Richmond has made the twilight game an initial success...
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Blockbusters may move to twilight
11 April 2007 Herald-Sun
Bruce Matthews
BLOCKBUSTER games featuring the AFL's big-drawing clubs could be played at twilight.
Encouraged by the initial acceptance of Sunday early-evening games, the league is already looking at how it can best use the innovation.
"As we settle into the slot, we'll have a look at who plays there," AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan said yesterday.
"The aim this year was to spread it around, give supporters of different clubs the chance to vote with their feet.
"We think we can build up some real event-based games in those slots.
"I think you'll see big rivalries playing in those slots."
While the league will still show traditional rivalries in prime time on free-to-air television, there's now scope for more flexibility with twilight games on pay TV if fans continue to support the matches.
The AFL was satisfied that the Carlton-Richmond game in Round 1 attracted 212,000 viewers, Fox's third highest weekly show.
"I think it's here to stay, people have embraced it," McLachlan said.
"The atmosphere of the Carlton-Richmond game was as good as you go to. And, in winter, there will be more indoors, so you won't have any issue of the weather.
"You can go out to lunch and it finishes early enough for the kids to be in bed. We think it's going to be a great success.
"The two twilight games have been in ideal weather.
"We were confident with the draw and we've been a bit lucky with the weather."
One drawback is that the AFL is locked into a deal that stops the free-to-air networks televising twilight matches.
"The broadcast schedule is for the next five years," McLachlan said.
"Game eight ... the twilight game, is a pay-television game.
"Certainly, we think there can still be blockbusters in there, even though it's a pay television game."
Full article at:
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21536629%255E20322,00.html
