I think the AFL has been smart this year by not having 3:20pm slot on 7, if they had 4 games around for most of R0-16 & then suddenly next year when it’s mostly 3 games people would of complained (as people always do). This way viewers won’t have a big shock with 1 less game a week. As we had 3 games a round mostly this year
But no doubt, people will 100000% complain about no Saturday 7 produced game
But they will have 3.20 slot later in season. 7 will still be broadcasting the same amount of games next season.
Checked the Good Friday Breakfast recording for Broken Hill and they still carried the NSW news bulletins in the morning, so must be automated.
Yes but there is only 3 matches with 3:20 slot when there are Thursday night matches. That’s what I’m talking about.
last year in the first 5 rounds with Thursday night there were 4 Sunday games. It was similar in the back half with the full rounds that had Thursday night, 3 of 4 had Sunday game too. That’s not the case this year.
Yeah it is different. You’ve immediately lost 3 with opening round and 7 showing 3 of the 4.
Was a bit surprised that Sunday is the more Fox exclusive (start of season) day which is completely different to how it shakes out next season
7 could air a 3:10pm Sunday game then a review show leading into the news
There’s little point now. SSAI works well now and regional advertisers are spliced in depending on your geolocation.
I think 9 did in the 2018-2022 deal but I’m not certain. Telstra also had some streaming rights from memory.
Viewers will switch off and have the opportunity to change to Nine. The whole point of the 3.20pm start is that the game finishes as close to 6pm as possible.
With the new reach ratings stuff, if the AFL games over time it will help 7 with inflating their numbers at least the reach:joy:
Must be, thanks for that.
The streams I see on 7plus in Canberra are all Sydney TVC’s with no SSAI Canberra TVC’s.
My Prediction for TV Broadcasting Structure in 2025 (25 Round Season, 23 Matches Per Team)
Channel 7 Productions (77 Matches)
15 Thursday Night @ 7:32PM AEST including Anzac Day Eve (Rounds 1-15)
24 Friday Night @ 7:32PM AEST excluding Good Friday
10 Saturday Night @ 7:32PM AEST (Rounds 16-25)
21 Sunday Afternoon @ 3:20PM AEST
7 Marquee; Dreamtime, Labour Day (VIC), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday Eve & King’s Birthday.
Foxtel Productions (130 Matches)
24 Saturday Afternoon @ 1:32PM AEST excluding Gather Round
24 Saturday Twilight @ 4:20PM AEST excluding Gather Round
23 Saturday Night @ 7:10PM AEST excluding Dreamtime & Gather Round.
Sunday Afternoon @ 1:02PM AEST
Sunday Twilight @ 4:02PM AEST
Ad Hoc; Additional Friday Night, Saturday Afternoon/Twilight/Night, Gather Round & Sunday Night.
Very exact start times lol
This year there is only Gather Round and from Rounds 15-24
Doesn’t Fox get their own commentary team and graphics in the new deal?
Yes, but they’ll get the picture from Ch 7 when they are the host broadcaster.
So, 7 had 77 games when it was 22 games per team per season and gained 4 more with Gather Round (now have 81 games).
My guess would be 7 will get an extra Saturday night during Gather Round and 3 more either Thursday or Saturday night games from somewhere.
ANZAC Eve?
Been thinking about how to maximise the fixture to get best value for fan and TV.
The best thing to come from Opening Round is the byes to open the season. Taking a game out of the round opens up a lot of opportunities.
I would also start the season in VIC labour day weekend. Byes for all 18 clubs between Rounds 3 and 10 (Five rounds have byes, the other three don’t due to Easter, Anzac Day and Gather Round).
A second series of byes would go between Rounds 17 and 21 (over the school holidays).
Thursday nights would kick off at 19:00 every week
Friday nights would also kick off at 19:00 on weeks with one game, or 18:30 / 21:00 when playing a double header with WA. The 18:30 game would be played in Geelong/Canberra/Marvel Stadium/Gold Coast. I’d say you’d be looking at roughly ~6 of these double headers a year
Saturdays with 3 games would be scheduled 13:00 / 16:00 / 19:00 (in 7/8 game rounds)
Saturdays with 4 games would be scheduled 12:00 / 14:30 / 17:00 / 19:30 (only needed for nine game rounds with no public holidays)
Sundays with 2 games would be scheduled 14:00 / 17:00 (Ch7 to take the 2pm game)
Sundays with 3 games would be scheduled 12:00 / 15:00 / 18:00 (one hour later during daylight saving) with the 15:00 game being on Ch7, and the 18:00 game being played in WA. Looking at another ~6 of these WA game being played at 4pm local time.
Example opening 11 rounds:
The last round of the season, I’d play all nine games at 2pm or 3pm on Saturday. Move the finals bye to be between the prelim finals and the grand final.
