ABC Sport
Logo used since 2020 | |
| |
| Frequencies | DAB+ and online |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Network | ABC Local Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| History | |
First air date | 1990 |
Former names | ABC Radio Grandstand |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
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 local ABC radio stations. It broadcasts mainly commentary and talkback programs.
History
ABC Radio Grandstand was first lauched as a programming block in 1990,[1] though the ABC had been broadcasting cricket commentary since the 1930s. The digital station was launched on 5 October 2011 as ABC Radio Grandstand.[2] The brand was renamed to ABC Sport in November 2020, stylised in all lowercase.[3]
Radio coverage
Sports that have been covered by the station include Test, Twenty20 and One Day International cricket, rugby league, the Summer Olympic Games, Australian Football League games, and Australian Open tennis and soccer matches. The ABC is the only national Australian radio station to broadcast live Test, One Day and domestic cricket.
Television coverage
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.[4]
Television broadcast rights
Current
| Sport | Event | Broadcast partner(s) | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian rules | Victorian Football League | AFL.com.au | 1987–2014, 2026–present | [5] |
Past
Commentators
- Jim Maxwell – A highly experienced and highly regarded cricket commentator, Maxwell has covered Australian One Day, Test, and World Cup matches.[9] 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
- Seven Sport
- Nine's Wide World of Sports
- 10 Sport
- SBS Sport
- Fox Sports (Australia)
- Stan Sport
- Paramount+
References
- ^ Norenbergs, Craig (18 November 2011). "Coming of age: Grandstand celebrates 21 years on air". ABC News. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Benton, Ali (5 October 2011). "More digital stations launch today". ABC Listen. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ "Grandstand Summer of Cricket now on ABC SPORT". radioinfo. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "That Pacific Sports Show launches on ABC Australia and ABC iview". Mediaweek. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ Jolly, Nathan (12 March 2026). "VFL inks broadcast deals with Foxtel, Seven, ABC, and SEN". Mumbrella. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d "ABC strikes deal with FFA to become free-to-air home of football in Australia". ABC News. 3 October 2019.
- ^ "Evidence that Channel 7 intended to damage soccer (?)". Austadiums. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Annual Report 2006–07" (PDF). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
- ^ "Grandstand Summer of Cricket now on ABC SPORT". radioinfo. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.