Fox Footy to thrive on nine live games by: Matt Windley
From: Herald Sun
February 16, 2012 HAVING all nine games a week live on its Fox Footy Channel is more than enough to get new customers on board.
But that doesn't mean Foxtel will be resting on its laurels this season, and it has promised big innovations in 2012.
"It wouldn't be Fox if, as the season progressed, we didn't run out some innovations like they did in the (cricket) Big Bash League," Foxtel director of sport and Olympics Peter Campbell said yesterday.
"But the live games are certainly the starting point for everything, the thing that captures everyone's imagination and attention."
Fox Footy makes its debut at 5pm tomorrow, an hour and 45 minutes before the 2012 NAB Cup starts with a triangular round between Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Richmond.
Some favourite shows also will return earlier.
Starting Sunday, shows usually held until the start of the home-and-away season will resume.
Included in the roll-out is AFL 360, hosted by Gerard Whateley and the Herald Sun's Mark Robinson, which will expand from weekly to Monday-Thursday at 7.30pm.
Campbell defended the decision to go early.
"Having the exclusive rights to the NAB Cup, we figure that the season does actually start on Friday night," Campbell said.
"There are some things that are starting a little bit later. EMT Eddie McGuire Tonight won't start until mid-March, for example.
"We just don't want to waste the opportunity. The teams are rolling out their stuff, so we may as well roll ours out, too."
Former Sydney coach Paul Roos will be back for his second year at On The Couch with Mike Sheahan and Gerard Healy.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon will be their first 2012 guest on Monday night.
"It's actually a good chance to do some of the things you don't usually get a chance to do, because once the season starts you've got to get through games one after the other," Roos said.
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said there was reason to be excited about a dedicated football channel.
"The work they have done, the preparation they have put in, and the talent they have signed is fantastic," Demetriou said.
THE TEAMEDDIE McGUIRE
Recruited to Fox Footy to be the face of the new channel, McGuire will combine his roles on Channel Nine, Triple M and as Collingwood president with EMT: Eddie McGuire Tonight. McGuire will also commentate on one game a week.
COMMENTATORS
Anthony Hudson
Matthew Campbell
Dwayne Russell
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Dermott Brereton
Gerard Healy
Paul Roos
Jason Dunstall
Danny Frawley
David Parkin
Brad Johnson
Tony Shaw
Alastair Lynch
Mark Ricciuto
Glen Jakovich
Liam Pickering
David King
Leigh Colbert
PROGRAM TALENT
Mike Sheahan
Mark Robinson
Gerard Whateley
Ben Dixon
Damien Fleming
THE SHOWSAFTER THE BOUNCE
Sundays, 7.30pm
Premieres Sunday
A review program hosted by Jason Dunstall and featuring Danny Frawley and Damien Fleming every Sunday night.
EMT - EDDIE McGUIRE TONIGHT
Sundays, 8.30pm
Premieres March 11
This is where the biggest names in football, sport and sports entertainment go head-to-head with Eddie. EMT gives the headline- makers the chance to have their say on the big issues.
AFL 360
Monday - Thursday, 7.30pm
Premieres Monday
Will look at every angle of the week's biggest issues in AFL and scrutinizes and dissect them. Football's odd couple, Gerard Whateley and Mark Robinson, argue and laugh their way through the day in footy as seen through the eyes of the media.
ON THE COUCH
Mondays, 8.30pm
Premieres Monday
A weekly look at the news, views, drama and intrigue surrounding the AFL through the eyes of some of the most respected AFL analysts and former players including Gerard Healy, Mike Sheahan, Paul Roos and guests.
AFL INSIDER
Tuesdays, 8.30pm
Premieres Tuesday
Hosted by Jason Dunstall and Alastair Lynch, AFL Insider exposes the inner workings of elite AFL clubs and provides insights into the innovations that clubs are introducing to give themselves the competitive edge.
OPEN MIKE
Wednesdays 8.30pm
Premieres March 21
Former Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan hosts this interview series featuring some of the greats of the game.
LEAGUE TEAMS
Thursdays 8.30pm
Premieres next Thursday
A look at who's in, who's out - and why - as footy fans look for the team news, and subsequent reaction, to selections for the up-coming round. Hosted by Dermott Brereton and a rotating panel of experts.
THE REVOLUTION
Fox Footy will launch at 5pm tomorrow with a live broadcast from Etihad Stadium. New recruit Eddie McGuire will join the commentary team before the first bounce of the season at 6.45pm when Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Richmond do battle in the NAB Cup opener.
NAB CUP
All first - round matches will be live on Fox Footy. The station will also televise five Round 2 and six Round 3 clashes. The grand final will be simulcast with Seven on March 17.
REGULAR SEASON
All 198 home and away games as well as the qualifying, elimination, semi and preliminary finals will be broadcast live and uninterrupted with no ad breaks siren to siren in both high definition and standard definition.
When there are two games on at the same time (e.g. Saturday afternoon), one game will be live on Fox Footy and the other on Fox Sports 1.
Fox Footy will broadcast the under 18 national championships and the second edition of the Foxtel Cup, pitting together the top teams from each of the country's state leagues.
The network will cover major events including: the AFL season launch, national draft, AFL Players Association MVP Awards, NAB Rising Star awards, AFL Hall of Fame night, All-Australian Awards, Brownlow Medal and North Melbourne's Grand Final breakfast.
Fox Footy is included in the Foxtel sports package at no extra charge.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/fox-footy-to-thrive-on-nine-live-games/story-e6frf9jf-1226272107871
