14 Crows, Power games live
JESPER FJELSTAD, MICHAEL McGUIRE
February 11, 2007 12:15am
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html
FOXTEL will screen a combined 14 Crows and Power home games live this season, it was revealed yesterday.
The revelation took both Adelaide clubs by surprise, because they had not expected so many games to be shown by Foxtel live.
Crows chief executive officer Steven Trigg said he was unaware of the arrangement, which stemmed from Thursday's announcement that channels 7 and 10 had reached agreement with Foxtel to share AFL telecasts for the next five years.
Port chief executive John James said he was concerned the extensive live coverage may tempt supporters to stay at home rather than make the trek to AAMI Stadium.
Under the deal, Foxtel is able to screen four live games each round, but until today it had not revealed which games it had chosen.
Fox Sports, which is carried by Foxtel, will screen six of the Crows' home games, while eight of Port's home games will be live. (The round three Showdown is classed as a Port home game.)
In total, 25 of Adelaide and Port's 44 home and away games will be shown live by Foxtel this season.
Foxtel is unable to screen any Friday night football live into Adelaide, with Seven holding exclusive rights to that slot, seen as the most lucrative in the home and away schedule.
Seven and Ten are yet to release their full schedules but it has been reported Ten will screen two live games per Adelaide club.
Trigg said that, until informed of the Foxtel schedule by the Sunday Mail, he believed only four Crows games – two on Foxtel and two on Ten – would go to air live.
He said he needed to confirm the news with the AFL before making a definitive assessment.
"I'm surprised because that's not what was outlined to us by the AFL during the week, so I want to talk to the AFL about it," he said.
"I'm not really in a position to make comment until I hear what the AFL has to say about it.
"Until then, I'd better hold my fire."
The Adelaide clubs have been challenged by live Foxtel coverage games more than most.
Collingwood, the AFL's most influential club, only has to deal with two of its home games being televised live.
James said he became aware of the amount of live games on Foxtel after seeking out AFL commercial manager Gillon McLaughlan for a discussion on Friday afternoon.
"From our club's perspective, the thing we're confident of is that the majority of our supporters want to come to the football," James said.
"But you'll see, potentially, supporters who may watch some games at home on Foxtel and go to some. We don't see it as an immediate concern but it's certainly something that needs watching.
"It was a little bit of a surprise (the amount of live games) but we also understood that for Foxtel to get involved they were going to commercially want more.
"Strategically, it's not going to have an impact over the next year or two, but it's certainly something we need to follow.
"But I guess that's the landscape and we have to deal with it."
The SANFL, which owns AAMI Stadium, acknowledged the added competition may keep some supporters away but said it was a sign of the times.
"We always knew that broadcast rights were heading towards live against the gate," chief commissioner Leigh Whicker said yesterday. "But we're getting a share of the broadcast money through game development and that's the way the industry's going.
"You've just got to be sharp and promote your facilities."
The SANFL has already committed $70 million to redeveloping AAMI Stadium, with a new scoreboard and sound system to be in place before the start of the season, as well as improved catering facilities for members and season ticket holders.
Foxtel is partly owned by News Limited, the publisher of the Sunday Mail.
