Fox Sports gives AFL a mark

[Aucklander]

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/fox-sports-gives-afl-a-mark/2007/05/18/1178995418201.html

AFL ratings on pay TV have doubled, while NRL ratings have increased minimally, following a decision by Fox Sports to swap the channels on which both codes are telecast.

NRL ratings are up only 1 per cent, while AFL matches on the sports channel once reserved for rugby league have increased almost 100 per cent.

Although the figures are based on the first two months in both leagues, NRL officials are concerned it will reflect poorly on the next TV contract, while AFL executives are already anticipating another pay day. "We'll have no added value on our next contract while they are looking at a bonanza," one NRL club official lamented.

AFL games are now on Fox Sports 1, an established channel with strong viewership, while live NRL games are on the newly created Fox Sports 3, a channel unavailable in many hotels, clubs and rural areas.

The figures validate NRL chief executive David Gallop's concern the code is "being taken for granted" by Fox Sports, which is half-owned by News Ltd which, in turn, half owns the NRL.

A News Ltd executive has said the media company is furious with the decision to swap channels, claiming it was not consulted by Fox Sports chief executive David Malone. Foxtel, one-quarter owned by News Ltd, is funding nearly half the AFL's rich TV contract and sought an existing sports channel to attract subscribers in order to defray the rights cost.

Although the total reach of NRL games has increased 12 per cent, this is largely off the back of Monday night football which was not played last year. After nine rounds, six Monday night matches rate in the NRL's top 10 pay TV programs. Overall, says a Fox Sports spokesman, ratings are up only 1 per cent, partly because of two Friday night matches shown on Channel Nine.

The average audience is 158,000, with 235,000 watching Saturday night matches, which has increased 4 per cent. Last year, rugby league produced 73 of the top 100 rated programs on pay TV. AFL had only two matches in the top 100 - two Geelong matches with 210,000 and 189,000 viewers.

This year, according to reports, AFL on Fox Sports 1 has had five matches attract more than 200,000, with an average audience of live matches of 160,000. In other words, NRL and AFL ratings on Fox Sports are drawing closer, despite the enormous disparity of last season.

A club official said Gallop told club delegates to this week's conference that relationships between himself and Malone were "at an all-time low".

When Malone told the Herald the reason Fox Sports did not carry Friday night matches into Melbourne was simply because the NRL had not asked, Gallop arranged such a request.

Channel Nine offered Friday night matches, particularly those involving the Storm, be shown on Foxtel, provided Broncos matches shown on Fox Sports could be replayed in Brisbane on Nine on Sunday afternoons. Malone subsequently said this was not possible. Given that Channel Nine owns the other half of Fox Sports and News Ltd owns the Storm, this is a curious outcome.

Nine boss Eddie McGuire, who will leave his post on June 30, told rugby league fans on Melbourne radio recently his executives had met Gallop to enhance coverage in Victoria. Confirming this, Gallop said: "There was an undertaking given to try and put games on in Melbourne earlier and give the Storm more exposure in news bulletins."

However, Nine's telecast of last night's St George Illawarra versus Titans match was due to begin at 1.10am, following the movie Election, a flick about a girl bribing classmates with muffins to be elected school captain. The after-midnight start is in breach of the existing NRL contract, which says Nine must televise games in Melbourne before midnight.

Gallop said: "It goes against the indications of an improved start time and we formally raised it with Nine on Thursday."

Still, Storm chief executive Brian Waldron, is hopeful, saying, "Channel Nine in Melbourne is working with the Storm to improve coverage, to the extent they are prepared to share coverage with Fox Sports."

Apart from the switch to Fox Sports 1, AFL ratings have also been boosted by an allocation of better quality games, an additional match per week and removing the blackout in the host city of the fixture.

As Waldron said: "Last Saturday, Fox had the Carlton-Collingwood game at 2pm. Two-thirds of Melbourne would have been watching."

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I don't think there'd be many of us who didn't think the AFL were getting a free kick with the change of channels for both codes.

 

[Ted Ed Fred]

It has everything to do with more and more people in AFL states getting Foxtel suscriptions, 4 games instead of 3 and Foxtel getting good games, as opposed to the dregs FFC used to get. Look for AFL games ratings to increase as more people sign up because of the deal which takes all the good games away from FTA (and because of Seven's woeful coverage).

Whether they are shown on Fox sports 1 or 3 would have a minimal impact. Most of the people that wouldn't have it would live in regional areas where there is no digital, and they get Austar anyway so they wouldn't be included in those ratings. Fox sports 3 is actually reserved for Fox sports highest rating shows (the cricket world cup was also shown on this channel iirc, as well as the Ashes highlights)

The NRL being part owned by News Ltd is a double edged sword. It means the NRL doesn't get as much in their TV deals but at the same time they get favourable coverage on Foxtel, Nine and most of Australia's newspapers (such as the Herald Sun). In that article that guy even admits that the National Nine News in Melbourne is going to be told to add a RL bias to their bulletins.

 

[robbieando]

How dare the AFL's Pay TV ratings increase

Honestly, what impact has the channel switch had other than the fact people have had to get use to imput a different channel code??

NRL ratings are up by 1% and the AFL ratings are up because they are giving better games to Fox Sports under this deal, than FFC got under the old deal and most important of all there are more people who have Foxtel this year than had Foxtel last year (which of course is going to be the case every year) and its like most of them this year got Foxtel to watch AFL because of the favourable deal Fox Sports got with the AFL Pay TV Rights.

Its a huge lot of nothing to be honest.

 

[MightyFighting]

I don't think there'd be many of us who didn't think the AFL were getting a free kick with the change of channels for both codes.

Why? Do you think people are more likely to watch something if it's on Fox Sports 1, rather than Fox Sports 3?

 

[dr nick]

Oh no, i just flicked to channel 501 expecting NRL... but theyre showing an AFL match. I better watch that instead.

 

[parano1a]

However, Nine's telecast of last night's St George Illawarra versus Titans match was due to begin at 1.10am, following the movie Election, a flick about a girl bribing classmates with muffins to be elected school captain.

Sounds like a good flick...

 

[MightyFighting]

Sounds like a good flick...

I've seen it. It's not bad.

 

[Hornet]

Apart from the switch to Fox Sports 1, AFL ratings have also been boosted by an allocation of better quality games, an additional match per week and removing the blackout in the host city of the fixture.

As Waldron said: "Last Saturday, Fox had the Carlton-Collingwood game at 2pm. Two-thirds of Melbourne would have been watching."

-------------------------------------------

I don't think there'd be many of us who didn't think the AFL were getting a free kick with the change of channels for both codes.

The NRL being forced to Fox Sports 3 has very little to do with the growth of AFL as highlighted above. With the new TV rights, it was only a matter of time before the ratings improved and will continue to do so as more people realize the quality of games have improved.

btw...as for the Carlton/Collingwood match, I believe that was one of several games this year where foxtel has priority over the FTA networks.

 

[Aucklander]

Why? Do you think people are more likely to watch something if it's on Fox Sports 1, rather than Fox Sports 3?

Well, AFL is 100% more popular on FS1 than it used to be on FFC, so yea I'd say so.

 

[Aucklander]

With the new TV rights, it was only a matter of time before the ratings improved and will continue to do so as more people realize the quality of games have improved.

Improved?

Most people I know are disillusioned with the game at AFL level.

 

[MightyFighting]

Well, AFL is 100% more popular on FS1 than it used to be on FFC, so yea I'd say so.

Then, by your logic, shouldn't the NRL's ratings have dropped this year?

 

[1908]

You insular AFL clowns this isn't about RL v AFL, it's about league being duded. If you think that because News own RL they favour it you are severley deluded, they use it to get their money back from the SL war and to sell pay TV, full stop. Do some research or stay in your AFL bubbles.

 

[deck]

When Malone told the Herald the reason Fox Sports did not carry Friday night matches into Melbourne was simply because the NRL had not asked, Gallop arranged such a request.

Channel Nine offered Friday night matches, particularly those involving the Storm, be shown on Foxtel, provided Broncos matches shown on Fox Sports could be replayed in Brisbane on Nine on Sunday afternoons. Malone subsequently said this was not possible. Given that Channel Nine owns the other half of Fox Sports and News Ltd owns the Storm, this is a curious outcome.

Ridiculous we can't at least get coverage on Fox Sports Live.

 

[Aucklander]

Then, by your logic, shouldn't the NRL's ratings have dropped this year?

Not really.

Fox sports was built on the back of Rugby League, so I'm not surprised to see the code hold it's ratings. AFL on the other hand was a poor rater until it shifted to FS1.

 

[deck]

Not really.

Fox sports was built on the back of Rugby League, so I'm not surprised to see the code hold it's ratings. AFL on the other hand was a poor rater until it shifted to FS1.

AFL was a poor rater because all Local games bar some Melbourne games were guaranteed FTA coverage. Also Foxtel previously got the games 9 and 10 didn't want. Foxtel now get first pick of some Saturday afternoon games while they now have 2 of 3 sunday games with 1pm and 5pm game guaranteed.

 

[Jabso]

Fox Sports have got a better deal than Fox Footy ever got. They used to be stuck with the dud matches, but now and again they get first choice (and when they don't 10's choice on Saturday has been horrible anyway).

EDIT: Just saw where Fox Sports 3 isn't availble in some clubs. It's just a ploy to get them to move to digital, and if they have already it's to force them to pay for the new sports package. If it wasn't, they'd put both sports on FS1 and FS2.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

I think it's good the NRL still rules on fox despite not being available to all people.

Once Austar are included, it makes you wonder how the AFL gets such a good deal.

 

[1908]

Foxtel previously got the games 9 and 10 didn't want. Foxtel now get first pick of some Saturday afternoon games while they now have 2 of 3 sunday games with 1pm and 5pm game guaranteed.

What? You think Fox shows the best matches of the RL round live? Channel 9 have first call my friend.

 

[Kenny Hunter]

The article is total Bullsh*t

Yes AFL numbers have increased big time on PayTV but that was always expected with this new deal. I expect the numbers to continue to grow faster than the NRL numbers and in the end the AFL will be equal to the NRL or gone past it in 3 years

WHY? Because in the past NRL fans were treated poorly by the FTA channels and now the same thing is happening to AFL fans , if you want to see your game , its the only option get Paytv

Foxtel now have better AFL games and more games now .
And with FTA not only did they lose a game but they have less footy live apart from losing that game

So its got nothing to do with a change of Channels .
Its because AFL is the number one football code in the country and more of it is now going to PayTV
And before anyone starts with the abuse at me , let me point out, i'm only stating the fact .. If you disagree with me then explain to me ,why does the AFL get higher rating Grand finals than the NRL ?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

,why does the AFL get higher rating Grand finals than the NRL ?

Live coverage Australia wide might have something to do with it.

 

[Teagueeee15]

Live coverage Australia wide might have something to do with it.

Wouldn't the fact that the NRL grand final is on at prime time balance out the figures though?
Also why isn't the NRL Grand Final shown live Australia wide?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Wouldn't the fact that the NRL grand final is on at prime time balance out the figures though?
Also why isn't the NRL Grand Final shown live Australia wide?

Not really, everyone knows when the GF's for both codes are on, so if you're going to watch, you will.

The thing about Day vs night is crap, it wouldn't matter when it's on, you'd watch anyway.

One thing that would help the AFL though, instead of going against shows like Big Brother or some other massive rating program at night, they get to go up against Elvis reruns.

Since SL, the NRL has not had Australia wide coverage, it's because they cut teams from these area's, things might change in the future, but not for a while.

Channel 10 actually has 9 in SA(Southern Cross), so you couldn't see them wanting RL to take on AFL over there would you?

The lady in Perth who has 9 hates RL, things could change now though as WIN TV has taken over that station.


When all the figures are added together, the AFL GF gets between 100-300,000 more viewers, but RL is only live in Qld-NSW-ACT-NT and Vic, ACT and NT would only be around half a million people all up.

I'm sure the NRL GF could get at least another 300,000 if they had TAS, SA and WA added in.

The two codes are pretty close in TV ratings the way it is, it'll most probably always be this way, AFL will always have WA, SA, VIC, TAS, while RL will always have NSW, ACT, QLD, while both share NT.

I suppose the only thing that could change it really is people moving to other area's on mass, which could become reality if the weather continues to be as mad as it is.

 

[Hornet]

The two codes are pretty close in TV ratings the way it is, it'll most probably always be this way, AFL will always have WA, SA, VIC, TAS, while RL will always have NSW, ACT, QLD, while both share NT.

Good point . . . and it's shouldn't come as a big surprize when you consider that both codes have their strong traditional bases as well as development markets, with a population split almost 50/50. I don't expect any code to ever dominate the other to be quite honest.

Thats why I'm not surprized at AFL's sudden ratings growth on foxtel, especially since the new rights agreement. The quality provided by foxtel atm is greater than ever before x10, and it has very little to do with a simple channel change as some suggest.

With both codes producing healthy ratings, the biggest winner out of all this is foxtel...

 

[dr nick]

The NRL have one match a week live on free to air. The AFL have several. Last year, and for several years before there was no NRL live on FTA at all during the regular season. Foxtel, particularly sports pack subscriptions are substantially higher amongst those who want to watch more NRL.

 

[dr nick]

and it has very little to do with a simple channel change as some suggest.

lol, i dont remember any AFL fan lamenting a low viewer count based on the channel, nor did I hear any NRL fan attribute the viewer counts to a more viewer friendly channel 501... until now.