A “SECRET” deal between the Ovens and Murray and 2AY has left rival footy broadcaster OAK FM out in the cold — literally.
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Under a “commercial arrangement”, the Ace Radio station will have first pick of games in each round of the competition, the best broadcast box at interleague games and finals as well as exclusive rights to major nights including the Morris Medal.
Community station OAK FM, which has broadcast O and M games for almost two decades, received email advice of the deal this week.
The station said it was the first it had heard of any change in the existing arrangements.
But O and M general manager Aaron McGlynn said the decision hadn’t been finalised and OAK FM was still able to broadcast games under the new deal.
OAK FM station manager Roberto Paino said it was a huge shift from recent arrangements.
“In the past we have shared the choice of games on an odds and evens basis — 2AY would get to pick their game this week, we would have first choice of the games next week,” he said.
“As for the Morris Medal, no one wanted to know about it six years ago when we started doing it and now we’re excluded.
“With the interleague if there is a decent broadcasting box they would get the first pick again and we may just end up in the grandstand.
“We were a bit surprised 2AY has negotiated a deal that for all intents and purposes gives them exclusive rights to broadcast Ovens and Murray games.
“It looks like they have deemed us second stringers to pick up whatever is left.”
Paino said at the very least they should have been given a chance to submit a competitive counter-offer.
“We should have had the right to tender, all the participants should have had an opportunity to put their bid in and have a crack, but it seems to me this has been done between the O and M management and 2AY and some board members don’t even know about it,” he said.
“OAK FM has been broadcasting these games since 1998, but it seems this is all about the money rather than any loyalty.”
McGlynn said it was a commercial arrangement that had yet to be finalised.
“As such I’m limited in how I can respond, and while it is my role to make the final decision this has been discussed at board level,” he said.
“OAK FM will still be able to broadcast games as they have always done, but it just affects their options.”
Paino said OAK FM would ask the O and M to reconsider the deal.
