AGB Footy

RIGHTS ON THE MONEY!

Last year on July 29, a wise person wrote:

SHE'LL BE RIGHTS

The AFL are, allegedly, looking to push the price for the TV rights from $750 million to $1 billion. Currently marquee games are on delay: Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday. Yet the AFL want an extra $250 million as well as have the TV stations alter their current programming to run the matches live. Does this not smack of cake and eat it, too?

Can the TV stations make up the extra dosh by moving from delayed to live broadcasts? Do the TV stations want the football enough to push the price out to $1 billion?

do the TV stations run games on delay purely to fit into their schedules? Channel Seven go on about viewer loyalty of Better Homes & Gardens, but do they really care that much about the BH&G income stream? Could running big games on delay means they can better pad their coverage? Surely, they would want to avoid having viewers turn off the sound and listen to the radio. Yes, there is the delay, but technology such as the Delay-o-Tron allows viewers to synchronise the sound and picture.

Up until now, the AFL have been unwilling to force TV stations to cough up more money and run all matches live. Belatedly, after the last contract negotiations were complete, the punters realised that, yet again, Friday night live was somehow left out of the agreement. Instead we were informed that Friday night matches were supposedly covered by and article of faith, a "discretionary" agreement, whereby the AFL crossed their fingers and hoped that maybe the TV stations would do the right thing by the viewers and show a match live if the match warranted the live treatment. For an extra $250 million, is this likely to change?

Today in the Herald Sun, Michael Warner (who really should have consulted the AGB, but instead consulted rent-a-quote footy oaf, Joffa):

Friday footy set to remain on delay as Channel 7 stands firm

FOOTY fans face another five years of delayed Friday night TV broadcasts.

As the AFL closes in on a new TV rights deal expected to top $1 billion, Channel 7 is refusing to give in to pressure to sacrifice top-rating Better Homes & Gardens and show footy live.

Also today in the Herald Sun, Mike Sheahan:

AFL needs to sweeten next TV deal if it wants to go live on Friday night

OF course the Seven network wants to preserve and extend the status quo.

Why would a network, any network, want to tamper in any way with an arrangement that guarantees fours hours of high-rating, prime-time television on Friday nights for the best part of 30 weeks?

No, if we are finally to get live football on Friday night every week, the AFL is going to have to concede a slice of the rights generated by the Friday night component.

OFF: HIRD; ON: ROOS

What are the Key Selection Criteria for an effective football special comments commentator? Identify game trends? Pick apart tactics? Predict what might happen? Simple language, good timing, clear communication skills? It's not asking for much, is it? Or is it? Has there ever been a special comments commentator who, during the course of play, has been able to consistently describe the game along those simple lines? Most tell you superfluous stats, what you already know, what you've just seen, the bleedin' obvious. Many talk rubbish. Many talk rubbish and have their on air partners chime in with their own rubbish like "Blighty, you genius" and "you said it, Leigh" and "You have done your research, Tom." Well, I guess they are trying to sell their product.

Nathan Buckley was excellent, but Paul Roos, judging by his laconic demeanour, clear communication and obvious understanding of the caper may well go closest to meeting all the commentator KSCs. Not that the bar is raised particularly high, or to put it in the modern commentarial parlance, not that the vertical augmentation appliance is elevated to a satisfactory altitude:

Paul Roos to call game as it is in special comments role for Fox Sports

PAUL Roos says too many AFL commentators fail to do their research and simply tell viewers how they believe the game should be played.

The former Sydney coach is the star signing for Fox Sports, where he will give special comments and appear on review show On The Couch.

But Roos says he is determined to call the game as it is, rather than how he would like it to be played. He believes it is too easy for former players and coaches out of touch with the game to influence the views of the supporters.

I would love to see Bruce McAvaney (a true pro; used to gush; was over-exposed; got the balance right; discovered his sense of humour, probably because he is working with Dennis Cometti), Dennis Cometti (easily the best in the business) and Paul Roos do the Friday night matches.

ROGER, WILLCOPY

What happens when you lack the facts to fatten a story? You go and get them:

Herald Hun: Bomber star Merrett suffers stroke

well known for his fierce, hard attack on the ball and his dashing moustache. He struck fear into the hearts of opposition players over a long career.

He is considered by many as the greatest Brisbane Bear in the club's short history. He used his height and kicking abilities to spearhead the club as their leading goalkicker for many seasons before Alastair Lynch proved a suitable replacement.

Wikipedia: Roger Merrett

Well known for his fierce, hard attack on the ball and his dashing moustache, he struck fear into the hearts of opposition players over a long career. He is considered by many as the greatest Brisbane Bear in the club's short history.

he was able to use his height and kicking abilities to spearhead the club as their leading goalkicker for many seasons before Alastair Lynch proved a suitable replacement.

Surely you mix it up, cover your tracks, not just cut and paste. I'm tipping the "greatest Brisbane Bear" gave it away. (Right, Biggy?) And the "dashing moustache" lacks oomph under a picture of Merrett without a moustache.