Yes, BBL is not blocking the showing of this on a Saturday, all Saturday BBL games are exclusive to Fox this year.
The one thing I can only presume is they want it to be shown nationally at the same time, plus the day-night Adelaide test delaying other commitments. (Last year, the live timeslot clashed with that directly; this year it’s a Brisbane test - of course, nothing stopping them shuffling it over to 7mate in either case…)
In Sydney and Melbourne they’re showing their relevant Schools Spectaculars from earlier in the month (and the Sydney one is being shown later in the evening to the other states); in Brisbane they’re showing an hour of the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols (itself delayed from the previous week), and filling in time with a special about the Gold Coast 50 years ago or so.
Maybe if Seven do give up the cricket rights, it might return to live, but they also may not because delaying it gives them the chance to make it time-certain, especially on a night with BBL on. The behind-closed-doors year in 2020 may have given them the idea that they preferred that instead.
I was wondering where this was tonight. Is this because we just can’t do LIVE TV anymore? Either from losing skilled people in the industry or worried about something being aired that might get people offended? We just have to edit the shit out of everything now its all so fake.
Did I miss something as to why this has been pre-recorded now? I would guess BBL cricket clashes the previous week to go live or budget cuts or some changes to production? It’s a real shame and would be immediately obvious to any fan, even days out from the promos. Also feel it’s now way too close to Nine’s Carols, the week before used to work well. Is Seven’s heart still in this I wonder of some contract still to lapse?
I recall in Seven’s 21st Century ‘halcyon days’ around 10-15 years ago that this (even though not as long-running as Carols By Candlelight nor Christmas Eve) used to rate its socks off, well over 1m metro and might’ve even pushed or bested Nine’s (in what was their history’s ‘doom and gloom’ period at the time).
There was no clash with the BBL on Saturday as Fox Cricket had exclusive rights until the end of regular season. I think the pre-recording is due to a mixture of reasons, including cost cutting, and Seven’s obligation to show the NSW and Victorian Schools Spectaculars before the year is out. The Schools Spectaculars couldn’t be aired on the first two Saturdays of December because of test cricket from Perth (time difference) and Adelaide (day/night match).
I’d imagine so, certainly the NSW one and must have some ridiculous agreement, as it played-out nationally, with a later timeslot in markets outside Sydney. Even Perth (due to time difference) which had an old movie re-run beforehand aired the NSW one. This odd programming has been noticed and criticised by a few people here, such as mod Squee. Be interesting to see how this rated, particularly in non-local markets.
Ahead of the TV broadcast, the red carpet arrivals and backstage interviews will be shown on The Christmas Network YouTube channel at 6.30pm AEDT today.
The channel also has clips from past performances of Carols in the Domain.
It will be nice if they turned their heads to the stage to welcome the next performer, or at least turn back to the camera once each carol is sung as if they were watching it
I’m guessing Seven executive production/ post has edited tonight’s pre recorded telecast within an inch of its life, although one positive is to rectify genuine bloopers etc
It’s been this way for several years.
They’ve started with several key performers on stage for the opening carol.
Nat and Kochie will be on stage at the end for the finale I’m sure.
