Essendon chairman David Evans has congratulated the AFL on its landmark broadcast deal announced today.

Evans said the spirit in which the league conducted its negotiations around the complicated anti-siphoning laws should be commended.

“Essendon Football Club would like to congratulate the AFL on the way the TV rights negotiations have been conducted,” Evans said.

“It’s a great result for the game, its key stakeholders, the players, the clubs and the development of AFL football in this country.”

AFL matches will be broadcast by the Seven Network, Foxtel and Telstra over the next five years, with the League sealing a new $1.25 billion agreement that will guarantee more live football is shown. 

“We also think it’s a great result for the media partners given the broad range of mediums that can bring football into homes across Australia,” Evans said.

“The new markets this agreement can uncover will also allow the game to be seen by a broad and wide ranging audience both here and abroad.”

“Essendon Football Club will be front and centre in discussions with the AFL to ensure our club best interests are represented.”