24 Hour NRL channel

[AJB1102]

The problem with James Rochford's show so far is he is NOT f**kEN FUNNY

Fixed that for ya mate.

I missed some games this weekend and didn't set up a live record, figuring the games will replayed over and over like the magazine shows are because 24/7 League channel and all. They're replayed once again that night, in a chopped up 60 minute version - what in the f**k? NYC replays are the full thing though.

 

[undertaker]

Fixed that for ya mate.

I missed some games this weekend and didn't set up a live record, figuring the games will replayed over and over like the magazine shows are because 24/7 League channel and all. They're replayed once again that night, in a chopped up 60 minute version - what in the f**k? NYC replays are the full thing though.

Yeah, I don't get this condensed 60min replay. Does Fox Sports think we are still living in 1995 when Channel 9 used to do it?

 

[AJB1102]

Yeah, I don't get this condensed 60min replay. Does Fox Sports think we are still living in 1995 when Channel 9 used to do it?

It might as well be a 10min highlight package because you really get no sense of the game. It was the Sharkies v Knights game and the commentators kept going about how Cronulla had plenty of ball and couldn't capitalise but that didn't come across because they chop out the set-for-set stuff. At one point they said it was the 4th line drop Cronulla had forced but it was only the 2nd that I'd seen.

Pitty they don't chop out the "irrelevant" crap from NRL 360 - all it would be is Ikin signing off telling us to stay tuned for Sterlo On The Couch.

Strange that the NYC replays in full though and not the NRL.

 

[undertaker]

It might as well be a 10min highlight package because you really get no sense of the game. It was the Sharkies v Knights game and the commentators kept going about how Cronulla had plenty of ball and couldn't capitalise but that didn't come across because they chop out the set-for-set stuff. At one point they said it was the 4th line drop Cronulla had forced but it was only the 2nd that I'd seen.

Pitty they don't chop out the "irrelevant" crap from NRL 360 - all it would be is Ikin signing off telling us to stay tuned for Sterlo On The Couch.

Strange that the NYC replays in full though and not the NRL.

This 24 hour channel has been extremely disappointing so far, somewhat anti-climatic given the huge build-up during the off-season over it.

Fox League seems like nothing more than an outlet for News Ltd journos (Slothfield, Crawley, Craddock etc.) to gain more undue exposure. In addition, whoever is responsible for the scheduling/program line-up must be a lazy, fatarse dropkick, given the overkill with re-runs of NRL360 and other programs. With so much footage in their archive, why not show more classic matches during the week from years gone by?

Fox Sports have completely butchered a channel that had a lot of potential after waiting a decade and a half since Optus shut their 24hr RL channel. And here, people have the audacity to bag out Ch9 and say Fox coverage craps all over Ch9. That maybe true in several aspects, but with the line-up on Fox League's RL programs and coverage, it ain't that much better than the Ch9 personnel.

 

[undertaker]

My critique of the line-up and programs so far:

- Matty Johns having 2 shows is too much. The Thursday night one after the game is enough. Get rid of JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMIE Rodgers and Paul Kent.

Monday night could've been devoted to a Sunday Roast or Boots 'n' all style show hosted by Andrew Voss. Voss being only used for match commentary is a gross waste of talent.

- League Life: one of the better RL shows out there. Yvonne does a good job as host

- QLDers only: Are QLDers suffering from extreme dose of inferiority complex that they need to have their own show? Craddock sucks, Hodges sucks, Walters channeling Fatty Vautin's "QUEENSLANDER!", Meninga as Australian coach shouldn't be appearing on the show as a regular panelist. Doesn't send a good message when you're supposed to be impartial with national selections, yet endorsing and speaking up all these QLD players.

- NRL360: massive overkill having it on multiple nights in the week. There's only so much RL news you can fill up a 1hr show 3-4 nights/week with before you have to start resorting to stirring up controversy, such as what Paul Kent did recently with Wayne Bennett. Need to replace Kent with someone that can speak properly. Kent's lisp and stuttering is really annoying.

- Second Year Syndrome: I have already made my feelings about the show known in previous posts. If the show extends to 1hr, it will die a very quick death.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

NRL 360 would be better if they didn't have more than 1 DT jurno each show. Why would they think Rothfield, Crawley and Webster's opinions would have so much input? And when Kent carries on, he's really embarrassing himself.

The Matty Johns show's aren't too bad, but them and the Professor show are getting close to the Footy Show level. Trying the same old jokes that people found funny in 2015 and not today.

The Qlder show is a waste.

As for League life, its a pity it only goes for half hour cause its probably the most sensible one.

Btw, I enjoyed that interview with Noel Kelly. He tells some funny stories.

 

[undertaker]

NRL 360 would be better if they didn't have more than 1 DT jurno each show. Why would they think Rothfield, Crawley and Webster's opinions would have so much input? And when Kent carries on, he's really embarrassing himself.

The Matty Johns show's aren't too bad, but them and the Professor show are getting close to the Footy Show level. Trying the same old jokes that people found funny in 2015 and not today.

The Qlder show is a waste.

As for League life, its a pity it only goes for half hour cause its probably the most sensible one.

Btw, I enjoyed that interview with Noel Kelly. He tells some funny stories.

Fox might as well tried to call Billy J Smith out of retirement or Chris Bombalas to revive the old Brisbane Footy Show from the mid-90's if they were so incessant on having a QLDers show. The one hosted by Craddock is one giant pisstake and waste of 30 minutes.

Btw, calling it "QLDers only" is a bit too unfair on the Cowboys and Titans fans. It's more like the Broncos-only show (especially with Walters and Hodges, both ex-Broncos), given not much focus has been given to the QLD Cup or news on RL comps and junior development in QLD.

 

[undertaker]

NRL 360 would be better if they didn't have more than 1 DT jurno each show. Why would they think Rothfield, Crawley and Webster's opinions would have so much input? And when Kent carries on, he's really embarrassing himself.

The Matty Johns show's aren't too bad, but them and the Professor show are getting close to the Footy Show level. Trying the same old jokes that people found funny in 2015 and not today.

The Qlder show is a waste.

As for League life, its a pity it only goes for half hour cause its probably the most sensible one.

Btw, I enjoyed that interview with Noel Kelly. He tells some funny stories.

Some very good points you made.

Re:NRL360, as I said, the sudden rise of Crawley, Rothfield, Dean Ritchie appearing on the show is absolutely no coincidence, as I feel this was the intention the producers of Fox League had right from its inception: to be nothing more than an outlet or platform for Daily Telegraph journos to gain more undue exposure. News Ltd are very aware of RL fans negative feelings towards the Daily Telegraph RL journos and coverage especially over the past few years: the John Mannah drugs implication, ASADA, formation of ARLC, Dave Smith standing up to the Telegraph, the constant downplaying of the value of the tv rights, Fri 6pm game in exchange for MNF......the list goes on and on. As a result of the negativity associated with the Telegraph and the drop-off in newspaper sales and internet hits, News Ltd have found another outlet to make these scumbags earn their pay by giving them exposure through another avenue, and shove them down the fans' faces, whilst manufacturing the illusion that RL fans have finally got their long-awaited, "DEDICATED" 24-hour channel that rivals the Fox Footy AFL channel. Pure deception, and sadly this News Ltd barrage is not going to change.

I feel having 2 Matty Johns shows sorta leads to what you said, about the quality condescending towards Footy Show levels. Having only one show (after Thursday night football, going head-to-head with The Footy Show, which is a good idea and further eats into The Footy Show's ratings) in the week is sufficient enough, and would iron out the repetitiveness of the gags and other inane banter throughout the show. Two shows/week (like it was in 2015) sorta encourages it more, as people like Fletch and Hindy will think that it doesn't matter if they don't get the chance to do something in the Thursday night show, they'll just wait until Monday to do it.

 

[undertaker]

Forgot to mention: Sterlo on the Couch. Who the hell thought it was a great idea having Blocker and James "PWEEEPLE" Hooper on the couch? It's been interesting to watch Blocker's rise at Fox Sports over the past year. He's pretty much gone from the crapper after being sacked by 2GB to being one of the main colour-commentators on their game telecasts.

Otherwise, it's a good show and would love to see the one-to-one interviews as a separate 30min show, like Mike Sheahan does for the Fox Footy channel. Sterlo has had some good guests this year, was very impressed with Bernie Gurr.

 

[DiegoNT]

The 24 hour nrl channel is exactly how I thought it'd turn out to be. It was always going to be an evolution of what was already there (501 was virtually all rugby league anyway) and not a revolution.
I think along the way we'll see small changes along the way. It's currently the best rating channel on fox so you'd think they'd invest more into it

Just interested in what you guys thought it'd be like?

 

[Big Pete]

The 24 hour nrl channel is exactly how I thought it'd turn out to be. It was always going to be an evolution of what was already there (501 was virtually all rugby league anyway) and not a revolution.
I think along the way we'll see small changes along the way. It's currently the best rating channel on fox so you'd think they'd invest more into it

Just interested in what you guys thought it'd be like?

Especially since that's what the channel was like during the 2016 Finals series.

To be honest, you could see the whole thing coming a mile away last year. In 2015, Fox Sports had a really good balance with the exception of three NRL 360s a night and all they had to do was tweak a few aspects of their presentation to really make it work.

Instead of fixing those issues, it was like they double downed on all the worst aspects. Instead of canning 'Not The NRL News' they made Rochford a regular part of the show. Instead of shying away from the sports betting, they found more ways to include Jamie Rodgers and expand the segment. Instead of bringing in more talking heads to talk about the game, they brought in 'personalities' like Blocker who just spout nonsense.

The whole thing with Roach is real interesting in the sense that he appears to be playing the Mark Geyer role from the Roast. Geyer was never presented as an intellectual, but he'd speak his mind and represent apart of the community who felt a certain way of the game. On a show like the Roast, he was actually a really good fit, largely in part due to his chemistry with Gus who in turn had good chemistry with Voss but Roach is just far too prominent.

And once again instead of tweaking these issues and changing the way the game is presented, Fox have just brought in more former 9 employees and transplanted that style onto Fox. While it's a step up from the days of Pearce, Freeman, Braybrook, Raymond, Green, Sattler etc. calling the game it isn't really by much and if it wasn't for the fact that the 9 coverage has done little to change it's formula in the past twenty odd years the general concensus would be far more negative. As it stands, Fox's coverage is 'good' if only because it's better than 9 which isn't good enough.

And yeah what they did to the Sunday Ticket was a damn shame. The writing was on the wall when they changed the panel after the first couple of weeks and now that Voss is gone altogether the show is about as engaging as Super Saturday which for most is usually a cue to start dinner, grab another beer etc. etc. Maybe the same thing would happen with the Sunday Ticket, but if you replaced the Matty Johns show with Vossy's 'The Week That Was' show and have him, Jimmy Smith and maybe Gaz go through the week that was you'd have more variety.

 

[Captain Apollo]

People are surprised that Fox League is starting to look like Channel 9? Considering Fox Sports hired Steve Crawley to be the Executive Producer it should not be surprising consider Frawley used to work at Channel 9 as the Executive Producer of its NRL coverage.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Monday night could've been devoted to a Sunday Roast or Boots 'n' all style show hosted by Andrew Voss. Voss being only used for match commentary is a gross waste of talent.

Ive been watching some old clips on Youtube of Boots n All and the Sunday Roast.

These were damn good shows. Gus Gould was and still is an annoying commentator but when he sat beside Vossy on Boots n All he would talk about the good old days and bring up some good stories. Same with the Sunday Roast on occasions.

He always used to talk a lot of positive stuff about the game in the current days and the old days. Also had a bit on the Thursday Matty Johns show back when there wasn't any Thursday games.

When he come to Fox full time, I thought he was good doing the Sunday Ticket and also hosting when he calling matches on the Sunday.

Also I watched old clips on NRL Fox when Warren Smith was hosting, there was a period when Ryan Phelan was on there and wasn't a bad host but they tried to be funny with him and Wayne Pearce, Gary Freeman but when they brought it back with Smith, Matty Johns and Mark Geyer it got more serious.

I feel Smith and Voss could be better hosts than some of the people on there, but I don't know whether its their own decision or Fox decides to leave them as just commentators.

 

[undertaker]

Ive been watching some old clips on Youtube of Boots n All and the Sunday Roast.

These were damn good shows. Gus Gould was and still is an annoying commentator but when he sat beside Vossy on Boots n All he would talk about the good old days and bring up some good stories. Same with the Sunday Roast on occasions.

He always used to talk a lot of positive stuff about the game in the current days and the old days. Also had a bit on the Thursday Matty Johns show back when there wasn't any Thursday games.

Those were the days, Parra_fan.

Boots n' all was introduced in 2002. Then the Sunday Roast was introduced in 2005 (albeit in a 30min format, followed by Boots n' all). Voss/MG/Matt Johns/Paul Kent were the original line-up. Boots n' all was axed at the end of the year, Sunday Roast was extended to 1hr in 2006 and Gus Gould replaced Paul Kent, which is the way it stayed for the next 3 1/2 yrs until Matt Johns was removed during 2009 for reasons that have already been discussed on this forum. For some strange reason, Boots n' all did make a special one-off episode in 2011 IIRC, with Vossy and Gus doing a one hour special of archival footage from past episodes.

The good old days when I got to sleep in on a Sunday morning, wake up to watch the Sunday Footy Show at 11am, followed by the Boots n' all, and then later came the Sunday Roast.

RL tv programming like that (especially on a Sunday) will never, ever be the same as it was during 2002-11. The Sunday Roast during Vossy's reign as host was one of the few shows on FTA tv that I would say was must-see tv. Yes, that includes even after Terry Kennedy replaced Matty. The perfect balance between light humour, anecdotes, stories from the past and RL discussion. The younger generation of fans these days are really missing out and I would go so far to say that they have been cheated by the tv executives. When Voss was demoted in 2012 and Tim Gilbert took over hosting the show that was Voss' dream, idea and creation, watching the Sunday Roast was like watching someone you loved very much dying a very slow, painful death in a hospital bed. It's a huge shame because of the whole promotion of Hadley at Ch9 and conflict he had with Voss that everything turned to crap.

I also recently stumbled upon not just old clips, but episodes of Boots 'n all. I will try to post the footage I've found, as in the past it was just short clips that were on YouTube.

Strangely enough however, very little of the Sunday Roast exists. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.....I wonder why. There's only one clip I've found from when Voss/MG/Matty/Gus were the panel (the best line-up of the Roast during 2006-09).

Also I watched old clips on NRL Fox when Warren Smith was hosting, there was a period when Ryan Phelan was on there and wasn't a bad host but they tried to be funny with him and Wayne Pearce, Gary Freeman but when they brought it back with Smith, Matty Johns and Mark Geyer it got more serious.

I feel Smith and Voss could be better hosts than some of the people on there, but I don't know whether its their own decision or Fox decides to leave them as just commentators.

Smith was replaced by Ryan Phelan as you said (around 2009/10), and Fox had a Sunday night show called the League Lounge (do you remember? I think it was around 2010) that was hosted by Warren Smith and had Greg Alexander, Renee Gartner and some actor who's a Sharks fan. That was MUCH better than Second Year Syndrome and most of the other shows on Fox League, but it only lasted for 2 years. When Smith came back to hosting NRL on Fox in 2012, I thought that was the best year of NRL on Fox. They got the balance and structure of the show right that year, and really liked the Controversy Corner-type segment they used to have. Smith/MG/Matt Johns worked very well that year.

It is somewhat interesting to see clips of Matty Johns Monday night show back when it started in 2013 before all the Fletch and Hindy stuff dominated from the following year onwards. Panel was Tallis/Hindmarsh/Crocker IIRC. Bryan Fletcher was hosting the Sportsbet Kick for Cash segment on The Footy Show before jumping ship to Fox the next year.

 

[axl rose]

I'm so old I remember NRL on Fox being hosted by Cameron Williams with Steve Mortimer, Wally and Brett Kenny as panelists. I think Cameron Williams was coping a feel of the makeup artists so they punted him. Mortimer was always flogging/off talking about his shuffle board business he would sell to old folks homes. Yeah, it wasn't the most 'edgy' of shows.

 

[undertaker]

I'm so old I remember NRL on Fox being hosted by Cameron Williams with Steve Mortimer, Wally and Brett Kenny as panelists. I think Cameron Williams was coping a feel of the makeup artists so they punted him. Mortimer was always flogging/off talking about his shuffle board business he would sell to old folks homes. Yeah, it wasn't the most 'edgy' of shows.

Well, my parents got Fox a few rounds into the 2001 season, and I don't remember Cameron Williams being on Fox. However, I do remember Duncan Armstrong hosting some generic sports show called 'Fox Sports Central' just before the live Fox NRL match on Sunday, used to have a brief preview of the game and also other NRL players and media personnel who used to feature on it.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Yeah I remember back when NRL on Fox was first launched in the late 90s I think. It was on a Wednesday, hosted by Cameron Williams. It got better when Smith took over as host, I do remember he was a fill in host in 2001, Williams was an un-explained absentee until it was revealed on Ch 9 news. Funny how he ended up there.

I think there was also the Scoreboard Show on Tuesdays hosted by Russell Fairfax, which would review each game. That show I didn't mind.

Well, my parents got Fox a few rounds into the 2001 season, and I don't remember Cameron Williams being on Fox. However, I do remember Duncan Armstrong hosting some generic sports show called 'Fox Sports Central' just before the live Fox NRL match on Sunday, used to have a brief preview of the game and also other NRL players and media personnel who used to feature on it.

Yeah Fox Sports Central was in front of a live audience at the main sports bar in Fox Studios. I think Williams might've been the regular host but the late David Hookes also hosted before Armstrong was made permanent.

I went there when they were filming live and Brett Lee was the special guest. I wanted to an autograph but too many people lined up after the show finished.

 

[Brutus]

So we get a 24 hr league channel and less Jimmy Smith and Andrew Voss.

I don't get it.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Those were the days, Parra_fan.

Boots n' all was introduced in 2002. Then the Sunday Roast was introduced in 2005 (albeit in a 30min format, followed by Boots n' all). Voss/MG/Matt Johns/Paul Kent were the original line-up. Boots n' all was axed at the end of the year, Sunday Roast was extended to 1hr in 2006 and Gus Gould replaced Paul Kent, which is the way it stayed for the next 3 1/2 yrs until Matt Johns was removed during 2009 for reasons that have already been discussed on this forum. For some strange reason, Boots n' all did make a special one-off episode in 2011 IIRC, with Vossy and Gus doing a one hour special of archival footage from past episodes.

The good old days when I got to sleep in on a Sunday morning, wake up to watch the Sunday Footy Show at 11am, followed by the Boots n' all, and then later came the Sunday Roast.

RL tv programming like that (especially on a Sunday) will never, ever be the same as it was during 2002-11. The Sunday Roast during Vossy's reign as host was one of the few shows on FTA tv that I would say was must-see tv.

Strangely enough however, very little of the Sunday Roast exists. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.....I wonder why. There's only one clip I've found from when Voss/MG/Matty/Gus were the panel (the best line-up of the Roast during 2006-09).

Smith was replaced by Ryan Phelan as you said (around 2009/10), and Fox had a Sunday night show called the League Lounge (do you remember? I think it was around 2010) that was hosted by Warren Smith and had Greg Alexander, Renee Gartner and some actor who's a Sharks fan. That was MUCH better than Second Year Syndrome and most of the other shows on Fox League, but it only lasted for 2 years. When Smith came back to hosting NRL on Fox in 2012, I thought that was the best year of NRL on Fox. They got the balance and structure of the show right that year, and really liked the Controversy Corner-type segment they used to have. Smith/MG/Matt Johns worked very well that year.
.

Boots n All worked well, I know it only lasted 4 years but its done better than most shows. I think Ch 9 wanted to go a different way so they introduced the Sunday Roast at the same time, a controversial corner type show, plenty of rants, raves and jokes. The first show I remember had Voss, MG, Ikin and Paul Kent. Back when Kent was a bit quiet, Ikin didn't have glasses and MG had hair on his head. Ikin I think lasted one episode.

Since Voss got dumped from 9, it wasn't the same.

Just with that League Longue, I think it only lasted one year with Smith, Brandy, Renee, Brendan Cowell, the Sharks fan you're thinking off and also James Mathieson, former Channel V host. Originally Jessica Yates was the female but only lasted one episode. I thought it was good.

NRL on Fox in 2012 that's when Lara Pitt kick started her career. When they had the segment called "Contrary Conduct", Smith was referee with MG, Matty Johns and Paul Kent. There were some heated arguments on there about big topics. I can recall on episode where MG was nearly gonna knock Kent out lol but still entertaining. I thought that went pretty well.

 

[Brutus]

People are surprised that Fox League is starting to look like Channel 9? Considering Fox Sports hired Steve Crawley to be the Executive Producer it should not be surprising consider Frawley used to work at Channel 9 as the Executive Producer of its NRL coverage.

Steve Crawley meant more Paul Crawley and Rothfield and less Andrew Voss.

A disgrace.