But do we know if the main channels will air his funeral?
When Pope John Paul died in 2005, only Nine, ABC and SBS covered it (different times, i know). Held on a Friday from 4pm on Nine, and 6pm on ABC and SBS Pope's funeral to be screened live (Seven and 10 had normal programming).
When retired Pope Benedict died, I don’t believe that any FTA networks aired his funeral.
Fast forward to now. We have more FTA channels to go to. ABC News can perhaps cover the funeral. SBS (or SBS WorldWatch perhaps?) can air it.
I say ABC, SBS and Sky will likely air it - I would imagine that if the commercials aired it, could be that the news airs at an earlier time on the east coast (and possibly SA), with WA airing their bulletins afterwards (NBC says that the funeral is likely to run for 2 1/2 hours, so WA can still get news at around 6pm afterwards)
It’s bad timing for Australian FTAs starting right on 6pm AEST. Networks that cover the funeral will also want to have an earlier introductory program as well. It would be easiest for 10 to offer main channel coverage and for ABC to run on ABC News. If just one of the commercials moved their 6pm news to another time I think the opposition bulletin would smash it in the ratings.
Angela Cox from Sydney’s Seven News just mentioned that Seven will have special coverage of the Funeral. She said that coverage begins at 5pm, with News at 6pm. There was am on air graphic about it too.
In Adelaide, Rosanna said the coverage would start at 5pm in Adelaide as well, which means it’s either going to air on delay, or due to SANFL running until 5pm Adelaide time, they will crash into the coverage.
