Australian football is set to have a greater free-to-air presence as a network looks to double the number of A-League games shown live each round as well as purchasing the rights for Socceroos and Matildas fixtures.

The Sydney Morning Herald understands that Network Ten are the frontrunners to land the free-to-air component of the A-League broadcast deal, which is up for renewal for next season, and could purchase a higher stake of live football from pay-tv provider Fox Sports.

Prime time: More big games like the Sydney derby could be shown on free to air television. Credit:AAP

Under the current broadcast rights with Fox Sports, one A-League game a week is televised free to air on Ten's digital channel, One.

However, Ten has no direct partnership with the A-League or FFA. Its broadcast of the competition relates to a deal with Fox Sports whereby the pay TV company purchased the Saturday night timeslot from Ten to broadcast its own coverage of the A-League.