Since Channel Seven paid an extraordinary amount of money for the right to broadcast the AFL, loyal football followers would think that they would treat their greatest asset with some sort of respect.
Unfortunately, Seven is treating AFL followers with the same sort of disdain it previously showed to football followers.
There used to be an understanding amongst interstate sides that Friday Night Football will be shown at least at a reasonable hour after its starting time, particularly when featuring the States sides.
Instead, games with either West Coast and Fremantle start well after the actual game has finished.
Instead of shortening the half time waffle, to at least provide some sense of reality, they choose to show the broadcast in full, meaning the game is not shown in its entirety until after 11pm.
Furthermore, the game featuring Fremantle on Sunday afternoon was not broadcast until 5.30pm.
This meant that most football followers knew the result by the end of the broadcast of the first quarter.
Channel Seven is securing its own demise with such illogical decisions. The television ratings for Seven are the poorest they’ve been for years, with the previously unloved Channel Nine News actually beating Channel Seven’s ratings in Perth.
The standard of broadcast quality and innovation that Channel Nine set, even with the strange situation of Collingwood President Eddie McGuire commentating, was considerably better than the sort of 70s tripe we now have to endure.
With inane commenting from David Schwarz, to accompany the histrionics of Bruce Mcavaney, even using the radio for sound is not an alternative.
With Seven alternating with Channel Ten for the Grand Final broadcast, one wonders how Seven will stuff up the viewing of the last game in September.
But the thought should make all those interested in AFL shudder.
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