Wonder if the AFL will persist with their counterproductive requirement for broadcasters to black out their own streams during AFL games.
We saw this partially wound back last year with Triple M being able to stream on their own platforms (and SEN on their app only), hopefully this is scrapped altogether as it only hurts the game by adding a barrier to potential listenership (especially for potential listeners on the other side of the Barassi Line where radio options are more limited and also with the increasing number of people who primarily use smart speakers and/or Android Auto/Apple Carplay to listen to radio).
Interesting that AFL Nation is using Jimmy Smith for the GWS game. He normally calls for NRL Nation. And Matt Hillâs back for another year of Sunday games.
Meanwhile 6PR are calling Wednesday night and Friday night themselves (not taking Thursday), using AFL Nation for the two late games on Saturday, and calling the games with WA teams themselves on Sunday. Shane McInnes, Matt Granland, Bruce Eva and David Schwarz of 3AW helping out 6PR with the east coast games again this year.
FiveAA Adelaide is broadcasting eight matches this opening round, excluding West Coast v Gold Coast. They will call the games with SA teams themselves on Saturday (with regular updates from SA state election count) and Sunday.
Was able to play via RadioApp for Wednesday and Friday night games (was at training on Thursday Night) so I assume the annoying practice is gone and forgotten. The streams are still available through the AFL App for those Telstra tightwads who want to keep their data (those streams are un-metered).
3AW have still been blacking out their own stream during games. I havenât checked 6PR but I assume itâs the same. Iâll check later today if I remember.
Daniel Garb and Brett Sprigg calling play-by-play of todayâs Sydney derby (and also all AFL matches played in NSW this year) for ABC Radio. Tadgh Kennelly and Neil Cordy are providing special comments for todayâs game. Fox Sports Newsâ Sophie Clapin returns as boundary reporter.
Jessica Stewart is the boundary reporter for ABCâs call of Brisbane v Port Adelaide tonight.
Looks like itâs only SEN and Triple M that arenât blacked out outside of the AFL app. Triple M wasnât blacked out last year on smart speakers but SEN is no longer blacked out either.
Itâs still not great but I guess itâs a start.
Retired Carlton star Marc Murphy made his ABC Radio debut on this afternoonâs match between Hawthorn and North Melbourne.
Nine News Adelaideâs Josh Money is the boundary reporter for the ABCâs coverage of Adelaide-Fremantle clash.
