Talking Footy

Channel 10 appears to be pushing for a twilight grand final as early as this season. An ll hour broadcast on grand final day is proprosed. Bring it on I say. Hopefully many more Australians will be able to see the game at night. Thoughts anyone?

[quote]Grand final in the twilight zone
Caroline Wilson | May 24, 2007
http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/a-dar ... 88745.html

THE AFL is considering a twilight grand final in September following an approach from the Ten Network.

The sport's chiefs have told Ten they will not consider a night match, but say they will look at the idea of starting the 2007 premiership decider about 5pm, ending under lights between 8pm and 8.30pm

AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and chief executive Andrew Demetriou held talks early this month with Network Ten's director of sport, David White, and chief executive, Grant Blackley, who presented the prospect of a national 11-hour telecast beginning at noon and finishing at 11pm.

"They didn't say yes but they have agreed to consider it," said White, who flew to Melbourne and held a second round of talks with the AFL two days ago.

"I think there's a moderate degree of interest but the AFL is mindful of doing the right thing by … its clubs and fans in particular.

"I think it's time â€â€

No. I hope that the AFL does not bow down to the television again.

We are not the NRL, we are the AFL and we should have our game shown during the day, like it has been for years...I look forward to nothing less than getting the BBQ out and having a BBQ lunch and watching the footy on a Saturday afternoon...

Next thing they will have is a Friday night Grand Final...

There is another issue as well. The AFL should be trying to make inroads into the US sport market. The 2.30pm start is 9.30pm Friday on the West Coast. If I were the AFL I'd be bringing it forward in time - not pushing it back.

I flew home from Melbourne on Grand Final Day, If my flight had been delayed for any reason, I would have been flying home during the game. I like it just at the time it is..not earlier, or later...

What do you think about the idea that more people will actually get to see the game, boosting audience numbers and one would think revenue for the AFL, the clubs and naturally the broadcasters.

TLPG wrote:

There is another issue as well. The AFL should be trying to make inroads into the US sport market. The 2.30pm start is 9.30pm Friday on the West Coast. If I were the AFL I'd be bringing it forward in time - not pushing it back.

How big is the US market for the AFL? Is the game even shown on free to air TV over there? Not so sure about catering to a US audience before an Australian audience. Surely the emphasis should be on growing the audience here first. I don't like the 1:10pm timeslot we have as is and wouldn't like to see the AFL GF pushed forward just to accomodate a US audience.

I think the US market can be quite large if it's worked on, Beau. No, it's not on free to air over there (right now I'm not sure if it's on at all, but it should be because the game is growing over there). Anyway, if we were catering to the US audience over the Australian audience, they'd be looking for a midday start - and that would be wrong. And I never suggested 1.10pm. I was thinking earlier than 2.30pm without specifics - but I wouldn't go earlier than 1.30pm.

IS there anything we are not trying to change in this game???? We have the best game in the world, why are we continually trying to change it. For god sake, leave our game alone....please. We are all getting sick and tired of the changes that have provided us with nothing but frustration i.e the holding the ball and HANDS in the back rule. Everyone on this site is surely in the same boat, lets stop trying to fuck around with the game and let the guys play. Leave the GF as a day spectacle and worry about getting rid of Geishen and his horde of no hopers who want to be bigger than the game.

[How big is the US market for the AFL? Is the game even shown on free to air TV over there? Not so sure about catering to a US audience before an Australian audience. Surely the emphasis should be on growing the audience here first. I don't like the 1:10pm timeslot we have as is and wouldn't like to see the AFL GF pushed forward just to accomodate a US audience.[/quote]

Google United States AFL competitions. There is well over fifty organized teams and a half dozen leagues over there.

I spent a few months near San Francisco a year or so ago, I used to hop on the train to watch San Jose's team. Alot of expat Aussies, Kiwis, South Africans playing, as well as plenty of US players. I think the teams have to be made up of a certain percentage of locals.

Saw John **** running around in one game. He sure has not shrunk with age! lol. I think he is like the head honcho of Aussie Rules footy over there. It is slowly making inroads. all my mates over there watch it on cable whenever they can. They organize a party for the GF and all. (Oh and yes, I did convert them all to be Essendon supporters, except one who decided to go for Collingwood. There are Idiots all the would over, ther is the proof, lol)

Could have been worse, Dogsact - that one could have gone for CARLTON!

boof1978 wrote:

Leave the GF as a day spectacle and worry about getting rid of Geishen and his horde of no hopers who want to be bigger than the game.

I was only for the twighlight GF as I would have thought it would provide more exposure and dollars for the overall competition. Would you agree that a twighlight GF would attract a larger TV audience?

Just leave the grandfinal as it is, otherwise we have to change the song from "One Day in September" to "Twilight in September", just doesnt have the same ring to it..

Caroline Wilson is yet again plugging for a twilight grandfinal.



[quote]

AFL to consider twilight grand final

Caroline Wilson | June 9, 2007

A PLAN for a twilight grand final this year will go before the AFL Commission within a fortnight, with Channel Ten three days ago putting forward a detailed submission to league chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

The AFL boss last night confirmed that Ten's bid to move the grand final to a 5pm start would be considered at the next commission meeting on June 22.

"It's an impressive, well-argued document," Demetriou said. "It's very respectful towards the grand final and all it stands for and we will look at it later this month."

Demetriou, reiterating his opposition to a night grand final, said he remained a day grand final supporter but would not rule out moving the first bounce of the AFL's biggest game back two hours, which would mean the game would start in daylight and finish at night.

The Ten document is understood to have outlined its schedule, in which the traditional North Melbourne breakfast would switch to a lunch, to be televised from midday.

The network's coverage would finish at 11pm and include a more detailed post-mortem of the game along with crosses to the winners' and losers' dinners.

Ten would also look at opening its coverage of grand final day with replays of past grand finals, starting between 8 and 9am.

While neither Demetriou nor Network Ten sports boss David White would give details of the channel's after-dark prime time coverage or half-time entertainment, both parties have indicated the event would be transformed.

The network, which has televised the past five grand finals and has won the right â€â€

Caroline Wilson is a Doo Doo Head!

It'll happen sooner rather than later. Would not be surprised at all if it is this season based on those increased audience numbers.