ACM and Play HQ extend partnership to cover local football

Australian Community Media (ACM) has extended its collaboration with provider of local sports data, Play HQ, to bring local scores and statistics to regional Australians.

Through the partnership, ACM will offer updates on local Aussie Rules games. This includes coverage of fixtures, results, ladders, and game statistics like goal scorers and standout performers.

The Play HQ data will be prominently featured in the sports section of ACM's network of regional digital subscription brands – the AFL Canberra competition in The Canberra Times and the Northern Tasmanian Football Association in The Examiner.

ACM chief technology officer, Bruce Levine, said that the partnership would bring footy “from grassroots to first grade” to readers.

“We are committed to adding value to the experience of our 140,000 digital subscribers - as well as creating unique environments for our partners to connect with regional Australia. And this project delivers both.” Levine said.

Play HQ chief customer officer Neil Mackay said the partnership with ACM “enabled us to extend our local sports results to passionate Australians across regional cities, immediately expanding our audience.”

“We are excited to see local sport grow with the help of ACM's extensive network."

Last year, as part of enhancing the digital sports experience, ACM collaborated with Champion Data to provide live scores, ladders, and match content for national AFL, NRL, and A-League competitions. This effort resulted in a +17% increase in engagement with the sports section in less than 12 months, ACM said.

“ACM is well on the way to becoming the number one choice for local sport in each of the markets we cover,” added ACM national sales director, Sam Westaway.

“Our strategic investment in sport and diverse array of digital products has opened up conversations with big brands. They’re seeing the growth in our sports audience, which is more than 3.1 million online, and value in our local content.”

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Top Image: Sam Westaway with ACM digital marketing manager Tom Woodcock