Channel Nine set to disappoint Wallabies fans
Roar Guru 
4,368 reads
Channel Nine appear set to snub the Wallabies’ crucial Pool C encounter with Ireland on Saturday September 17, with the match playing second-fiddle to the NRL semi-finals and likely be shown on a three-hour delay at 9.45pm, with digital channel GEM currently not planned to be utilised.
Broadcast information obtained by The Roar on Friday indicated that the match, kicking off at 6:30pm (AEST) on September 17, would be broadcast into Sydney and Brisbane at 9.45pm upon the completion of the NRL semi-final, played at 7.30pm.
Melbourne and Adelaide fans will wait until five hours after the kick-off, with the match screened at 11.30pm while fans in Perth will see the match at 8.00pm local time.
When contacted by the The Roar, Channel Nine’s programming department confirmed that at this stage the match would be shown at 9.45pm.
They were unable to confirm whether they would be re-scheduling the match to Nine’s digital channel GEM, with Nine currently preferring to broadcast a double episode of Antiques Roadshow at 6.30pm AEST.
Currently, the interim anti-siphoning list requires Australian test matches to be shown first (or at least simultaneously) on Nine’s main channel as a Tier B event.
But Nine’s decision broadcast the two Bledisloe Cup matches live on GEM to Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian audiences last month, following an amendment to the Broadcasting Services Act sets the precedent for the matches to be shown on GEM.
A similiar amendment would allow the matches to be broadcast live, making Nine’s current stance on next Saturday night a difficult one to fathom.
CEO David Gyngell boasted Nine “truly are the Wide World of Sports” – but the preference for NRL ratings will be hard to stomach for rugby fans who had been counting on Nine for their free-to-air coverage.
The Roar calls on Channel Nine to broadcast this vital Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup match live for sports fans across Australia.
Full Rugby World Cup fixtures and TV guide
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- 2011 Rugby World Cup, Channel Nine, Ireland Rugby, wallabies
September 9th 2011 @ 2:10pm
AC said | September 9th 2011 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Disappointing. But once again, hardly surprising.
September 9th 2011 @ 2:23pm
Brett McKay said | September 9th 2011 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
coming the same day they’re set now to show tonight opener live into the southern states on GEM, this is very confusing information being spread by Nine…
September 9th 2011 @ 2:43pm
Ken said | September 9th 2011 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
I think there is a method to their madness even though it’s infuriating for sports fans. Live on Ch9 is out because of the NRL (contractually and ratings wise they weren’t going to bump it). So the options are delayed on Ch9 or live on GEM.
Ch9 obviously feel that they’ll get a better audience delayed on the main channel than they will live on GEM – especially when they would be competing against the NRL. I suspect that they are right.
This approach also fits with their method of advertising the WC which ramps up heavily during NRL matches (not just normal ads but getting the commentators to push the WC during the game). Again it’s not a bad tactic, plenty of RL fans are casual RU fans – running the game straight after a NRL final will bring a big carry-over audience.
September 9th 2011 @ 3:29pm
simon said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Here’s an idea….
Show it live on GEM for people who aren’t interested in NRL
Show a repeat on Ch9 for those who are
September 9th 2011 @ 4:33pm
Mick said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
Exactly. Well said.
But I guess they will lose the Antiques roadshow people (but they might gain the rugby diehards like us who’d potentially watch the wallabies twice in a row… but then again, most of us would find a way to afford Foxtel, and just watch it there).
September 9th 2011 @ 7:55pm
clipper said | September 9th 2011 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
Simon, spot on. Also run the risk of seeing some RL if it goes overtime, and it’s hard not to catch updates these days before watching the delayed telecast. Also why can’t they play some US open, especially since ‘our Sam’ is playing in the semis. no wonder 9 is going down the gurgler.
September 9th 2011 @ 10:40pm
Galaxy Hop said | September 9th 2011 @ 10:40pm | Report comment
Or go to a pub/RSL to watch it on Foxtel?
September 9th 2011 @ 2:35pm
Mango Jack said | September 9th 2011 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Give 9 a break. We’re talking a blockbuster Antique Roadshow double header here.
September 9th 2011 @ 3:21pm
Chris said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
Channel Nine has been screwing Rugby League fans and Cricket fans for years.
Their shambolic approach to the Rugby World Cup is just par for the course for this joke of a TV station.
Anyway, just to get you in the mood I defy anyone to listen to this at a full volume and not be moved:
September 9th 2011 @ 4:44pm
King of the Gorgonites said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
thats from the last RWC.
The new album is now out. Hayley Westarana sings the world in union.
September 9th 2011 @ 11:47pm
robbo said | September 9th 2011 @ 11:47pm | Report comment
so much better
September 10th 2011 @ 3:31am
C.K said | September 10th 2011 @ 3:31am | Report comment
Robbo, there’s always one of you. Just can’t stay in your drain.
September 9th 2011 @ 3:31pm
King of the Gorgonites said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
It is mixed messages from channel 9.
they are now showing tonights game live on GEM.
however, they are not even going to show the ireland match on GEM live.
two thoughts-
nine must think they will get better ratings is its not shown on GEM but then on 9 straight after the RL.
other thought is that perhaps NRL have put pressure on 9 not to show it live and detract from there ratings, espically as a massive tv deal is currently being negiaoted. the nrl would not have liked the same network that is broadcasting one of their biggest games taking away from their audience with their own channel.
thank the Lord i have foxtel.
September 9th 2011 @ 4:09pm
BlackWave said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
“They are now showing tonights game live on GEM.”
????????????
They are?!
September 9th 2011 @ 4:20pm
Tristan Rayner said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
GEM have confirmed that Melb/Adel/Perth will have tonight’s game LIVE as well as ARG vs ENG LIVE
September 9th 2011 @ 4:29pm
Will Sinclair said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
So not live into Sydney and Brisbane?
What the hell is going on?
(I’ll be watching Tigers v Saints but would have been flicking during breaks in play to the rugby…)
September 9th 2011 @ 5:48pm
Seiran said | September 9th 2011 @ 5:48pm | Report comment
But not Brisbane??? Are we not worthy?
Oh well. If they want to continue to show me so much dis-service I will continue to watch the rugby free on the below webstream
http://www.freefootball.eu
September 9th 2011 @ 7:56pm
BlackWave said | September 9th 2011 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
But you see the thing is………I’m in Sydney.
September 10th 2011 @ 8:09am
Tim said | September 10th 2011 @ 8:09am | Report comment
Unbievable!!
September 9th 2011 @ 3:33pm
Rough Conduct said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
This was always going to happen, who at the ARU though that 9 would give rugby a decent run? They should be sacked.
September 9th 2011 @ 3:38pm
p.Tah said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
The ARU sold the rights to Fox, fox onsold them to 9. I don’t believe the ARU had much of a say.
September 9th 2011 @ 3:51pm
Rough Conduct said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
Do you think the AFL adminstration would let something like this happen? The ARU had plenty of say when they negotiated the original contract.
September 9th 2011 @ 3:54pm
Brett McKay said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
PT, I believe Nine bought the FTA rights directly, but that their bid obviously involved getting pictures from Fox. Don’t think there was any onselling…
September 9th 2011 @ 5:56pm
Seiran said | September 9th 2011 @ 5:56pm | Report comment
there should have been a ‘live’ use it or lose it clause.
I’m sure the ABC or SBS would have scooped it up.
September 9th 2011 @ 10:08pm
p.Tah said | September 9th 2011 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
If that’s the case, they need to hang their heads in shame.
September 9th 2011 @ 3:57pm
joe.blackswan said | September 9th 2011 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
ch9 and ch7 really do burn sports viewers….the ARU should make more of an effort to get terestial stations to fall into line with rugby broadcasts.
Best thing afl has done is sell live broadcast (and simulcast) rights for every game to foxtel, this will force channel 7 to improve it’s friday night game broadcast time. Out west the game has already finished before televised kick-off and given that everyone has a smart phone the result is known and interest in the game is zero….I could be wrong though, perhaps Better Homes and Gardens brings a carry over audience.
September 9th 2011 @ 4:11pm
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
Begs the question that if Ch9 doesn’t regards Rugby World Cup as worth showing live and instead prefers NRL, then why did they bother bidding for the Rugby at all?
Personally it looks to me that if the ARU wants to grow the game then it needs to have a good look at it’s strategy for doing so. For starters we need a quality competition between club level & Super15. If we’re serious that is.
September 9th 2011 @ 4:27pm
Jeff said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
I feel for all you RU folks (me included) who expected Ch 9 to show these games.. Once again a Major Sporting event has been bought by a Channel that don’t give a hoot about the Sort.
Complain in your Masses directly to Ch 9 and also to the ARU… start NOW!.
I am an avid NRL fan, but also love to watch RU and AFL, wouldn’t it be good to be able to chose which one I want to watch on any given night!.. But, guess Nine will plump for a 1960s Movie or “Farmer wants a ****” instead. c’mon folks, Whinge more than you ever done before!.
September 9th 2011 @ 4:41pm
oikee said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
Such dramatics Jeff, its on straight after the league on nine, if your a fan then watch it. No need to carry on, league gets shafted all the time. I will be watching it as will many thousands of others.
September 10th 2011 @ 12:10am
Jeff said | September 10th 2011 @ 12:10am | Report comment
Hey Oikee, don’t forget that here in Melbourne we didn’t get the Dragon’s game until 10pm (On Foxtel). and believe me, I thought that was brilliant, usually the game is only starting when tonight’s finishes. I did get to see a bit of RU game. but Mrs won the argument and we watched Tennis .. lol. OOoops, and Nine still showed the NRL at midnight!!
Enjoy the game tomorrow. Foxtel will show us both games LIVE, I hope!.
September 9th 2011 @ 4:35pm
oikee said | September 9th 2011 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
I will be watching the game after the rugby league game. I think 9 has it right, most leaguies will fall straight into the game after the NRL game. You cant expect much more from the southern states who watch AFL.
Update, just heard that they have ejected wallabies fans from the cloud. They are unruly and not welcome.
Kiddies knocked to ground in a rush by kiwis behaving badly. Many complaints, ferries shut down due to overcrowding, Auckland struggling to cope with big time atmosphere. IRB chairmen locked outta ground by security.
Its like the comedy festival, wish i was their. Kiwis stopping traffic and doing Haka in the streets.
And to think riverfire host’s 500,000 every year without much of a hiccup.