NEWCASTLE Jets are set to play in winter next A-League season as part of a new broadcast deal between Football Federation Australia and pay TV operator Foxtel.
The 12-month contract is believed to be worth $32 million, and will ensure the remaining matches of the 2019-20 campaign as well as the 2020-21 seasons will be shown on the network.
Foxtel - the parent company of Fox Sports - had three years to run on a $57-million-a-year contract but moved to revise the agreement due to flagging ratings.
There were fears that the company would abandon the game all together and enact a force majeure clause after the current season wasn't completed in the contract period.
It is understood that the new deal, stipulates that the 2020-21 season will begin in December and finish in July.
It also encompasses the W-League, the Socceroos' final four 2022 World Cup qualifying matches and any Matildas friendlies.
However, it does not include the FFA Cup, which may be be broadcast in-house by the FFA as part of a streaming platform.
Professional football in Australia has been played in summer since 1989.
A change would bring the season into alignment with the National Premier League season and Asia.
The new arrangement provides FFA and clubs with a degree of short-term certainty and stability, while also giving the sport about 18 months to secure another broadcast partner or finalise its own over-the-top streaming platform.
FFA and clubs have been exploring taking on the responsibility of producing live games for several months and on-selling them.
The latest development, which is expected to be signed off over the weekend, brings an end to an impasse between the two organisations which had been festering since the league was shut down on March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna said he was awaiting confirmation of the new deal but said finality over the broadcast situation would be a "positive".
The 2019-20 A-League season resumes on July 16, with 27 games to be played over 28 days before a one-week finals series.
Western United take on Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in the opening match.
The Jets, who began team training on Wednesday, resume away to Sydney FC on July 21. They meet Central Coast three days later, possibly in Newcastle, before back-to-back home games against Western United (August 3) and Wellington Phoenix (August 11).
READ MORE: JETS GET BACK TO WORK
