their television, radio and online networks. ABC Sport is also a digital radio station and a programming block simulcast on ABC radio stations. It broadcasts mainly commentary, news and talkback programs.

History

ABC Radio Grandstand was first launched as a programming block in 1990, though the ABC had been broadcasting cricket commentary since the 1930s.[citation needed] The digital station was launched on 5 October 2011 as ABC Radio Grandstand. The brand was renamed to ABC Sport in November 2020, stylised in all caps.

Radio coverage

Sports that have been covered by the station include football matches such as A-League Men, A-League Women, Socceroos, Matildas, friendlies and other special events. The ABC has done all forms of cricket including Twenty20, Test and One Day International. As well as the Olympic Games (both summer and winter), Commonwealth Games, Australian Open tennis, golf, basketball, rugby league and australian rules. They are the only national Australian radio station to broadcast sporting events live.[citation needed]

Television coverage

camera man
ABC camera man filming a WNBL game

The program Offsiders is broadcast on ABC TV on Sunday mornings, with a panel reviewing and debating the previous week's action. That Pacific Sports Show also focuses on the achievements of Pacific Island athletes around the world.

Television broadcast rights

Current

List of current broadcast rights held by the ABC
SportEventBroadcast partner(s)DateNotes
Australian rulesVictorian Football LeagueAFL.com.au1987–2014, 2026–present

Past

List of expired broadcast rights held by the ABC
SportEventBroadcast partner(s)Date
Summer OlympicsMelbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976Seven (1956, 1972, 1976) Ten (1968) Nine (1956, 1972, 1976)1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976
American footballNational Football League1980s–1990s
Super Bowl1980s–1990s
Association footballA-LeagueFox Sports2013–2017 (ABC Radio), 2019–2021
Matildas InternationalsFox Sports, SBS (2019–2021)2008–2016, 2019–2021
Socceroos InternationalsFox Sports, SBS (2019–2021)2014–2015, 2019–2021
W-LeagueFox Sports2008–2016, 2019–2021
FIFA World CupSeven Network (1974), SBS (1982)1974–1982
English Premier League1970s–1990s
National Soccer LeagueC7 Sport2001
AFC Asian CupFox Sports2015
FA Cup1970s–1990s
Sydney FC v Liverpool FC Match2017
Australian rulesAustralian Football LeagueSeven Network HSV7 (1957–1986), Nine Network GTV9 Melbourne (1957–1986), Network 10 TEN10 Sydney (1987), TVQ10 Brisbane (1987)1957–1987
North East Australian Football League2007–2014
Northern Territory Football League2005–2014
South Australian National Football League1988–2014
Tasmanian State League2009–2014
West Australian Football LeagueTVW7 (1963–1987)1987–2014
BaseballAustralian Baseball LeagueNetwork Ten (1990s–1996)1989–1999
Claxton Shield1970s–1988
BasketballFIBA Men's World Cup2014
FIBA Women's World Cup2014
FIBA Oceania Championship for Men2013
FIBA Oceania Championship for Women2013
National Basketball Association1983–1991
Women's National Basketball Association1991–1999
National Basketball LeagueFox Sports1979–2001, 2017–2018
Women's National Basketball LeagueFox Sports1981–2015, 2020–2022
Commonwealth GamesCardiff 1958, Perth 1962, Kingston 1966, Edinburgh 1970, Christchurch 1974, Edmonton 1978, Brisbane 1982, Edinburgh 1986Nine (1982), Network Ten (1986)1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986
CricketSheffield Shield1970s–1990s
Test cricketNine Network1960s–1979
Women's Twenty20 International2012
Field hockeyHockey World Cup2014
GolfAustralian Ladies Masters2017
British Open1970s–1980s
PGA Tour2019
Women's Australian Open Golf2021
Lawn bowlsDomestic and International Australian Lawn Bowls1981–2011
NetballCommonwealth Bank TrophyC7 Sport (1997–2002)1997–2007
INF Netball World Cup1991, 1995, 2003, 2007
Netball Test Series1990s–2007
Paralympic GamesParalympic Games1970s–2013
Rugby leagueNSWRL/ARL Premiership now National Rugby LeagueSeven ATN7 1971–1982 0-10 Network 1973–1979 Network 10 1980–1991 Nine Network 1961–1972, 1983, 1992–19951961–1995
Australia national rugby league teamNine 1957–1977, Seven ATN7 1978–1982, 0-10 Network 1979, Network 10 19801957–1982
1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France French legNetwork 10 British leg1986, 1990
Queensland CupFox Sports1996–2012
Rugby unionAustralia national rugby union team1957–1991
Rugby World Cup1987, 1991
British and Irish Lions in Australia1959, 1966, 1989
Shute Shield1996–2014
TennisHopman Cup1995–2010

Commentators

  • Jim Maxwell – A highly experienced and highly regarded cricket commentator, Maxwell has covered Australian One Day, Test, and World Cup matches. He also has broadcast rugby union, rugby league, golf, and hockey, and the Olympic Games.
  • Ian Chappell – Former captain of Australia. He has played over 90 Test and One Day cricket matches for Australia and has a Test batting average of 42.42.
  • Alison Mitchell – Commentator of the Seven Network's cricket coverage since 2018, first joined the ABC in 2014. She has also covered the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and four Women's Cricket World Cups.
  • Simone Thurtell – Best known for her Grandstand Active Show, which featured regular guests, including Kerry O'Keeffe, Geoff Huegill and Al Baxter, and covered the sporting issues of the day, overnight scores and live crosses to sport. She covered major events such as the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
  • Corbin Middlemas
  • Matt Clinch
  • Ben Cameron
  • Kelli Underwood
  • Andrew Mayes
  • Joel Peterson
  • Lauren Bordin
  • Brett Sprigg (NSW)
  • Daniel Garb (NSW)
  • Quentin Hull (NSW, QLD)
  • Michael Price (QLD)
  • Aaron Bryans (SA)
  • Neil Cross (SA)
  • Clint Wheeldon (WA)
  • Mitch Turner (WA)
  • Chris Rowbottam (TAS)
  • Michael Maney (TAS)
  • Rob Cross (NT)

See also