THE Footy Show star Sam Newman has launched an extraordinary tirade against Channel 9 decision-makers in Sydney, saying they want the show to fail.
The network revealed this week the hugely successful show would screen at 8.30pm on Thursday nights next year instead of starting at 9.30pm as it has for the past 19 years.
Newman said he had no idea why the shift was made and said decision-makers in Sydney "couldn't give a stuff" about the program.
"In fact, I've got a feeling they hope we fail," he said.
"I reckon we're just going to suck it and see and if it's no good in a month they'll just cancel it."
Newman said The Footy Show, one of Nine's flagship programs, was barely an afterthought at the network's 2013 launch.
He sarcastically thanked powerbrokers from Sydney for flying to Melbourne "and speaking to the unwashed down here", and said talk at the launch was mostly marketing-speak.
"We had a gaggle and a clutter of spruikers who spoke to assembled gathering about market placement, companion advertising, brand awareness, consumer focus," he said on SEN.
"They trawled through all the shows on Nine and Gem and Go ... they said shows were going to be great, some that haven't even started yet.
"They've got cooking and singing and reality and sitcoms ... and as they said thanks very much for coming, the bloke said, oh and by the way, The Footy Show's going from 9.30 to 8.30.
"They did not show an except a snippet a promo, nothing, and I thought, 'Well they couldn't give a stuff if we're on or not, they're from Sydney'.
"It was a fantastic launch but if they could have just mentioned the longest-running television show of it's particular style in its timeslot in the world ever ... that would have been good, it would have given us a bit of heart, but honestly I don't think they give a stuff if we go on or not."
The change in timeslot is likely to put The Footy Show in a head-to-head battle with Channel 10's Before the Game.
"The amount of promo they've given us I reckon Andy Maher and Before the Game will give us a belting," Newman said.
"I have no idea why we're on at 8.30. Maybe we've got so many great shows we've got to cram them in, I don't know what they're doing.
"I know you think I'm joking there, but to not even pay lip-service to The Footy Show, I think they've got a different agenda, I don't think they care less."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/sam-newman-launches-tirade-against-channel-9-executives-for-moving-the-footy-show/story-e6frexx0-1226527405769
