Friday night footy to go live (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Friday night footy to go live
Michael Warner
Herald Sun
November 24, 2010 11:32PM

THE AFL's blue-chip Friday night fixture is almost certain to be shown live and on a free-to-air station from 2012.

But more quality games will be snapped up by pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel under federal reforms to be announced as early as today.

The shake-up will lead to five of the nine home-and-away games each week being screened on Foxtel, including the new Saturday twilight clash.

And at least one Sunday afternoon game played in Melbourne could be moved from the traditional 2.10pm starting time to 3pm, allowing for a smoother transition into news broadcasts at 6pm.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is tipped to announce a series of changes to the nation's strict anti-siphoning laws today, determining which sports must be "protected" for free-to-air coverage.

The Melbourne Cup, Olympic Games, World Cup soccer, NRL, Bathurst, Australian Open tennis and Test match cricket will also be affected by the revamp.

The AFL and Foxtel have been lobbying for new legislation giving pay-TV stations the power to bid directly for at least four home-and-away matches a round.

Under existing laws, only free-to-air stations can buy matches.

The AFL fixture will take on a different look when the league's next round of broadcast rights begins in 2012, with the Saturday twilight match likely to form part of a Foxtel triple-header.

Some Monday night and Thursday night matches are also expected to be scheduled, but the AFL has baulked at making them permanent for fear of alienating families.

Friday and Saturday night matches have been broadcast on delay by the Seven and Ten networks during the current round of rights, but AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou warned last week a move to compulsory live broadcasting was inevitable.

"We are in a world now where people want to watch things happening now," Demetriou said.

"When you are watching something you know the outcome, because it's on an hour-and-a-half delay, well, that might have been fashionable before, but I think it's going out of fashion."

Demetriou has guaranteed that Friday night football will remain on free-to-air channels.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/friday-night-footy-to-go-live/story-e6frf9jf-1225960487376

[mightytiges]

I actually agree with Andy D  that it's about time SEVEN came into the 21st century and showed the game live. Delays now hurt Aussie Rules ratings especially in Perth where the game is over by the time it is shown at 8.30pm WST. With the NRL going live against the gate it's a must now that the AFL does the same.

As much as I dread a return to NINE and a pro-Collingwood coverage especially if Eddie is back doing the commentary , SEVEN's coverage was dull as this year  . The commentary was flat with even Bruce now well past his best days and SEVEN even seem to have turned down the volume on the crowd noise  ???.

[WilliamPowell]

I actually agree with Andy D  that it's about time SEVEN came into the 21st century and showed the game live. Delays now hurt Aussie Rules ratings especially in Perth where the game is over by the time it is shown at 8.30pm WST. With the NRL going live against the gate it's a must now that the AFL does the same.

As much as I dread a return to NINE and a pro-Collingwood coverage especially if Eddie is back doing the commentary , SEVEN's coverage was dull as this year  . The commentary was flat with even Bruce now well past his best days and SEVEN even seem to have turned down the volume on the crowd noise  ???.

Dont' lose sight of the fact that Ch 9 when they had the footy refused to show Friday nights live as well

I agree it should be shown live and now with the changes to the rules then that will happen because 7 or 9 or whover can show the games live on their other digi channels

SOme of the other changes are not so good - not sold on the AFL being able to sell direct to Foxtel...

But I do feel a huge bidding war coming on 

[Penelope]

Live Friday night football? About time the rest of the country caught up with us 

I still cant see how channel nine will be able to show live footy Friday nights when the already have TWO NRL games on fridays, one live one delayed.