Well known Channel Nine personality and former rugby league player Paul Vautin has been sacked from the NRL Footy Show according to a News Limited report.
There was speculation the show had been axed completely after falling ratings but it appears Erin Molan will step into ‘Fatty’s’ role in a brand new format.
It’s expected Vautin will stay on for match commentary during the season as he has another year left on his contract.
Nine confirmed four days ago that the show was to be revamped but didn’t mention that would include cutting the show’s host of 24 years.
“Nine will be broadcasting 23 Thursday night NRL games in 2018 and so the NRL Footy Show will have a new look and feel to reflect the games the audience have just enjoyed watching,” Nine said in a statement.
“The exact format of The Footy Show and appearing talent is still to be determined.”
Nine’s apparent push to promote Molan comes after the network lost another talented female presenter, Yvonne Sampson, to Fox Sports.
However, the network did manage to recently poach Peter Sterling from Fox in an exclusive contract.
It’s yet to be confirmed which on-air talent will join Molan on the 2018 Footy Show but the new format will most definitely tie into Nine’s Thursday night football coverage, as well as a bonus Monday night show, which is rumoured to be similar to the AFL’s version of Footy Classified.
The Sunday Footy Show will remain unchanged.
The NRL Footy Show was once a ‘must see’ event on Channel Nine – even for non-rugby league lovers – but the ratings have slipped from a reported 370,000 a week to as low as 80,000.
It has won 11 Logies.
d
Guest
Bring back the fat
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I'm with you Riley, haven't watched it in years as the continual childish, inane theme lost me. There is a place for a Footy Show if they actually discuss the game !!
catcat
Roar Rookie
me too...like Lara Pitt, very knowledgeable and direct. Fox have it by a mile with Sampson, Pitt, Ennis, and can't wait for Cooper Cronk when he starts. Nine like popular. Fox go for quality.
At work
Roar Rookie
In terms of the female league talent, Fox have it all over Nine. If Nine are going to have Molan hosting a show, they'll need some strong support acts around her (and that doesn't include Beau Ryan). They should just copy the Matty Johns show format.
terrence
Guest
It's you Womblat, and I don't think that ice pipe is helping your clarity of thought either champ.
Jeff dustby
Guest
It's on in Qld too
Jeff dustby
Guest
Emma freedman is woeful and the proud recipient of nepotism
RandyM
Guest
yeah good point, nine must be making room for more doctor doctor, 20 to 1 and big bang re-runs. Nine probably wouldn't exist if it wasn't for League.
Steve
Guest
15 years too late. Fatty should have been canned years ago....now if we can just get rid of Ray, Gus and Hadley I'll be extremely happy.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I don't understand why nine would be putting up shows to directly compete with fox. Fox's biggest selling point is that it's not nine so I'm not sure who nine are thinking of converting...
Emcie
Roar Guru
It a revamp...
big daddy
Guest
Logies mean nothing. In a 2 horse race more people in NSW voted than in Victoria. It's not about talent that's for sure..Even the Victorian version is having problems getting someone worthwhile.
Rick
Guest
Footy show lost its humour 15 yrs ago. Don,t worry about a revamp _ scrap it completely. Give us a sports show that is more informative, and please, No Erin Nolan or Beau Ryan.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
I still like Vautin himself I reckon he is a funny person and at times very funny. In saying that I agree a lot of the humor is outdated. Watching Beau Ryan humiliate people who either can't speak English or are mentally ill I've never enjoyed and I wondered why they allowed that. Ultimately poor ratings lead to change.
Nat
Roar Guru
Let's face it, the 'Footy Show' hasn't been about footy in some time and from what I understand this is what they are going to revive. The Footy Show has been an entertainment show for years and their many Logies highlights the fact. For years, they have been up against the AFL Footy Show who are an AFL games focused and won every single time. If you understand what the ch9 execs were trying to achieve with the show, you may cut Fatty some slack. On the Upside, if the new show is more football focused it must be a good thing. Shorter format about the weeks games without the Daily Tele talking heads pushing their own fabricated stories - I for one am looking forward to giving it a chance.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
It’s amazing that something so obvious can still go over heads
The real SC
Roar Rookie
Nrl footy show went stale when the chief, sterlo, and Matt johns left. Now they have Beau Ryan who has completely ruined a good episode of a show. The Nrl footy show is not funny and some stupid jokes over the top from Fatty and the big Marn was out of bounds. We don't know what's happening to these blokes.
jamesb
Guest
It's just you.
Birdy
Guest
Your statement is a little off womblat. Everything ch9 lost has gone over to fox. The NRL for whatever reason has allowed itself to be used and abused by the media since day dot. Time for the NRL to take control and look at all their broadcast options. I for 1 don't care if i watch it on 9 this year , SBS next year just grab the money . 7's big league brings back good memories. And wouldn't 10 love to get their hands on prime time sport.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
Are you serious? Nine would give up the cricket before it gave up the NRL & it won't be giving up the cricket any time soon if they have any choice. Both codes "Footy show" should have been axed in the 90's. Surely something better can be created in this day and age.