NAB Cup banished from free to air
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9,331 readsThe AFL rarely give an inch, so the banishing of the NAB Cup from Free To Air television will come as a major surprise to fans and cricket officials envious of the coverage the code receives in the Eastern states during the summer months.
Though the $1.253 billion television rights deal was signed late in April last year, the reality is that most football fans will only realise that the NAB Cup is not being shown on Channel 7 when they flick through the television guide at some stage this week.
Channel 7 will show the NAB Grand Final to be played a week out from the official AFL opening Round match between the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants, however by then 18 full and 18 half games will have been played.
Having Fox won’t guarantee coverage of many NAB Cup games as the pay television network is only covering matches played at major AFL venues.
Clubs like to play down NAB Cup results and we’ve become accustomed to under strength sides taking the field for what are glorified practice matches, but the lack of coverage leading into the AFL season will raise eyebrows, particularly in Victoria where AFL is in the news cycle 12 months of the year.
Given the advent of multiple digital stations, it’s surprising that the AFL didn’t negotiate for some NAB Cup coverage on Seven Two. For once it seems the AFL is guilty of selling its product short.
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February 13th 2012 @ 10:56am
Blazza said | February 13th 2012 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Yeah I only found this out yesterday and was a bit disappointed I couldn’t watch some early season matches involving my Lions.
Is it a mistake not to have any games on 7 ? Or does this just show its a meaningless comp which should be removed. No other sport that i know has pre season competition.
February 13th 2012 @ 11:39am
Gucci said | February 13th 2012 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Perhaps it’s a meaningless comp, but I still wouldn’t mind watching it. I think most AFL fans would love to see some games after a half year hiatus. From a ratings point of view, would ch 7 have anything better to show on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for the coming month or so anyway?
February 13th 2012 @ 11:58am
Blazza said | February 13th 2012 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Footy is footy right, pre season or not atleast AFL has games on tv. In the NRL they have a game called the charity shield game between souths and st george on foxsports, every other games are just news stories.
February 13th 2012 @ 1:23pm
oikee said | February 13th 2012 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
We have world club challenge, All-stars, Charity sheild and the comp starts before AFL. Mid year we have origin and end of year we have 4 nations and every four years world cup.
League fans are well catered for, plus we sometimes get English super league, you can tape it on Nine.
You might say it pays to be a league fan, plus it will only get better next deal.
February 13th 2012 @ 1:30pm
Blazza said | February 13th 2012 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Yes sorry i forgot the W.C.C who everyone wakes up early to watch on foxsports. a game only one group of society cares about and another where 2 clubs play for a pre season trophy. So yes sorry about that i forgot.
February 13th 2012 @ 2:08pm
Redb said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Oikee,
This is about pre season, those games are one offs. The NAB Cup is a whole tournament.
February 14th 2012 @ 9:21am
Lucan said | February 14th 2012 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Is much cheaper for 7 to screen a re-run movie, reality show, soapie.
The live production and broadcast of the footy would be an expensive exercise, the ratings return/paid advertising for NAB Cup matches would not justify it for the money men at 7 HQ.
February 13th 2012 @ 2:05pm
TomC said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
It’s even worse for us poor Lions fans, Blazza. Even on Fox Footy the only game we get is the mickey-mouse round robin contest in round one.
February 13th 2012 @ 11:09am
plotter said | February 13th 2012 @ 11:09am | Report comment
I’ll be at the pub watching this weekend…
February 13th 2012 @ 11:37am
Redb said | February 13th 2012 @ 11:37am | Report comment
The NAB Cup was only on Foxtel last season as well.
February 13th 2012 @ 11:37am
Redb said | February 13th 2012 @ 11:37am | Report comment
The NAB Cup was only on Foxtel last season as well.
February 13th 2012 @ 11:55am
Andyc said | February 13th 2012 @ 11:55am | Report comment
In previous seasons Foxtel and AFL free to air rights holders have split the coverage.
February 13th 2012 @ 1:40pm
Brian said | February 13th 2012 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
The AFL have devalued this competition for a good 20 years now. In the 1980′s and 1990′s night premierships used to mean something – no more. This year you can even be knocked out without losing a game. Given all that I think the AFL is right to limit coverage, builds up anticipation for the real stuff in late March.
February 13th 2012 @ 2:06pm
Redb said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
I think Friday night football (and Sat night) killed some of the point of difference in the old Night Premiership.
The NAB Cup is great for that first taste of footy and a chance for the up and coming clubs to excite their fans, eg: Essendon last year.
February 13th 2012 @ 2:23pm
Dwaynos said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
Pretty pathetic I think. As a mad footy fan I always love to see the pre-season games as it gives you a chance to see a lot of the younger players as well as new recruits/game styles etc. Can’t believe it’s not on 7mate or anything at least. Not sure who runs 7 but they are seriously letting down millions of fans keen to get their early dose of AFL. So what will be on TV instead??? Re-runs of Home And Away or crap like that?? Maybe a tenth showing of Forrest Gump? Not sure how hard it can be to give up a 3 hour slot, maybe two or three times a weekend.. It’s just the NAB Cup I know, not overly important result wise, but we as fans should be given the chance to see our team and the young players on show. Poor effort 7.
February 17th 2012 @ 11:19am
gayle1 said | February 17th 2012 @ 11:19am | Report comment
I have to say I agree with Dwaynos. I never really ‘believed’ in the NAB at the start, and back then I would not have cared about it not being televised free. But since then I have learned to appreciate seeing the young up-and-comers. I certainly don’t mind giving money to the AFL in memberships etc, but there are many poor fans out there who can neither afford pay-TV nor to go to games or pubs. The AFL has sold out the fans.
February 20th 2012 @ 4:24am
Luke McEwan said | February 20th 2012 @ 4:24am | Report comment
TOTALY AGREE DRWAYNOS & GAYLE! how could chan 7 make this deal half way through last year and have %85 off all fans only come to know this the week before NAB cup kicks off! although $1.2+ billion is a good chunk of cash towards AFL for the FOX rights deal, the bottom line is the AFL has been making substancial profit year after year, there should have been at least replays of the NAB cup games on chan 7 after they played live on FOX.
i spose it will always come down to… “the world revolves around money” it only takes one man to make a change of this & slowly but surely the world would become a much better place to be & more of society would follow & thrive, care and share.
open your god dam eyes AFL board and admit you have got this all wrong, home is where the heart is. it shouldnt be your wallets.
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March 24th 2012 @ 11:53am
Brad norton said | March 24th 2012 @ 11:53am | Report comment
I agree can not afford fox so will be going of afl and watch a sport that the poor man and kids can watch for free so sad it comes down to greed and not the sport like club loyalty players jumping ship for the dollar I had players when I was young that inspired me on my top jacket but now you have to change it every year greedy afl you are wrecking a great Aussie game
February 13th 2012 @ 2:27pm
NF said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
AFL fans shouldn’t complain about media coverage at all, you’re got a 24/7 channel Australia wide, here in QLD it’s shown live and FTA every week with constant coverage. Pre-season isn’t really that important anyway
February 13th 2012 @ 2:49pm
adam214 said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
I don’t like the format of the mickey mouse cup but ill be watching the Port Adelaide game……so long as it doesnt clash with the Adelaide United game.
February 13th 2012 @ 2:52pm
Stam said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Just for clarification does 7 have the rights and are deciding not to show it or does foxtel have exclusive rights?
February 13th 2012 @ 2:55pm
Redb said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
I might be wrong, but I think Foxtel have the NAB Cup exclusively bar the GF.
Its probably worth more to the AFL to sell to Foxtel exclusively then allow it to be shown on 7two for stuff all.
February 13th 2012 @ 3:01pm
Matt F said | February 13th 2012 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Channel 7 will show the NAB Cup final (alongside Foxtel) but they will take Foxtels feed so I’m guessing that Foxtel has the rights but the AFL probably ensured that the final would also be on FTA. Whether channel 7 made a play for the NAB Cup rights and was outbid, or just didn’t want them is another matter.
There’s a good FAQ section on the foxtel website
http://www.foxtel.com.au/support/fox-footy-channel/faqs/default.htm#subtopic8
I liked how Eddie not commentating Collingwood games was worthy of it’s own question
February 13th 2012 @ 3:04pm
Johnno said | February 13th 2012 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
Pay tv if it wins the right should have 100% right to it. Ban the anti-siphoning laws. Don’t all you people whinging about no free to air, reali if the AFL was 100% pay tv , the players would make more money, and more money for the AFL industry and everyone it employs. And a likelihood that talented aussie rules players will stay with AFL rather than go to another code that maybe exclusively free to air.
Pro Sport is entertainment like a movie, it is not for free you want high class entertainment it is not for free, and that’s the way ALF should be.
February 13th 2012 @ 3:10pm
Blazza said | February 13th 2012 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
Hahahahaha Johnno you complaining about the AFL losing players to another code is a joke right ? You have lost how many players to what sports ? Some of the guys go to the NFL when they’ve done everything in the AFL. The NRL has lost 2 players to the AFL both under the age of 24 ? and many others to overseas or Super Rugby ahaha what a joke. How does sport being on Fox or free to air make the players more money ? Both sides pay a certain amount. Just be grateful that the AFL got the best deal for everyone too see.
Hahahaha losing players to other codes
February 14th 2012 @ 12:53pm
Nathan said | February 14th 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Rubbish. If AFL were pay-TV only there would be less exposure to AFL. Less kids would play AFL. And within a few generations it would only be a shadow of its former self.
February 14th 2012 @ 2:15pm
Johnno said | February 14th 2012 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
Are less people in England playing soccer nathan, the EPL is 100% on pay tv. In nZ as well rugby league and rugby union are majority all on pay tv. NZ has no anti siphoning laws. More money for AFL means the product gets better.
Better players, better coaches, better training facilities, better stadiums. ANd fans have the power if they think it is overpriced they don’t watch like a movie.
Pro Sport is not for free and there should not be a law demanding AFL and NRL have to be on free to air. Where is the capitalism and free market in all this, pro sport is a business not a charity Nathan, and they should be able to show there AFL on free to air or pay tv with out government restriction it;s there business.
February 15th 2012 @ 10:24am
Blazza said | February 15th 2012 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Having the A league and Super Rugby on Foxsports is great isn’t it. Having 100,000 viewers on Foxsports grows the game compared to having 700.000 on FTA. Imagine if those 2 sports have a couple of games on FTA every week.
Imagine the 2 finals where Brisbane Roar Vs Centrak Coast and Reds vs Crusaders on FTA, the growth in those sports would of sky rocketed because more people would be watching it. Having sports especially Australian sports not on FTA hinders the growth of the sport. You cannot compare any of our sports to the EPL.
February 17th 2012 @ 4:39pm
Kyle said | February 17th 2012 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Even though the EPL is exclusive to paytv, the championship isn’t, so there is still free to air coverage of football in England. Kind of makes your point irrelevant Johnno. I’d have to agree with Nathan on this one…
February 15th 2013 @ 9:23pm
SteveM said | February 15th 2013 @ 9:23pm | Report comment
Capitalism??? Professional sport = professional welfare receipients. Either that or let them build their own stadiums at their own expense on land that they have purchased without their snouts in the public trough.
Here in the West Premier Greed is using public money to build an expansive stadium on an old tip site that no commercial interest would ever consider building on. Why? so the AFL has more valuable content to sell?
What about the junior programs? Fortunes are spent to injure our kids and teach them to be bullies and, when they move to the older grades, drink heaps of beer. Complete waste of public money. There are far better ways to promote health and fitness that do not involve the negative culture that surrounds AFL football.
Having said that I love my AFL. I am simply under no illusion that it is capitalist. While the AFLs snout is firmly in the public trough they should expect and accept some regulation.