The FFA is keen to move the one free-to-air game, which is on SBS on Friday nights, to a new commercial partner, with Ten on the record as keenly interested – however price will be an important factor.

It is understood Ten are keen on a Saturday game.

Fox Sports are understood to be open to allowing a Saturday night game on free-to-air. However, it would be need to be simulcast.

Fox Sports has held the rights to the A-League since its inception in 2005.

The current $40 million per season, four-year deal, which expires in mid-2017, sees Fox Sports show all matches, including the weekend's higher-rating derbies and rivalry games. SBS has rights to show one Friday match live each week, and the finals series on delay.

Prior to the beginning of the A-League season, which just finished with Adelaide United winning its first grand final, it looked as though SBS might sell its current free-to-air rights to a commercial broadcaster such as Nine Entertainment, Seven West Media or Network Ten. However, a deal failed to materialise.

The A-League, which had been moved to SBS's main channel during the second year of the deal, was moved back to SBS2 for the latest season.

"It's been reasonably well documented that FFA and SBS have explored alternatives," FFA chief executive David Gallop said at the time.

Optus is also running its ruler over the FFA's broadcast rights, as revealed by Fairfax Media, as it looks to bolster its football offering following its $189 million swoop for rights to the English Premier League over three years.

"We're looking at it seriously," Optus chief executive Allen Lew told Fairfax Media last month. "If it makes sense and it adds value to what we are providing football fans, at a commercial deal that we feel is fair, then we will see how we can bring it across. But, it's early days and let's see what happens."

As part of a deal with SBS, Optus will allow the TV broadcaster to show one EPL match per week on Saturday nights for the next three seasons. The agreement with SBS includes rights for Optus to broadcast FIFA events, including the 2018 men's World Cup and the 2019 women's World Cup.