The 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.
Bridget
Guest
Why!! I love my AFL. What a blow to all fans. Go The Swans.
Adrian Barnett
Guest
Thoroughly disgusted with the AFL. I don't get enough AFL news in QLD as it is now. To not show the NAB cup on free to air is a betrayal to all loyal AFL fans. I look forward to coming home from work after a 12 hour shift to relax and watch my footy but because of poor indecision I can't. Very very disappointed.
michael
Guest
Well thats your problem then if you not get pay tv you miss out stop winging
colj
Guest
Utterly disappointed we cannot watch all the Footy Matches, its a disgrace! I will never get Pay TV its a complete rip off and full of rubbish. What about all the elderly that love their Footy so much, and are housebound, and NOT interested in pay TV. AD you overpaid, jerk.
michael
Guest
Well said mate
Foxtel Cheaper Than Going 2 The Footy
Guest
I can understand not all people can afford pay TV but have to say probably 90% of the whingers I know can, they are just typical "I want everything for free" sooks! I got Foxtel with Sport last year and it ended up costing me $15.00 per week - this is cheaper than me going to the footy each week which is $20+ just for a general admission ticket and I don't have to pay for public transport or petrol to get there instead I get live coverage of all my games in the comfort of my home so I decided to pay for it! I know people who are paying out more than $100 a week on smokes, alcohol and takeaway but then whinge they can't afford pay TV, now that's a joke! Do your budgeting and cut back on a few beers or cut out a packet of smokes, perhaps buy a few less take away coffees or give up 1 take away meal and there you go you can afford Foxtel with footy!
Heath
Guest
Sad Afl Very Sad ..... I have a great tradition of afl in my family ... stretching from my great great grandfather playingfor Carlton way back in the day ..... I was angry that we lost half of our premier season games to pay tv ... now it has gone beyond a joke .... not everyone is earning the wages of AD and Maguire ... a lot of true Aussie battles still work their guts out to barely keep food on the table .... This has led me to campaign against you .... And yes I have gathered much support .... U call yourself Australia's game but have lost touch with the typical Australian .... the ball is rolling and gathering momentum .... will be interesting to see the future of afl when all the kids have no interest in it and are playing all other sports that they actually have exposure to it .... bet it seems like u are all having a win right now .... HERE'S TO THE FUTURE .... A future of no one left to play afl .... because no one knows what it is
Jack DOff
Guest
The author was correct. Not until I was looking through the guide did the horror start to sink in. Shame on the AFL! The general public is responsible for their very existence, and this is the contempt in which we're held by AD and his cronies. The sooner "a" Wayne Jackson is back at the helm the better - fans before the dollars thanks Andrew... I'll have to either huddle by the wireless or take the horseless carriage to the ground I guess. One day wouldn't it be good to have moving pictures beamed directly into our caves!
SteveM
Guest
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.
Rocky Bamboa
Guest
Awesome.. another Year of no nab cup, i just rang Austar for it.. lol, and they said it costs 30 - 40 month for that and another 25 for fox footy, So Nab cup is basically here for the Leeches to make cash of us and the whole time they pack out a stadium at 20$ a ticket , they know everyone is hanging out for it the scumbags.
Tony
Guest
You can watch the NAB Cup 2013 live on the afl tv website, sign up for the free NAB cup subscription! I found this after being disappointed it won't be on free to air TV also.
sydvis
Guest
dissapointed footy not on fre to air tv. spose it all money based as to why , after long hot summer of boring cricket am very dissapointed was looking foward to watching the pies
Vera
Guest
This is shocking, Australia has lost its way, cant even watch an aussie sport on free to air television. absolutely disgusting. If we cant watch out local teams, then maybe they should not play in it. -- Pensioners Australia --
Michael
Guest
No point in complaining it wont change the fact that nab cups on fox footy just get fox footy
janet mccall
Guest
I do not thick it is fair that the AFL nab cup is not going to showing on Payed tv there is a lot of people that can not affed payed for it so please reconer every one can see our footdall
Colin
Guest
I once remember a famous person stating, the next broadcasting rights will bring more football to more people free to air, he also said we have the toughest drug testing regime in sport, surley he's got to be worth more money. It also appears we have been duded twice, more football to those who can pay extra and a major drug scandal.
Paul
Guest
When did AFL just about money? It is a disgrace that the NAB cup is not on free to air....What is the point of having it if the majority of fans cannot even watch it!
Brad norton
Guest
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
gordon
Guest
The greedy AFL . Have not seen one match during the NAB and have lost interest in AFL footy completely.
Bella
Guest
Really not impressed that the nab cup is not on free to air, my partner and I live for afl and to not be able to watch it is really disappointing. NOT HAPPY AFL!!!!!!