On Friday the 17th of February, to coincide with the commencement of the pre-season NAB Cup, Foxtel will launch a new AFL-dedicated channel called Fox Footy, which will prove to be the equivalent of heaven on earth for AFL fans.
Technically, the channel is being relaunched, as it previously existed from 2002 to 2006. However, with Foxtel’s new AFL TV rights deal, the channel is being brought back from the dead, bigger and better than ever.
Central to the channel’s offering will be the live coverage of every single game of the home-and-away season. With the addition of the Greater Western Sydney Giants to the competition this year, that will equate to nine live games, every single round.
For the first time ever, fans in South Australia and Western Australia will be able to watch Friday night games live.
Yet the good news for AFL fans doesn’t stop there.
The games will not be interrupted by ad breaks. So when Buddy Franklin kicks a freaky goal, instead of watching a Channel Seven promo for Home and Away, you’ll be viewing an instant replay whilst listening to the commentator’s reaction and analysis.
The games will also be broadcast in the coverage they deserve, high definition, something Channel Seven has failed to do in the past.
The new channel will boast an impressive line-up of commentators and analysts, including Mike Sheehan, Eddie McGuire, Gerard Healy, Paul Roos, Jason Dunstall, Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Dwayne Russell, Matthew Campbell, Wayne Schwass, Brad Johnson, Alastair Lynch, Tony Shaw, Liam Pickering, David King, Danny Frawley, Leigh Colbert, Mark Ricciuto and Glen Jackovich.
Ensuring the impressive experience and knowledge of that line-up is utilised to its full potential, apart from the games themselves, the channel will also broadcast popular panel and magazine-style shows like AFL 360, On the Couch, AFL Insider, League Teams, After the Bounce, Open Mike, etc.
The channel will no doubt also screen some classic games from the AFL archives, which always prove to be a hit with viewers.
Personally, the most impressive aspect of the new channel is the fact it’s 24 hours a day.
As any fan of any sport will tell you, you’re a fan 24/7, not just on the weekends. The announcement that the channel won’t ‘stop’ clearly indicates that Foxtel really understands footy and really understands its fans.
Quite simply, Foxtel’s AFL coverage will be the greatest any sport has ever received in Australia.
Sounds too good to be true? Waiting for the catch?
Well the most obvious drawback is that Foxtel is obviously a pay-TV provider, so the coverage isn’t free. But providing you can afford to fork out for Foxtel, the negatives almost completely finish there.
AFL fans have long complained about the treatment the code gets from free-to-air networks, particularly Channel Seven. Luckily for footy fans, free-to-air stations and pay-TV have different masters.
Commercial networks make their money from advertising revenue, so their business model dictates that the advertisers are their customers, not viewers.
Pay-TV, on the other hand, makes the majority of their money from subscribers. So for Foxtel, the viewer is king. It’s a fact Foxtel clearly appreciates, as evidenced by their amazing coverage of the AFL.
Having 24/7 access to a sport, and showing every game live, obviously increases the amount of contact fans can have with the sport. There is little doubt that hardcore AFL fans will now be in heaven, and even more loyal to the code they love.
Meanwhile, casual fans may potentially now elevate AFL up their rankings of sports that they love to watch. Likewise for those who currently follow the AFL infrequently, or not at all.
This is a fact not lost on the AFL or Foxtel. In fact, I’m sure that’s their exact strategy.
In the game of chess that is the Australian sporting landscape, the AFL’s intent is clear.
Cricket, football, rugby league, etc, it’s your move.
And it better be a good one.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Perth now at the bottom of the 12th, still 6-6, it's there to win, great pitching performance by Bubbie Buzachero for the Aces, has now pitched over 100 balls this game.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Speaking of Fox, final game of the ABL grand final on at the moment, going into the bottom of the 11th innings, the Aces and the Heat have been stuck on 6-6 since way, way, way back....
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Yep - just watching the 24 hour ad on 504 right now - only five days to go!!
ManInBlack
Guest
short answer - never. longer answer - 4 games live on FTA is comparable to what was about 4 games mostly on delay. Live wins. No audience tedium kicking in there! Note re Foxtel - reports today that their subscriptions are up. And also, Teltra mobile is soaring with new uptake. Is there a coincidence there or a direct result of AFL packaging?
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Geez 9 games of AFL every weekend on Fox and 4 games on 7 every weekend, Live! Thats 13 games and nearly 40 hours of AFL on every weekend. How long before theTV audience gets sick of it?
The Cattery
Roar Guru
AFL360 on twitter: they'll be running a show Monday to Thursday - amazing stuff!!
Redb
Roar Guru
and Tony Shaw (unfortunately)
Jaceman
Guest
Masters was at again this morning claiming that the NRL's offer for the codes to come together and buy Channel 10 (then in administration in the 90s - I thought late 80s) so they would have control of their own destiny. Could you imagining trying to control the different agendas of the AFL, NRL, RU, Cricket as owners of Channel 10 eg the AFL was broadcast in NSW and Qld whereas the reverse wasnt true so how would they have resolved that. Cartels break down because they have different agendas and the Corporations law/Trade Practices is tougher now regarding to fair trading etc.. Not bad for a Psychology major school teacher I guess.. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/court-has-gambled-with-codes-futures-20120207-1r4qm.html
TW
Guest
A nephew I think - But not exactly sure. The guy is taking questions though as well. Great PR move by Foxtel.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
That might depend on whether by then the Government has scrapped the anti-siphoning legislation altogether, allowing Fox to bid up the price for exclusivity. On top of that, AFL's Film and Media company will be in full operation by then, and might be ready to to provide a new viewing model, entirely controlled by them.
JamesP
Guest
Yep, I have read that they need about 100k new subscribers in total to break even. I reckon they will do that easity (if they have not already broken it). Problem is, by the time the next deal comes around, it doesn't give the AFL room to move similar to the position that NRL is in now (i.e. NSW/QLD already saturated with Foxtel)
Jaceman
Guest
Rugby tests are on FTA and theres a whole network dedicated to soccer.
Jaceman
Guest
Cat Dont know if anyone else has mentioned it - some analysts suggest that Fox will makes its money back on the AFL footy channel if 75K new subscriibers sign up and 35K upgrade to HD. Also from Sevens point of view they are only paying the production costs for 3 games not 4 apparently. However they would want to get more than 100K h/h to sign or enhance over 5 years I assume because that would still mean sub nos in AFL states would still lag the NRL states. Are the soccer, NRL, cricket and V8 TV rights all up this year?? The last time they had a joing press confernce with RU's O'Neill on Pat TV rights enhancement, and despite one would assume a pact not to mention their own code, Gallop couldnt help himself by stating that Demetrious would look good in a Storm jumper. Demetriou took the high moral road and didnt repsond.
Jaceman
Guest
I see you try to avoid AFL but you have to make a deliberate effort to come on this site to make a negative comment..Do you see the irony in that??
Jaceman
Guest
Saturday arvo W league outrates the A league - ru serious???
Redb
Roar Guru
Rugby and soccer are fringe spectator sports Titus, get a grip. AFL will not forgo FTA, even it meant less money in the short term the mass exposure is worth it. The Govt will close the loophole.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
For follow up story: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/sports-demand-protection-of-broadcast-rights-20120207-1r5ko.html Thiere's a picture of Demetriou and Gallop walking thorugh the corridors of power - but not together - remarkable how quickly they will combine for rapid joint action if the situation warrants it.
Redb
Roar Guru
9 days to go. :) Fox Footy a better option than the Telstra stuff anyway. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/footy-fans-on-hold-over-telstras-2012-packages-20120207-1r3ff.html
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Strange comment. Foxtel is only $15 a week, and a club membership varies between $2 and $15 a week. Hardly bank breaking stuff for most.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
thanks TW - just found that thread - that's a massive thread! being going strong since Oct last year - just getting through it now. Is he one of KB's kids?