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Question Re Fox Footy

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If the AFL telecasts only 4 games free-to-air a week, what impact would that have on sport?

I mean we have to say kids of generation would be different to the ones that grew up in the mid 90s in terms of what is available to watch. I for instance loved soccer in my teens. It was virtually close to impossible to watch the old NSL league game , and I only got the odd chance to watch my local NSL team from time-to-time.

There is A-League on free-to-air, but only 1 game a week. And if your asked your 'average' sports fan in Australia, if they even knew an A-League game was on free-to-air, most dare I say wouldn't know.

Pakistan came to Australia last summer for an ODI and T20 series, and reading the cricket forums on here, most didn't even know it was on. (because it was all behind a paywall)

Super Rugby is behind a paywall and dare I say it , if you said to your average citizen in Sydney- what the Waratahs was in terms of sporting teams , most would give you a shrug of the shoulders. Or even to test the sports fan in Sydney out, to name 1 Waratah player- most wouldnt know.

The impact of the AFL putting more games behind a paywall could potentially in future lead to reduced crowds, less eyes on TV for games - despite getting the revenues from subscribers- which is probably all that matters to them at this stage.
 
It’s interesting that people believe AFL fans will move to soccer or basketball for their sport viewing.
Interesting because neither sport are real ratings winners in Australia. But are big in respective countries UK and USA.
But in both those places the bulk of the games are on subscription services. Like us they do have a mix of FTA and subscription but to see it all you have to cough up.
If these sports become popular enough then the broadcast rights that the leagues want will get to the same stage as AFL. And that’s means subscription will be the only way to watch it all.
As far as the current AFL rights go they are not much different than the last decade or so. 7 have 4 games a week. They have made the decision to get the AFL to play more Thursday games. And they voluntarily subbed out Saturday to do it. So don’t blame the AFL for no Saturday FTA footy. Blame 7.
Fox rightly saw this as an opportunity and requested exclusive Saturday broadcast rights. Which again 7 didn’t contest.
The bonus for those who do pay is that now Fox, who have always broadcast all games live, is that they now provide their own comms and vision. A big step up from watching on a FTA broadcast where advertising is king.
And, controversially, I don’t mind the Fox scoreboard.
 

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Question Re Fox Footy

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