Putting a sport on a free-to-air multichannel that is available nationwide is not a ‘slap in the face’. The myth that multichannels are inferior continues, despite for example the success of the AFL on 7mate in Perth, the last Ashes test cricket on 9Gem, Bluey on ABC Kids, and breaking news coverage on the ABC News channel.
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I think it’s owned by ACM not Nine.
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cmo is correct. Canberra Times is a “quality” ACM publication. not NEC.
Also, that’s what multichannels are there for. These days they’re no different to the main channel.
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Feel like this discussion/debate happens a few times a year. Yes, multichannels are on relatively (say that due to regional availability of some channels) equal footing to the main channels in that both can be accessed by anyone. However, it’s still fair to suggest that viewers gravitate towards the main channels. While there are exceptions to the rule (some of those you’ve outlined), the main channels still dominate the ratings day-after-day, month-after-month, year-after-year. Bluey has been the only show which has come close to achieving what Love Island has done for ITV2 in the UK (ie; a multichannel program consistently outrating some main channel programs it went up against).
In regards to the specifics of the article, questioning the W-League will be airing on 10 Bold is fair considering I doubt whatever 10 currently airs on Sunday afternoons attracts decent numbers such that it can’t be bumped in favour of live sport.
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But for the W-League it is a downgrade from where it has been for some time - women’s sport often cops the rough end of the stick so it’s not hard to see why people feel aggrieved about it, especially when you could argue that the women’s game in this country is in a much better state then the men’s game.
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The discussion will go away when networks give multichannels equal footing to the main channels.
As of 2021, they don’t.
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It’s going from one nationwide free-to-air channel to another nationwide free-to-air channel. If people want to watch it they will watch it no matter where it is.
I agree with what you have said but only in so far as it relates to general entertainment programming on the multichannels. In general, there isn’t much in the way of premium first run programming on multichannels in part now because networks are struggling to fill even their main channel with first run programming.
However, I think it is different when it comes to sport. Several examples show that viewers will follow sport to a multichannel. 7Mate in Perth is a good example, where it can be the number one channel in the market on AFL nights.
However, despite all that, perhaps it is all to do with the game schedule. Do we know what time the W League Sunday games are proposed to start? I’m not familiar with what is proposed. Becasue, this year’s games ran 4 pm - 6pm (and longer in some cases). That would be incompatible with 10’s main channel schedule with News at 5pm.
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The best solution will be to start a W-League game at 2.45pm or 3pm so the telecast finishes right at 5pm.
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Oh I agree completely. The way I began my previous post wasn’t intended to be a complaint but rather an observation that it’s one of those topics which seems to come up on a somewhat regular basis
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I’m sure someone would then complain that the league had bowed to pressure from network television to change their schedule.
Not unusual, particularly if the media partner is paying a significant amount of money.
Its not exactly a new phenomenon - major sports not just in Australia but around the world take into account their broadcaster’s requirements in determining their schedules. We even have sports that have specific rules because the broadcaster has hard limits on what they will broadcast
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Thanks. Sorry my bad.
The term paywall here is dumb considering the A-League has been behind a paywall since its inception.
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So what term would you use?
Just say it will be on Ten’s streaming service Paramount+.
No different from rugby being on Nine’s streaming service Stan Sports or ESPN putting games on ESPN+.
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The end for Fox Football
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