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.
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.
They can do a proper post-game show and wrap up the round before the news.
Reality is Fox pay the majority of the broadcast money (7 only get a look in because of the anti-siphoning laws). The less games that overlap mean the more $$$ spent on advertising and more money for the game next broadcast deal. 7 might need to stop dictating when games are played and start letting the league be run professionally.
Could they also do this for NSW matches that are delayed on Saturdays in the first third of the season from next year (e.g. a 1:30pm game between Sydney and GWS would start airing no earlier than 4:30pm on 7mate, and run until 6:30pm), or would it run the full three hours like most broadcasts?
Adelaide cut’s the broadcast down to either 2 hours or 2 and a half hours, probably edit out the breaks between the quarters.
IIRC the new deal will see the delay reduced to two hours, so they could air it from 3pm until 5pm, or 3pm/3:30pm-5:30pm (then lead into Sydney/QLD Weekender programs).
About 10 minutes of some of the changes for next year broadcast-wise. First minute or so is just Lyon really pushing Fox/Kayo mind you.
Couple of points seemed interesting.
(Morris) Seven will be the host broadcaster for their matches. Fox will be calling out of a radio com box, assuming they’re at the ground.
(Morris) Social inclusion clause for both channels. ie both will be less dominated by white men.
(Morris) More TV shows on 7 - Sunday morning show and more weekly shows. (informed speculation)
(Morris) 2024 Brownlow and GF on 7plus (I thought this had already happened but am probably wrong)
(Lyon) More footy shows on Fox
(Lyon) Fox having a massive relaunch in 2025 - said different graphics but could’ve also been referencing a choice of different graphics for the viewer between Fox and 7.
Found Lyon’s reaction to Morris talking about the first two points interesting haha. Didn’t seem happy at the first one and got defensive about the second.
So in other words, Seven and Fox’s commentary teams will have more Indigenous and female experts. Seven already has Erin Phillips, Abbey Holmes and Shaun Burgoyne on its books, while Fox has Eddie Betts and utilises the talent of AFLW players during their seasons only. You would think that more AFLW players will be signed up as experts for their coverage of men’s seasons.
I know that Fox League provides its own commentary of replayed Origin and NRL Grand Finals, makes me wonder if Fox Footy will do the same in having their commentators call the AFL Grand Final when it’s replayed on the channel?