Just read this on the Foxsports website -Anger over delayed telecast
By Dean Ritchie
October 12, 2006
CHANNEL 9 yesterday came under heavy fire for refusing to telecast Saturday's Tri-Nations Test between Australia and New Zealand live and instead airing an episode of Australia's Funniest Home Videos.
Ignoring fans' wishes for the match to be shown live from 5pm (8pm Auckland time), Nine will show host Toni Pearen and video clips of what one website describes as: "People falling over and hurting themselves; babies and animals doing amusing things or old people doing things they shouldn't be doing."
The match will be shown on Nine at 6.30pm - 90 minutes after kick-off.
Nine will telecast Australia's Funniest Home Videos and then, importantly to them, their news bulletin while the Test match is being played.
It will be virtually impossible for fans to watch the match and not know the score given the internet coverage, TV updates, radio bulletins and 2GB's decision to call the game live.
Nine's decision comes as free-to-air stations run commercials over the federal government's anti-siphoning laws, claiming the public should be allowed to watch sport free and not be forced to buy Fox Sports.
Fox Sports claimed last night it would happily show the game live given their campaign aimed at free-to-air stations states: "Use it or lose it."
Nine head of sport Steve Crawley said the International Rugby League Board stated all Tri-Nations games must kick off at 8pm.
"It if was on at a time when it could be shown live, we would," said Crawley.
"Nine has made a massive commitment to live sport. All Tri-Nations games played in Australia will be shown live."
2GB's rugby league broadcaster Ray Hadley was astounded at Nine's decision.
"I have no control over Channel 9 but I find it strange that they are in a battle with pay-TV over anti-siphoning and they don't seize the opportunity to show the game live," Hadley said.
"Everywhere you look there are ads saying you shouldn't pay for your sport. They have missed an opportunity. We will call it live."
ARL chairman Colin Love was diplomatic yesterday.
"Naturally we would prefer the game to be shown live but you have to be realistic," Love said.
"Nine has its news at 6pm and they can't run the risk of interfering with that."
Fox Sports chief operating officer John Marquard added: "They (free-to-air stations) run campaigns to save sport but then don't put sport on live. The fans want to see their sport live."
The industry body for pay-television, ASTRA, also hit out at Nine.
"Not even a Test against arch rivals New Zealand is safe from free-to-air TV abuse of the special privileges they are given under Australia's sports broadcasting laws," said ASTRA executive director Debra Richards.
Former Australia great Brett Kenny was upset at Nine's decision, saying: "It is ridiculous it's not live. Radio do it live, so why can't television?"
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Good to see that Channel 9 have put the footy fans first!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Dean Ritchie
October 12, 2006
CHANNEL 9 yesterday came under heavy fire for refusing to telecast Saturday's Tri-Nations Test between Australia and New Zealand live and instead airing an episode of Australia's Funniest Home Videos.
Ignoring fans' wishes for the match to be shown live from 5pm (8pm Auckland time), Nine will show host Toni Pearen and video clips of what one website describes as: "People falling over and hurting themselves; babies and animals doing amusing things or old people doing things they shouldn't be doing."
The match will be shown on Nine at 6.30pm - 90 minutes after kick-off.
Nine will telecast Australia's Funniest Home Videos and then, importantly to them, their news bulletin while the Test match is being played.
It will be virtually impossible for fans to watch the match and not know the score given the internet coverage, TV updates, radio bulletins and 2GB's decision to call the game live.
Nine's decision comes as free-to-air stations run commercials over the federal government's anti-siphoning laws, claiming the public should be allowed to watch sport free and not be forced to buy Fox Sports.
Fox Sports claimed last night it would happily show the game live given their campaign aimed at free-to-air stations states: "Use it or lose it."
Nine head of sport Steve Crawley said the International Rugby League Board stated all Tri-Nations games must kick off at 8pm.
"It if was on at a time when it could be shown live, we would," said Crawley.
"Nine has made a massive commitment to live sport. All Tri-Nations games played in Australia will be shown live."
2GB's rugby league broadcaster Ray Hadley was astounded at Nine's decision.
"I have no control over Channel 9 but I find it strange that they are in a battle with pay-TV over anti-siphoning and they don't seize the opportunity to show the game live," Hadley said.
"Everywhere you look there are ads saying you shouldn't pay for your sport. They have missed an opportunity. We will call it live."
ARL chairman Colin Love was diplomatic yesterday.
"Naturally we would prefer the game to be shown live but you have to be realistic," Love said.
"Nine has its news at 6pm and they can't run the risk of interfering with that."
Fox Sports chief operating officer John Marquard added: "They (free-to-air stations) run campaigns to save sport but then don't put sport on live. The fans want to see their sport live."
The industry body for pay-television, ASTRA, also hit out at Nine.
"Not even a Test against arch rivals New Zealand is safe from free-to-air TV abuse of the special privileges they are given under Australia's sports broadcasting laws," said ASTRA executive director Debra Richards.
Former Australia great Brett Kenny was upset at Nine's decision, saying: "It is ridiculous it's not live. Radio do it live, so why can't television?"
.
.
Good to see that Channel 9 have put the footy fans first!!!!!!!!!!!!!
