Comments on: The media dictates the popularity of sports in Australia

By: matty1974

matty1974 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:09:33 +0000

Beaver Fever, your above example sums up the point of the main article, that the commercial media will over emphasise the sport/competetions that they have a commercial interest in.
There used to be a time (before the code wars began to really explode) that i would have taken a greater interest in Aussie rules and rugby league, but now rarely watch any sports show on channels 7,9 and 10, due to overwhelming bias they give to AFL and RL in relation to my preferred sport, football.
I think the commercial media have forced fans to increasingly choose one code, to the exclusion of all others.
Compare the sports coverage of 7,9,10 etc to this mornings ABC (which has no real commercial interests) Offsiders. The main story covered was the A League GF, reflecting that it was the biggest event this weekend, but it also gave time to the 3 other football codes and cricket.

By: bever fever

bever fever — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:52:49 +0000

The AGE sponsors the Melbourne Victory soccer team, both the Executive editor David Dick and Sports editor, Alex Lavelle are both poms and soccer fans, from what i have read they seem to give them a extroadinary amount of coverage beyond their popularity.

The two most senior sports staff at that paper are soccer fans, would not know a sherrin from a steeden.

By: Damo

Damo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:50:42 +0000

to your comment – foot in the mouth?

By: tommy

tommy — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:52:00 +0000

to many of the comments- chip on your shoulder?

By: Redb

Redb — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:36:36 +0000

What rubbish. Melb Victory get mentioned in sports report on both Ch 9 and 10 in the news.

The AGE sponsor Victory ensuring a steady stream of articles and the Herald Sun now sponsor Melb Heart.

Victory are one just 1 club with 10 other AFL clubs , all with similiar size (except Ess, Coll & Carl) regular supporter bases.

AFL club membership – 400,000

Victory membersip – 20,000.

That’s 20 to 1. The media would be crazy to ignore those numbers and they don’t.

By: Redb

Redb — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:31:46 +0000

I think we know who is bashing a sport.

By: Chuq

Chuq — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:30:33 +0000

“Highest paid footballer – Harry Kewell $9.5 Million per year”

Playing Devil’s Advocate: “But he plays overseas, that shouldn’t count … what about footballers playing within Australia?”

Football wins that too – Top 3 salaries of footballers of any code in Australia:
Robbie Fowler
John Aloisi
Jason Culina

By: Al

Al — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:29:49 +0000

It is worse in Melbourne, there is almost zero coverage of the A-League or the Victory except for pay TV. Since the AFL took control of SEN, they no longer broadcast Victory games (except on their digital channel which is probably accessibly to 3 people), there are hardly any highlights in the mainstream news sports reports and sometimes not even mention of the scores of any games. The only time however that coverage will be ample is when a soccer “riot” (usually consisting of a 14 year old girl sneezing too loudly) is reported as “soccah violence” by the AFL run media in an attempt to further tarnish the sport and libel its supporters (again).
For the Victory to be getting crowds of 20,000+ without any positive media backing whatsover is impressive.

By: Al

Al — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:24:10 +0000

Do you do anything except for bashing “soccer” and talking up the great Australian game (or should that be shame)?

By: True Tah

True Tah — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:14:04 +0000

I think that Damo was getting at that (i.e EPL coverage does impair HAL coverage).

On Foxtel, EPL gets a hell of a lot more advertising than the HAL.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:06:57 +0000

Its not just sport. Look right now given to the coverage over Prince William.. seriosuly, does anyone care that he is in the country – yet the media have been covering him non-stop.

He was in Sydney yesterday and there was not one word from the people at work (especially the girls). Yet when David Beckham was here last, it was crazy. In comparasion, a lot more media attention has been given to him.

I suppose they have their agendas. With new media, however, this will change, as people become more infomred about the avenues to access infomration they want to access (like this site!).

By: MV Dave

MV Dave — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:03:58 +0000

“I personally think that English soccer coverage on free to air is way over the top” Where can you see English football on FTA ?(unless you are talking about 10 second snippets on the sports news). Its only available on pay tv. l’d agree that ALeague goal highlights should be shown on sports news before and if necessary, in place of EPL goals.

By: Redb

Redb — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:00:52 +0000

SBS have a good run on Monday nights. Top Gear then Man V Wild.

By: Damo

Damo — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:57:29 +0000

Adrian has a subjective argument without research based evidence. But I have no doubt that certain codes get hyped by certain ‘news’ outlets and boycotted by others.
But the argument that the media only puts on what the people want is equally subjective
I personally think that English soccer coverage on free to air is way over the top. Where are the masses screaming for that? Surely the Soceroos are more relevant.
English soccer coverage makes as much sense as watching gridiron. Fine if you like it but really not something the masses asked for.
.AFL players breaking their fingernails and AFL coaches moving house seems like code pushing news to me.

My subjective view is that of a free-to-air-starved rugby fan.

By: poil

poil — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:04:48 +0000

I doubt your figures especially then you argue that they had the highest female participation rate (did somebody forget to include netball?) and the largest average participation (not when they can’t even fill Bruce Stadium). I don’t even think the average Australian has any idea that the Socceroos are playing sometimes let alone Australian sides in the ACL.

By: ItsCalledFootball

ItsCalledFootball — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:17:18 +0000

I think people are interested in the FIFA WC because of the game they play – football.

The Rugby codes have been going on for as long as football and if Rugby League was as popular a game as football, then the Kangaroos would be playing in a similar tournament as the FIFA WC,

Football is the number one football code because:
· Highest football code participation rates in Australia among all ages, male and female
· Highest number of registered players, clubs and officials in Australia
· Highest Australian FTA TV ratings – 7.1 Million viewers Socceroos v Japan 2006 WC at 2am in the morning – Roy Morgan Research
· Top 2 rating Australian Pay TV sports matches Socceroos – Foxtel
· Highest sports team international TV Ratings – Socceroos 2006 WC
· Highest Club football International TV ratings – Adelaide United v Gamba Osaka
· Highest average crowd attendances – Socceroos 2006-2009
· Highest number of professional footballers playing overseas
· Highest paid footballer – Harry Kewell $9.5 Million per year
· Highest football player transfer fee – Harry Kewell $11.2 Million

By: ItsCalledFootball

ItsCalledFootball — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:00:33 +0000

The Rugby codes have been going for as long as football around the world and the Kangaroos would be playing in a FIFA type World Cup tournament if the game of rugby league was just as popular as football.
Obviously it aint.

By: Springs

Springs — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:57:00 +0000

Look at the crowds? So what? What other sport is bigger in Sydney?

The NRL when compared with other comps around the world does very well, it is the premier domestic rugby comp of either code. NSW games easily outdraw the socceroos, I’m sure if the socceroos only played the all whites every year for 100 or so years there would be even less support than the kangaroos. League tests have always been well supported… until Super League. Origin has since overtaken, but tests still get large support for large events (44K in Bris when Aus played GB in 2006, as large as the socceroos game in Sydney last year, 50K for WC Final).

Why does the socceroos major WC qualifying games always outdraw the smaller ones? Because the public is interested in the WC, more than the actual socceroos. If the kangaroos competed in a soccer-sized World Cup, interest in them would skyrocket. 0

By: AndyRoo

AndyRoo — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:43:11 +0000

I will say in leagues defence their is possibly more water cooler interest in who is selected for the kangaroos and in what position than the actual games so the build up is somewhat justified.

By: keeper11

keeper11 — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:35:52 +0000

the other question is does australia really have a ‘national ‘ media ?
to me it seems it is still provincial and state based…which suits our two inherentle state based sports NRL and AFL to the detriment of truly ‘national sports like football, tennis, b asketball, athletics….
( exception: cricket is the accepted true national sport and also not a perceived threat to either NRL/AFL )

league and AFL enjoy obvious favourtism, support and protection in their ‘respective’ home towns..

the Teles attitude and fear campaign re the new western AFL team and long indifference to sydney fc is a case in point..
ditto the Herald Suns ongoing hostility to all things ‘sockah’…

league always trumpets ‘sydney is a league town’…is it really ..
it gets AFL type coverage but look at the crowds ??

and support for the kangaroos is embarrasing yet any league test match gets wall to wall coverage in the week before the match ….
compare to the feeble coverage for socceroos matches who are now undisputedly a bigger drawcard in sydney.
but that fact doesn’t suit many in the sydney media whose loyalty is to league….

League dominates in sydney media obviously because of the help of its news-limited and ch9 media mates.
but i would say mainly due the fact league has gained by not being a truly national code .
it is still inherently sydney /nsw centric with over half the clubs ..
so a semi national provincial game perfectly suits our provincial state based tv, newspapers and radio like the Tele and 2Gb/ 2ue/2ky..etc..

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:51:39 +0000

AJ as a futbol supporter i definitely feel that way about FTA coverage, Last week despite the top of the table match between SFC and GCU the a-league was still basically invisible on tv.

Yet 10 and 7 found time to spruik the AFL with off season non-stories. I guess thats what they feel they need to do having shelled out so heavily for the broadcast rights. It gets back to Adrians point that with some sports the media is driving the market as oppoosd to responding to it. Fox might be bursting at the seems with futbol but because its a small player it doesnt have the power to influence that the major networks do

Anyway mate, take a break from Fox and get yourself refreshed in time for the WC.

By: Mick

Mick — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:37:15 +0000

Leyton Hewitt should of stayed playing the local courts in Adelaide instead of trying of taking on the world, that way Patrick Smith might of had some respect for him…….

By: Foxy Loxy

Foxy Loxy — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:21:26 +0000

“Soccer” isn’t sport? Looking at some of those alleged “sports” bulletins, its the only sport.

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:18:35 +0000

i think the point being made is that soccer isnt the only sport going around

By: Sth Auckland First XV

Sth Auckland First XV — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:09:04 +0000

Agree totally with the title of this article.

By: Forgetmenot

Forgetmenot — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:39:09 +0000

Most arguments about footballs dominance in the Australian media, can be said about soccers dominance in most of the rest of the worlds media.
Although… i love how in some of the football states occasionally they will do the football news, and then say “…and now to sport”.

By: pimbo

pimbo — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:06:15 +0000

“Soccer” isn’t sport?

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:55:54 +0000

all that shows to me is australias love of crap tv- TT, ACA, 2.5men aaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhh

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:54:18 +0000

i was thinking of getting fox primarily for the sports channels. having had access to them whilst at work (on mines, every room has fox) I will not be getting for because whilst I enjoy a bit of soccer i simply cant cope with so much of it. i am sick to death of bosnich, robbie and that other bloke. it was nice to have a bit of cricket over the last few weeks. having said that it is understandable that a soccer supporter may feel the same way about FTA, however i feel that soccer is far more dominating of fox then league or football are of their respective broadcasters

By: ItsCalledFootball

ItsCalledFootball — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:48:57 +0000

AFL TV ratings in Sydney are pathetic – they get a lot of people at games, mainly ex-southerners now living and working in Sydney. No one else cares.

The number one football code in Australia is football.