Channel 7′s decision to broadcast the Crows-Tigers AFL match on Sunday afternoon in place of prime Olympic events with Australians vying for medals has ignited a furious response from viewers.
During the three-hour match, Olympic fans missed Australia’s victory over Greece in the preliminary round of the men’s water polo, Australia’s synchronised diving champions Sharleen Stratton and Briony Cole compete in the 3m springboard final, Michael Diamond in the men’s trap shooting final, and a number of rowing heats.
The station’s official website was quickly swamped with messages of disgust from viewers after the AFL match kicked off at 2.40pm AEST.
A Channel 7 spokesman in Beijing said the station had to comply with previous contractual arrangements with the AFL (to broadcast one 2 1/2-hour AFL game every Sunday for a five-year period) and that viewers should switch to “complementary broadcaster” SBS.
Viewers said Channel 7′s call was “sneaky” and “a disgrace”.
“Football is on and televised every weekend, but Olympics comes every four years,” one viewer wrote.
“Channel 7 … do not say you have exclusive rights and then deprive us of seeing our favourites once in four years sport, by showing regular weekly football.”
Three days into the event, what has your experience been of the Olympics coverage?
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The Link said | August 11th 2008 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
Makes sense in VIC / SA, maybe in WA / TAS but not NSW / QLD to show this game over the Olympics.
Michael C said | August 11th 2008 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
The Link -
agreed – - I’m surprised,…..perhaps pleasantly I guess, but surprised nonetheless.
Now- – hopefully we’ll see all those massive fans of diving come on here – despite the absence of a diving tab – and defend to the death that Ch.7 ought not be showing such scant regard for them.
Ideally the below quote says it all -
“A Channel 7 spokesman in Beijing said the station had to comply with previous contractual arrangements with the AFL (to broadcast one 2 1/2-hour AFL game every Sunday for a five-year period) and that viewers should switch to “complementary broadcaster” SBS.”
— but, you gotta wonder what the escape clauses would amount to……surely there’s an escape clause? Surely Ch.7 might even be able to buy their way out?
or….is the AFL contract that good? Huge penalty clause??
Pippinu said | August 11th 2008 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
I actually saw that water polo game (or a tiny bit of it anyway) – I assure all and sundry, it doesn’t matter how much you hate Australian Football – you could never possibly enjoy watching a game of water polo more – it’s an impossibility – doesn’t matter who’s playing.
cosmos forever said | August 11th 2008 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
Frankly – no coverage on 7 is only marginally worse than the coverage they do provide so I just expect things like this. I reckon thought that the AFL itself needs to be a bit careful of this. It’s their stipulation and ch 7 will get sick of defending themselves over coming weeks. They may start throwing it back at the AFL, who could come off looking arrogant – demanding their sport be shown in lieu of olympic sport. Only a small risk, but a risk I reckon.
Redb said | August 11th 2008 @ 7:45pm | Report comment
I suggest all those people who complained demand their subscription money be refunded immediately.
I;m shocked that Ch 7 showed the game live in NSW and QLD. Can’t seem to keep anyone happy.
Redb
Lenny said | August 11th 2008 @ 10:30pm | Report comment
I can’t believe channel 7′s sports selection. Presumably they’d have researched it thoroughly…and yet I found myself tonight watching the men’s synchronised diving for 30 mins (no Australians in it) while waiting to see the men’s 8 rowing (James Tompiks…have they heard of him?). It was eventually shown an hour later. Very poor scheduling IMO…
Any how about letting us know what’s going to be on…and when? Lift your game please 7.
jimbo said | August 11th 2008 @ 10:41pm | Report comment
Pip,
I did watch the Aussie water polo team, mainly to see how a shot clock would work, but I must say I did enjoy the water polo more than the AFL. The rules are similar to football and they showed a lot of skill and stamina the way they moved in the water and fired in those amazing shots while treading water.
7 shows the AFL in the middle of the Olympics because it paid more pre minute for the TV rights to the AFL than it did per minute for the Olympics coverage – a lot more.
Pippinu said | August 11th 2008 @ 11:03pm | Report comment
Jimbo
You enjoyed the water polo?
Next you’ll be telling me that your lobbying your local member for more funding for the Australian underwater hockey team!
Pippinu said | August 11th 2008 @ 11:09pm | Report comment
Jimbo
So what were your conclusions re the shot clock?
The thing is that with games such as Basketball and water polo, without a shot clock, teams could bascially hold onto the ball for half an hour, and you’d never get it back off them.
But with soccer, while you might be able to hold onto the ball a bit more in your own half, it’s a bit harder to hold onto it in the opposition half – and if teams want the ball bad enough, they can dedicate more numbers upfield to pressing the opposition.
So, I’m wondering whether a shot clock is really needed.
jimbo said | August 11th 2008 @ 11:14pm | Report comment
The shot clock didn’t seem to bother those water polo guys as much as I thought it would and didn’t see any handovers.
BTW their horses were really well trained the way they could hold their breath under water.
What about if we played AFL or football in water that deep, wouldn’t it look funny on the big screen?