- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
We have reached the halfway mark of the A-League season. SBS have tried hard and appear to have thrown everything they can at making football shows, but their ratings across all shows are falling.
Fox are holding their rating figures and are up six percent according on last year according to Mark Bosnich. Given the effect of the marquee matches in the opening four rounds last season this is excellent for Fox.
Crowds are up 12 to 14 percent on last year.
General media coverage is at its highest and and best ever and is in most measurable ways light years of where it was even three years ago. The ABC broadcast alone has had a significant impact on general news reporting.
Questions need to be raised off-season about why the SBS ratings are falling. It’s fair to say the bounce in ratings by going FTA is well below the expectations of most.
Can SBS do anything over the remaining rounds?
Thursday FC needs a total rethink. It is either a football show or a comedy – it can’t be both.
Aside from the host the presenters are poor, and the host can only work with what he has.
Much more thinking is needed on the Friday night live coverage. David Basheer is just bland and not the type who will drag people in, more turn the casual away.
FFA also need to ensure more attractive matches, while some of experts believe Jason Culina always seem to rubbish matches.
The highlights show is again way too bland again and should be in the form of a weekly analysis of the round by a panel.
It’s a four-year deal so still early days, but you hope SBS are researching and analysing what’s going wrong.
People want excitement from sports shows, but none of the SBS shows are presently anywhere near providing this. It’s important SBS lift their game (no pun intended) because it will impact on the next media deal.
The Friday night match being on SBS 2 rather than the main channel is another issue. SBS 2 has the second lowest overall viewership of any FTA network at just over one percent, while of the secondary channels Gem has the best rating of just over five percent.
Thursday FC is also being beaten in the ratings by the Fox equivalents.
I don’t want to come on too strong as I believe SBS are doing their best, but for SBS 2 to be out-rated by Fox when it’s the same call of the match says a lot.
Much discussion was had before and after the media deal on SBS. Although the Ten Network were making noises, the general perception by many was football was returning home and it would be treated with respect.
The treating with respect is one thing – putting on shows that will hold an audience is another skill entirely. Hopefully next year things can pick up.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.