▁se cur ing ▁a ▁record ▁breaking ▁A $ 1 . 2 5 ▁billion ▁TV ▁rights ▁deal ▁for ▁the ▁period ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 2 – 2 0 1 6 . ▁The ▁deal ▁included ▁un pre ced ented ▁live ▁TV ▁coverage ▁of ▁the ▁A FL ▁competition ▁in ▁all ▁states ▁of ▁Australia ▁through ▁free - to - air , ▁subscription ▁and ▁IP ▁television . ▁ ▁Notable ▁issues ▁and ▁controvers ies ▁ ▁P ush ▁for ▁a ▁Gold ▁Coast - based ▁team ▁ ▁Dem et ri ou ▁has ▁been ▁highly ▁influ ential ▁in ▁the ▁A FL ▁Commission ' s ▁desire ▁for ▁a ▁team ▁to ▁be ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁Gold ▁Coast . ▁North ▁Melbourne ▁Football ▁Club ▁had ▁played ▁three ▁home ▁games ▁there ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and , ▁at ▁the ▁conclusion ▁of ▁that ▁season , ▁Dem et ri ou ▁offered ▁the ▁club ▁$ 1 0 0 ▁million ▁to ▁re loc ate ▁there ▁perman ently . ▁North ▁Melbourne ▁rejected ▁that ▁offer ▁and , ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁A FL ▁chairman , ▁Mike ▁Fitz pat rick ▁and ▁Dem et ri ou ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁Gold ▁Coast ▁Football ▁Club ▁would ▁enter ▁the ▁A FL ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁Sydney ▁Sw ans ▁controvers y ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁Dem et ri ou ▁critic ised ▁the ▁Sydney ▁Sw ans ▁and ▁then - co ach ▁Paul ▁Ro os , ▁lab elling ▁the ▁team ' s ▁play ▁as ▁" un att ract ive " ▁and ▁" ug ly ". ▁He ▁also