AFL

Seven will stand by its delayed coverage of the blockbuster Carlton-Collingwood AFL fixture this weekend, rejecting calls from the clubs involved for the game to be shown live “against the gate”.

The game, which begins at 2.10pm on Sunday, will be aired as a delayed telecast on Seven, with the network committing itself to broadcasting the V8 Supercars until 3pm. Chief executives of Carlton and Collingwood have joined together to support the notion of airing big fixtures live.

Collingwood’s chief executive Gary Pert said that showing such a fixture live would not significantly influence the size of the crowd at the game itself, given the interest in the game and the likelihood that the match could attract upwards of 80,000 spectators at the MCG.

“With big blockbuster games, once you get up past the mid-80s, we strongly encourage broadcasters to show the games live.

“You just can’t beat being at games like we saw for Anzac Day but a lot of people can’t get to those matches, so the more Collingwood people that can experience those blockbusters live the better.”

His comments were supported by Essendon and Geelong, whose chief executives also opined that broadcasters ought to consider showing big games live. According to the Essendon’s chief executive Ian Robson:

“My private view is alongside that of [Carlton's chief executive] Greg Swann, in that we need to have faith in the quality of our live product as a drawcard, and cater to the broader market who can’t get to games because of other commitments, or location or transport issues.”

The renewed calls from the clubs support comments made by the AFL’s chief executive Andrew Demetriou last month. Demetriou said that “the world is demanding to see their sport live”, and that live coverage had not and would not adversely affect ticket sales.

Source: TSR

The AFL again are experimenting with Monday Night AFL, scheduling a St Kilda Vs Carlton game for the night of Monday, May 10, 2010.

The game will again be aired on Seven. On that night, the game will air from 8pm in Melbourne and Adelaide, and 8.30pm in Perth. The Zoo will remain at 7.30pm. In Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, Find My Family will remain on at 8pm. 30 Rock will follow the AFL at 11.45, and air at 11.05 in Sydney and Brisbane. Sydney and Brisbane can see the AFL from 11.35pm.

On Monday May 10, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, and Trauma will not be seen at all. The three shows return Monday May 17. Seven Sydney and Brisbane will air a yet to be named movie at 8.30pm Monday May 10.

With the Bounce now axed, there is the possibility that Cougar Town and How I Met Your Mother will also be held off and moved possibly moved to another timeslot or 7TWO. Both shows have been performing poorly – wedged between Footy shows and varying (of late) 9.30 programming – so it will come as no surprise if Seven schedule repeats of Criminal Minds which rates well for them in that timeslot.

Seven’s Thursday night has been performing very poorly for them, and has been attributed to the network losing the previous week (week 17) of ratings to Nine.

With the Bounce gone this week, and Amazing Race staring this Thursday April 29 at 9.30, it could be an appropriate time for Seven to revamp Thursday nights completely. At this stage, the Matty Johns show remains in Sydney and Brisbane while the AFL states will see the Vicar of Dibley from 7.30pm Thursday April 29.

Saturday, April 24

AFL (ROUND FIVE)
ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL TIMES. ALL SIMULCAST ON TEN AND ONE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.

SYDNEY V WEST COAST, SCG (FOXTEL)
Sydney – 2.30pm
Perth – 12.00pm (LIVE)

PORT ADELAIDE V ST KILDA, AAMI
Commentary team: Anthony Hudson, Tim Lane, Robert Walls, Luke Darcy and Corey Wingard
Melbourne- 7.30pm (LIVE)
Perth – 6.30pm
Adelaide – 7.00pm (LIVE)
Sydney – 10.40pm

MELBOURNE V BRISBANE, MCG (FOXTEL)
Brisbane – 7.30pm

Seven is the first of the commercials to offer three different programs at the same time albeit for only one hour per week in Sydney (and Brisbane according to TV guide on Yahoo).

At Sunday (April 18) at 10am, Seven Sydney was showing a documentary called the Bone Yard (about old planes that have been decommissioned), while 7TWO were showing their usual Sunday morning children’s programming. 7HD was showing AFL Game Day – which can be seen on Seven’s main channel in the AFL states.

That meant – that for one hour – the Seven network in fact showed three different programs at once thus demonstrating that the network is technically ready to run three channels. At the same time, though, PRIME NSW were showing AFL Game Day on both their main and HD channel, with the Bone Yard documentary following. 7TWO on Prime of course, showed the same as 7TWO from Sydney.

If you weren’t flicking channels at the time, or referring to internet TV guides, you would not know, as the printed guides certainly make no mention of the variation of programming on 7HD for that hour. Only some internet TV guides showed this programming. Maybe some EPGs may have, although at our place, 7HD’s EPG showed the Bone Yard.

Prior to digital channels GO and 7TWO, both Seven and Nine used to use their HD channels to broadcast, not only break away programming, but AFL content into NRL states and sometimes, vice versa. In the case of Nine Sydney for example, this meant you could chose whether to watch the NRL Footy show on the main channel or the AFL Footy show on 9HD. 9HD also carried Footy Classified at the same time as Melbourne airs the show at 10.30 Mondays.

Many viewers – mostly AFL fans in northern states have complained as to why the AFL shows cannot be shown live into NRL markets now that we have digital multi channelling. Back when GO launched in August 2009, Nine stated that they were technically unable show content on 9HD and would not consider using GO to show the opposing Footy Shows. They further said that the problem would be resolved some time in 2010 when they would be technically able to broadcast three shows at once on their digital platform.

Now we are almost half way into 2010, we know for sure that Nine will be launching a third channel this year, as will Ten. While the content of the new Nine channel is not yet revealed (most likely still in planning) there is the possibility that the channel could carry AFL and NRL programming into their opposing states. Given that their will soon be a second Sydney AFL team and the AFL are trying to grow the sports’ northern fan base, it would make sense to offer northern AFL fans AFL programming at the same time it is seen in the AFL states by using the new channel. This would surely be better than having late night replays as is the case now.

As for Seven, there has been the suggestion that they will launch a third channel; in 2010, but, like was the case leading up to 7TWO’s surprise launch late last year, Seven have not confirmed or even stated anything in relation to their plans.

That one hour on Sunday morning, however, demonstrates that Seven are capable of broadcasting three shows at once and makes the network the first of the commercials to broadcast three different programs at once. Ten have also confirmed they are technically ready for their third channel to launch later in 2010.

Due to the fact that each network is only able to have 2 standard and one high definition channel, both Seven and Nine’s third channels will take over their HD channel, while Ten’s third channel will replace the standard definition simulcast of ONE HD.

1:00pm – Sunday, April 18 on Seven

It’s rare that the Tigers have a good recent record against a team these days, but they boast wins in four of its last five clashes with the Demons. Both sides will have their new young draft picks on display. Can the Demons buck the trend of losses to the Tigers?

PLEASE NOTE: Airs at this time in Sydney and Brisbane only. Check local guides for details.

AFL (ROUND FOUR)

Saturday, April 17
ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL TIMES. ALL SIMULCAST ON TEN AND ONE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.

Adelaide v Carlton, AAMI Stadium
Commentary team: Tim Lane, Kelli Underwood, Malcolm Blight and Corey Wingard

Melbourne 3.00pm (LIVE)
Brisbane 3.00pm (LIVE)
Adelaide 2.30pm (LIVE)
Perth 1.00pm (LIVE)

North Melbourne v Sydney, Etihad Stadium (FOXTEL)

Sydney 2.00pm (LIVE)

Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG
Commentary team: Stephen Quartermain, Anthony Hudson, Robert Walls, Matthew Lloyd and Mark Howard

Melbourne 7.30pm
Adelaide 6.30pm (LIVE)
Perth 6.30pm
Sydney 10.40pm

Brisbane v Western Bulldogs, GABBA (FOXTEL)

Brisbane 7.30pm

11:30pm – Friday, April 16 on Seven

It’s a tough road trip for the Bombers as West Coast won four of its last five matches in 2009 and has shown good pre-season form unleashing future superstar Nic Naitanui. But Essendon coach Matthew Knights has indicated a greater focus on defence in 2010 to compliment its fast run. Get set for a Friday Night Football thriller from Subiaco Oval.

2:00pm – Sunday, April 11 on Seven

The Western Bulldogs have been the talk of the footy world since the recruitment of Barry Hall and a NAB Cup premiership. But their task won’t be easy against the 2008 premiers Hawthorn who are keen to atone for a disappointing 2009. Who will get the early ascendancy in this battle of top four contenders?

PLEASE NOTE: Airs at this time in Sydney and Brisbane only. Check local guides for details.

ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL TIMES. ALL SIMULCAST ON TEN AND ONE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.

St Kilda v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium Commentary team: Stephen Quartermain, Tim Lane, Malcolm Blight, Matthew Lloyd and Mark Howard

Melbourne 7.30pm

Sydney 10.40pm (TEN only)

Brisbane 7.30pm

West Coast v Port Adelaide, Subiaco (FOXTEL)

Adelaide 8.00pm (LIVE)

Perth 5.30pm (LIVE)

ONE HD will show the AFL’s pre-season NAB cup live on Saturday February 13, 2010, starting at 7.30pm AEDT (so that will be 6.30 in QLD, 7.00 in SA, 4.30 in WA).

The game will also be shown on Ten at the following times (local times):

10.45pm Sydney and Brisbane

7.30pm Melbourne – LIVE

7.00pm Adelaide – LIVE

6.30pm Perth.

Comentary team includes: Stephen Quartermain, Michael Christian, Robert Walls, luke Dacry and Mark Howard.