Water Polo Australia partner with News Corp in new national broadcast streaming deal

Water Polo Australia are partnering with News Corp Australia in a new national broadcast streaming deal anticipated to deliver over 200 water polo games live between January and May 2022.

Kicking off with the State versus State tournament, the ‘Summer Slam’, in Brisbane in January 2022, the new partnership will also stream matches from the Australian Waterpolo League (AWL) and the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC).

With national competitions largely cancelled in 2021 due to COVID, the national water polo calendar is set to return with more matches than ever before.

Brisbane will host the new Summer Slam, which will see State teams battle it out across the three age groups, kicking off on 10th January.

It is then onto the Australian Waterpolo League starting on Australia Day, with the new look format designed to provide clubs, athletes, sponsors and broadcasters with more quality water polo.

The first half of the national season will be capped off with the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships to again be held in Brisbane, that is set to bring together more than 170 teams from across the Easter long weekend.

Water Polo Australia (WPA) Chief Executive Richard McInnes, said the partnership with News Corp Australia will look to extend the work started during the KAP7 Cup earlier this year.

McInnes noted “we are excited to extend our partnership with News Corp Australia that will see more than 200 games streamed live, the most water polo matches Aussies have ever had available.

“A partnership with News Corp Australia will not only ensure our water polo fans can watch more water polo through live matches and replays, but it allows our sport to connect to new audiences through their extensive reach.  

“From our grassroots club competitions through to our premier Australian Waterpolo League, we will be able to showcase the best our sport has to offer and allow more people to learn about water polo but also about our players.”

News Corp Australia Managing Director, News Sport Network, Michael Wilkins, was pleased to build on the company’s existing relationship with water polo and added “we are looking forward to showcasing the best of Australian water polo, from the young guns to the national league heroes.

“On the back of the Tokyo Olympics, water polo is a fast growing sport. We are excited to provide a platform for this continued growth among our huge community of audiences through our live streams and editorial content.”  

The games will stream across News Corp Australia media platforms.

Image courtesy Water Polo Australia