Grand final in the twilight zone
Caroline Wilson | May 24, 2007
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 — 2007 is the time for the AFL grand final to be played under lights. Every major sport in the world now holds its grand finale under lights. We believe the result would be spectacular and we would reach a much bigger audience."
Demetriou refused to comment last night but confirmed the two meetings. Famously opposed to a night grand final — something all the commercial networks have supported in the past — Demetriou is believed to remain a traditionalist, while some commissioners and members of the AFL executive have a more positive view on the twilight prospect.
While the radical rescheduling of the game's biggest day remains no certainty, the AFL's decision to consider the proposal is a major shift. The current broadcasting deal is worth $780 million to the competition between 2007 and 2011 and that revenue is keeping at least three Victorian clubs alive.
Only yesterday Demetriou sang the praises of the twilight concept, pointing to the fact that the newly scheduled regular Sunday twilight games have been a ratings hit for Foxtel and in terms of attendances.
Channel Ten will host the 2007, 2009 and 2011 grand finals under the current broadcasting agreement, with Seven showing the 2008 and 2010 play-offs. Seven's chief executive David Leckie is a rugby league fan who has also talked up the idea of night grand finals in the past.
But Ten's David White, who enjoys a more influential relationship with the AFL and who has played a pivotal role in the past two multi-network media deals, beginning in 2001, said he now favoured the twilight concept. He met the AFL's general manager of broadcasting, Gillon McLachlan, on Tuesday to develop the proposal.
"The AFL have made it clear they won't look at a night grand final," White said, "and to be honest I'm inclined to agree with them. A five o'clock start is a people-friendly time, not too early and not too late. The grand final breakfast could become the grand final lunch, which we would broadcast along with all manner of interviews and previews.
"After the game we could keep the telecast running until 11pm — not end it at 6pm — with all the presentations, post-game analysis and the premiership team's official celebrations and their dinner."
The AFL Commission and its executive will consider the Ten proposal at its next meeting in June.
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