Sebastian Hassett has written a report for the Sydney Morning Herald that should be a concern for football fans.
Sebastian has reported that the top two TV executives at SBS have suggested that football be reduced or taken off the SBS schedule.
The SBS review is an internal document. I have not been able to to obtain a copy. SBS has made no announcement.
From what I can determine, the SBS Board has not made any final decision. So, I think it is up to us football fans to let SBS know what we think.
The reason SBS is looking at this appears to be connected to ratings and commercial revenue. If SBS really understood how many football fans there are in Australia, they would rethink this proposal.
I certainly appreciate the coverage that they give with A-league, UEFA and other football.
Football needs coverage on free-to-air TV. Foxtel also do a great job with their coverage of football. And I am sure that Foxtel will happily pick up any rights to games that SBS give up. However, the sport needs to be on free-to-air TV as well. I think even Foxtel understands that free-to-air helps grow their audience.
Some of the commercial networks are happy to pick up the big events such as when top international teams visit Australia, or even the A-league finals. As yet, no commercial TV network has shown that they want to be involved in football on a weekly basis.
ABC has cut the W-league despite the fact that it rated in its afternoon timeslot. For ABC, it was all about cost, as they have no way of making revenue from broadcasting sport. SBS is different as it can show advertising.
These decisions will continue to be made until people understand that there is a large number of people who want to watch football on TV.
So, please get on the phone, or on email and tell SBS that you would like to see football continue on the channel.
Boban
Guest
Could the Federal Government initiate a lottery to help raise money for SBS and the ABC, like they did for building the Sydney Opera House? I can't see the commercial networks being happy about broadcasting a sport with minimal chances for ad breaks or in-show promotions (think Tubby and Heals talking about The Block)
SBS supports Australian Football
Guest
Great work Jeff, I hope the response from SBS is true. I have been there from the outset of SBS's TWG broadcasting and have not missed many episodes broadcasted over the past 30 years. Let's all get behind this great Football broadcaster to ensure it continues to grow bigger and stronger going forward now and well into the future.
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
SBS has responded to my question with the following statement: “SBS has an esteemed 30 year pedigree in football. The network is committed to the game's future and broadcasting key football properties. SBS delivered the biggest World Cup in Australia’s history in 2014, with all 64 matches live on all platforms for the first time. Our current contracts are for the exclusive rights to the World Cup until 2022, Friday night A-League games until 2016-17. The rights for the Champions League are up for renewal this year and it is our intention to bid competitively for those rights. SBS continues to invest its modest resources into content which delivers on the SBS Charter. Football, which unites our diverse multicultural communities, is an important part of our commitment.”
Stevo
Roar Rookie
The old guard at SBS tried to ignore the HAL.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Have said this before and my sentiments exactly. SBS and football were made for each other - but time to move on. Hopefully SBS can also play a significant role 'moving forward.'
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
If football does move from SBS to a commercial TV network, it will be interesting to see how the broadcaster will manage football. This Friday illustrates the issue. In Sydney, channel 9 is showing the cricket World Cup quarter-final between Australia and Pakistan from 1.30pm. At 7.30pm, the cricket gets moved to Gem. The network has prioritised the NRL game between Manly and Canterbury to be shown on Channel 9 (please note that the broadcast schedule may be different in other states). This is not a criticism – just an observation on how commercial networks balance multiple sports broadcasts. Of course, I will be watching Melbourne City v Sydney FC on SBS at 7.30pm. This match has an important bearing on the race for the premiership and finals qualification. Both teams will be going for the win.
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
Thanks BruceOfRedfern. That is actually a decent idea. If every fan invited a friend to watch the A-league with them on a Friday night, it would be great for the game. It costs nothing, because it's on free-to-air TV. And it's a good thing to spend some time with friends.
BruceOfRedfernNSW
Guest
What a wakeup call to the legions of A-League fans who have better things to do on Friday night than watch SBS! Seriously, the only way to get SBS to reconsider this course of action is for the 99,000 regular Friday-night viewers each to persuade their MIA mates to start watching every broadcasted game. Ratings will soar. A-League will remain safe on SBS.
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
Midfielder, thanks for your comment. And thanks for your article on the possibility of Seven network broadcasting football. Although Seven has a close relationship with AFL, a lot has changed for both the Seven Network, and for football since the NSL. Fortunately, David Gallop and Damien de Bohun are both experienced sports administrators, so I am sure they will be well equipped to look after contract negotiations for future TV broadcasts.
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
Janek Speight has posted an article today on The Roar which notes that both 7 Network and TEN Network have both expressed interest in broadcasting the A-league. Janek also provides some comment on why he thinks SBS has not had the success with the A-league that everyone expected.
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
An update. Ronny Lerner from The Age newspaper has reported that Ten network head of sport, David Barham, is interested in securing the broadcast rights for the A-League. "It's got to be value for money, that's all," Barham said. "We've got to make sure that the value works for our company, that's all." Barham insisted soccer would forever be a "sport with potential" if it could not find a free-to-air television partner that made it a priority.
Midfielder
Guest
Jeff To me I want SBS to remain behind football ... they have done more than anyone else... However the manner and broadcasting of the A-League totally ignored many requests for a change of key personal and format delivery. It saddens me to say however the current crop of SBS hosts are not in the same class as those who proceeded them ... and that they did not promote the A-League during their world cup coverage and unlike those that proceeded them they failed to connect to the mainstream media ... Johnny Warren was on every radio station and TV show... Also the change in management seem not to share the same value system that the old guard did at SBS..
Punter
Guest
SBS has done a great job for football, I love them for it, but unfortunately football has outgrown SBS.