Friday Night Football becoming a dud

[Eels Dude]

1. The Awful managed to get a great TV deal with a full season schedule. Possibly they work it out in conjunction with the Stations. Why can't we?

2. It is not a good look for Rugby League to have dud games on TV on a consistent basis, especially when these games are meant to be handpicked by Ch 9 as the "match of the round". I am sure that there would be crappy games anyway but at least the interest could be more seeing different teams on a regular basis.

1. There's too many variables to compare. There's more AFL games a week on free to air in Melbourne, then there are NRL games in Sydney. Plus the scheduling of the games allows fans to just about watch every game live on either free to air or fox. The emphasis of their tv deal isn't really about friday night football as such. Strong ratings of NRL games on friday night football is one of the things we've got going for us and that shouldnt change.

2. It's hard to tell. It can't imagine it getting better if the games were all picked beforehand. The fact that Nine and Foxtel have allocated ordered picks for each weekend means no side wants to end up with a dud game. Some sides rate better than others, but that can change as the season progresses.

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

With the number of night games today, does anyone think that perhaps Saturday afternoon might become a more attractive option than what it was in the past.

I'd love to see a Saturday afternoon match. Even Parra vs Cows!

 

[Eels Dude]

Exactly.

Also to those complaining about the Sharks being on Friday night because they find them boring to watch,please shut the f**k up.
You find them boring??? Then don't watch it - They're 3rd on the ladder they deserve some coverage.

So if people turn their tv off every time the Shark's are playing... Channel 9 will realise Shark's matches don't rate well... and then they'll receive less tv coverage.

I don't think anyone's saying the Shark's don't deserve FTA coverage, merely that they don't enjoy watching them play. You have to look at the bigger picture. It's not Cronulla's fault. They're just trying to win football games. The fact is they just don't have the style of football which makes them must see television.

 

[Kiki]

the saturday afternoon ones are on Foxtel so that wont be happening on ch 9 anytime soon.

 

[Eels Dude]

With the number of night games today, does anyone think that perhaps Saturday afternoon might become a more attractive option than what it was in the past.

I'd love to see a Saturday afternoon match. Even Parra vs Cows!

I think the reason they got rid of it was because it interfered with families and children's sport and thus the crowds were getting rather poor. I'd like to see it trialled a few times a season though.

 

[Shorty]

I don't think anyone's saying the Shark's don't deserve FTA coverage, merely that they don't enjoy watching them play. You have to look at the bigger picture. It's not Cronulla's fault. They're just trying to win football games. The fact is they just don't have the style of football which makes them must see television.

Don't you think it's subjective?
I personally think that Melbourne bore the absolute sh*t out of me but I don't feel they're getting enough games either and I'm sure their fans who don't have pay(and there's lots of us) would be thrilled to see their team on a Friday a bit more.

 

[Eels Dude]

Don't you think it's subjective?
I personally think that Melbourne bore the absolute sh*t out of me but I don't feel they're getting enough games either and I'm sure their fans who don't have pay(and there's lots of us) would be thrilled to see their team on a Friday a bit more.

Ideally, but it comes down to ratings. We all want to see the NRL get a much better financial deal next time the tv ratings come up for renewal. And for that to happen we need to let the networks select the matches they think will rate the best. If Melbourne and Cronulla don't draw ratings in Sydney, then it's just bad luck for those clubs. The main consideration at the moment should be getting more money into the game.

 

[Shorty]

^And Cowboys and Eels generally rate good,their performances this year have been sh*tty but considering the timing of airings the ruling would have been on ratings.
Same with Broncos,you can't just take the game off because some people find Cronulla's playing style boring...the Broncos generally still get good viewings.

 

[BWNB]

Maybe its cause the game has gone soft, the game lacks 'hardmen' as seen last night when Hayne put Gal on report, if you wanna watch real 'hardmen' watch the AFL on a friday night.

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

I think the reason they got rid of it was because it interfered with families and children's sport and thus the crowds were getting rather poor. I'd like to see it trialled a few times a season though.

I never bought that, what a load of BS. Also, the only Saturday arvo games they had at one stage were Storm games. For a while too, they were only on Fox meaning you'd have no clue who was playing = zero promotion.

But the thing I was getting at was whether fans would flock to Saturday games more so in the past, due to the complete lack of afternoon games in recent times?

 

[Eels Dude]

I never bought that, what a load of BS. Also, the only Saturday arvo games they had at one stage were Storm games. For a while too, they were only on Fox meaning you'd have no clue who was playing = zero promotion.

But the thing I was getting at was whether fans would flock to Saturday games more so in the past, due to the complete lack of afternoon games in recent times?

It's hard to tell. I don't know if fans would flock to them, it would depend on the game. I think it's definately worth another try though. I wouldn't mind seeing the 5:30 Saturday game trialled earlier in the day. 5:30 isn't the most convenient time so making it played slightly earlier could make a difference for crowds, but whether clubs and Fox agree to it is another matter.

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

It's hard to tell. I don't know if fans would flock to them, it would depend on the game. I think it's definately worth another try though. I wouldn't mind seeing the 5:30 Saturday game trialled earlier in the day. 5:30 isn't the most convenient time so making it played slightly earlier could make a difference for crowds, but whether clubs and Fox agree to it is another matter.

Agree 100%. Move 5:30 game.

On top of that, give Fox a Friday night game and Nine the Saturday arvo game.

For Friday, get both stations to show a replay of the other game at 9:30, giving fans choice. Would be worth negotiating something like that, particularly good for interstate fans and I think that both networks would benefit with more games (even if they're shown at same time). Considering we should make a motza off the next TV deal, we should be able to call the shots.

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

Maybe its cause the game has gone soft, the game lacks 'hardmen' as seen last night when Hayne put Gal on report, if you wanna watch real 'hardmen' watch the AFL on a friday night.

twig

 

[God-King Dean]

They choose the games too far away from the date. Is it really neccessary to choose em 8 rounds in advance ?

 

[BWNB]

twig

The game is getting soft, Gallen getting reported is stupid. That is all.

 

[_Johnsy]

A simpler solution is to come up with some method of alocating points for different variables for each team;
Position on table, tries scored, tries conceded, long range tries, tries off kicks etc. Do this for each round (if the current system is 5 weeks out then so be it). Then each games total gives it a rank. Then the top 3 games are the 2 fri night games, then the sunday game. The system needs to be trnasparent as to how FTA games are alocated.

 

[adamkungl]

I was wondering why ratings would be down...surely all the AFL propaganda about people being disillusioned with NRL is, for the most part, utter sh*te? But then I look at myself, I'm not sure when was the last time I watched a TV game. I'm always at the Roosters game, but if not, I'm usually out drinking, completely forget, playing Xbox, etc. So uhh. I dunno. Maybe lots of people just have better things to do...

 

[Dutchy]

Friday Night Football is becoming a dud. It seems that each week you get the same clubs all the bloody time. Eels, Broncos, Goosters and WoManly.

If Friday Night games are supposedly the best games of the week then how come one of them is between 2 teams going like absolute busteds?

Not only that but I've heard that the Storm (The defending premiers) have only had that time slot 4 times this year.

??

Best NSW based team for the past 3 years. Second best last year and leading the comp this year. Why shouldnt they be on channel 9 more than others?

 

[Edwahu]

Put Campo on!

 

[Brutus]

It's time to ditch the second FNF game for good and put a Saturday game on FTA.

I have watched the second game on only two occasions all year.

It was a ridiculous idea to begin with and further proof the NRL is bowing to Fox Sports and their precious Super Saturday.