THE BILIAD

A one billion dollar Trojan horse is how Greg "Aeneas" Baum describes the TV rights deal in his excellent article in today's Age:

The Trojan horse has bolted

THE Trojan horse is through the gates now. The red carpet was rolled out for it. For two days, the people have danced around it, chortling to each other about what a glorious beast it is. ''One billion dollars,'' they exclaim, as if the words themselves are some sort of magic formula, certainly not to be lampooned, like that other popular mantra of the day, ''William and Kate''. The new television deal is the AFL's royal wedding.

[...]

Media become shy on this topic because many in the industry have television deals, free-to-air and pay, and the rest claim their subscriptions on tax. I'm as guilty as any.

[...]

Even as AFL fans coo and fawn over this horse parading so splendidly before them, perhaps one of them should take a moment to look it in the mouth.

"Be careful what you wish for."

Comments

[Peter]

This is smart:

"The possibility of having to pay $400 to $600 a year - less with compensation - as a result of a carbon tax would bring down the government, to judge from polls, but the idea of paying $720 to watch televised footy scarcely raises a plucked eyebrow."

Get ready, Australia. Rupert is primed to bend us over. Those who say it can only be good for the sport need to look at the grassroots development of football in Britain. Rubbish.

[Professor Rosseforp]

How long before we get 20/20 Aussie Rules?

[Francis Xavier Holden]

Is there anyway I could lobby for sport, mainly cricket and football, taken off ABC radio and transfered to pay radio?

Does this TV deal mean we won't have to put up with 50% of "News" broadcasts on TV being diverted to sport?

[Tony]

I'm in furious agreement with you, Franxie. There should be digital radio stations dedicated to footy and cricket.

[via collins]

Just churned through The Iliad meself, thanks for referencing Tone. Tough stuff after the silky smooth ease of The Odyssey. But jeebus, is there no end to the "bronze shattering skull plates", and "heaving breast plates". If that was a fillum, I'd have snored off a few times.

Youngest refers to it as "The Idiot". Or I s'pose she may be referencing me. You gots to have post-modern eyes and ears in the parenting game these days.