THE AFL has announced a new five-year, $23.2 million radio broadcast deal that will result in more matches broadcast around Australia than ever before.

Under the new agreement, the League will receive more than $4.3 million from its radio rights holders in 2012, a 29 per cent increase on 2011.

In Melbourne, Triple M and 3AW will broadcast a minimum of four matches per regular round in the primetime Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon slots.

The two stations will have first choice of matches on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, and will also have the right to broadcast two additional matches (Saturday twilight and the conclusion of Sunday twilight).
 
ABC Radio and SEN will cover at least six matches per regular round, on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday twilight, Saturday night, Sunday early and Sunday twilight.

Elsewhere, FIVEaa will retain its broadcast rights in Adelaide, as will 6PR in Perth.

The ABC will broadcast a minimum of three matches per round into Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney, while 2UE will also cover some matches in Sydney, and 4BC some matches in Brisbane.

The arrangement means every match featuring a club from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales will be broadcast into their respective states.

Regional radio partners are K-Rock (Geelong), Gold FM (Gold Coast), Crocmedia, Southern Cross Austereo and the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS).

Other key features of the new deal, which covers seasons 2012 to 2016, include:

- Nine matches per round during the regular season, and all matches during the finals, will be broadcast into Victoria
- All broadcasters will be able to broadcast matches on Monday nights, Thursday nights, Friday nights and public holidays
- All finals, including the Grand Final, will be broadcast nationally

AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said the League was pleased to have secured a strong financial outcome in the deal, which comes seven months after the announcement of the new $1.25 billion TV and online broadcast agreement.
 
"Despite a challenging economic climate, our radio partners are eager to be part of football and it speaks volumes about our clubs, players, supporters and the overall strength of the game that they have committed for another five years," he said.
 
"Fans are the biggest winners from these agreements with access to more matches on radio than ever before, wherever they may be listening across Australia."