But the A-League is a difficult call… especially the cross over period when the winter codes are at their height, addationally RU now also plan to play in the same months…

My guess is the money offered was way short of what Fox want … For Fox to get what it wants the FTA want information that only Fox and maybe FFA have and Fox do not want to give it away…

Interestingly I was told if a FTA network .. being 9 or 10 managered to get both RL & Football they would win the ratings over 7…. refer somewhere in an article I wrote sometime back http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/24/the-next-round-of-media-deals/

Prowler, I’ll give you points for bravery in making such an admission on a sports website!! You’re quite right about the CLT20, it got massive coverage even away from ONE HD where it was broadcast, and there will be plenty of interest in NSW and Vic T20 games as a result when the Big Bash starts. Big Bash games rate very well on Fox Sports, and you’d certainly hope at some point that domestic T20 can have a FTA presence..

PS I dont mind better homes and gardens. Quite helpful for good living

I actually can’t comment too much on the A-L becuase I don’t see a lot of it. I do like Simon Hill as a commentator though, so if any other network used their own callers, Hill is my benchmark. (Of course, another option for this idea is a simulcast of the Fox telecast – then you could have Simon Hill himself. Plenty of AFL games in NSW and Qld involve Fox simulcasts, by the way, so it could be done)

But as long as the production is good, I don’t particularly care which watermark is in the top corner, no…

I know I would find it hard to watch the cricket anywhere else other than Channel 9. I love hearing the familiar voices every summer and people like Greg Blewett who get commentary jobs overseas simply aren’t up to the standard I expect, but those are the kind of guys you’d get calling the games on Channel 7 or OneHD.

As for football, well you have an even bigger problem. The commentary on Fox is derisory, I can’t see how a channel that isn’t dedicated to sport that has no considerable invest in the game would do any better.

I am totally in agreement that one of the games must come to FTA on Friday nights, but not to the detriment of the game. If it comes, it must be a quality package, quality entertainment, not a hodge-podge for the sake of cash.

I haven’t worked in the TV industry but I can imagine how Foxtel works, at least the principle behind the business and I’d imagine there is no “cap” in place, imaginary or otherwise as to how many people they can attract to their service.

The management will know that Australia is a “limited” market but they’ll also know that their current subscription numbers can be improved upon, your statement of “Fox Sports can’t really grow its audience much more than it already is” would get you fired if you worked there. Yes they can and yes they will.

They will simply have to move with the times, offer more for less, look at utilising the internet and try and do some educated guessing on the future of sports which means predicting trends of which sports will boom in Australia (they’re on a winner in football), how the different business models are changing and find additional business, perhaps they’ll look at affiliating with some of their advertising partners on a more performance orientated payment basis, I don’t know what their plans are but I can assure you, they will never plateau, it’s a Murdoch company, he didn’t get where he is by resting on his laurels and he wouldn’t have someone in charge of a company like that that didn’t have hunger.

Infrastructure is non-existant, local clubs already have to travel great distances to play matches in their local leagues, how are advancing teams going to afford and be able to coordinate these games?

Sorry but it will never work in Aus. Europe is compact, you travel a few minutes to the next town, in Aus it can take hours, driving interstate can take a day, the idea of an FA-Cup style comp would be great for Football, AFL even, cricket possibly but it is a mere pipedream.

Here’s the thing. M.Clarke would be a very good T20 player if he played more of it particularly at the domestic level. But at the moment he’s not playing it regularly enough and quite often playing guys who have so much more expereince as you have stated.

I think it’s the first thing we are actually in agreement on.

And I will bang on about it again and again till it happens.

Get the final 10 game with the A-League teams in the local tele.

I played in the UK in a lower Non League Divisions and found it awesome to think that we were part of a FA cup although we didnt get any where a mate of mine did and played Leicester city and got flogged 6 – 0 but it was the best and biggest crowd he has ever played to.

What is does is connect the State Leagues with the A- League. Its an easy way to set it up all 10 A- leagues get automatic promotion.

Then 10 spots are for every FFA register club in the country in a play off type comp. Spots are as follows – 2 VIc , 2 NSW, 1 QLD, 1 WA, 1 SA, 1 Can, 1 NT / TAS. or even include a NZ team or even rotate the spots. Play offs can take part of the regular season and may take 2 years to complete for the State Leagues.

Imagine Redland City Devils play Sydney F.C and then get the replay game because of a draw. Then get a home game to play SFC at home imagine the crowd. 3000 all howling for Redlands. it will be awesome and generate a real interest in the A – League. We know a couple thing about football in Australia and that is that there are more than 610,000 register players. Who play every week. We know that there is a massive following for the Socceroos in fact 6.5 million people got up at 3.30am in the morning to watch them play Croatia. Dont tell me people dont follow football we just have to engage them at a local level what better way to connect with a game of football.

I’m a little despondent with our current crop of selectors actually. They seemed to have sat back on their lorels while we had the McGrath’s, Warne’s and Langer’s believing the good times will never end. Only to be caught out when they retired within a relatively short time period. Don’t get me wrong, I think we will soon be the top side once again in World Cricket as the talent that was waiting in the wings is definitely beginning to show itself but they should have been given the necessary exposure much earlier in order to move into the opening eassier. The same can be said for their understanding of T20. They are sticking with the tried and true and avoiding for the most part the risk. T20 is unlike Test or ODI’s and its rapidly becoming aspecialists game. Like I said giving the Big Bash a higher profile and more exposure through public opinion it could force them to bite the bullet.

If having the match of the round on FTA could get more to the non-televised game then its certianly worth it.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/05/04/making-city-country-mean-something/ (May this year)