
I was looking through some old TV guides from 1997 this morning and thought it might be interesting to look at the level of coverage Channel Seven was giving to AFL ten years ago.
Here's Seven's schedule from a few random rounds...
ROUND 8
FRIDAY May 16
8:30 AFL Football: Round 8. Collingwood v Western Bulldogs. Delayed telecast from the MCG.
SATURDAY May 17
4:00 Interfooty.
4:30 Rex Hunt's Fishing Adventures.
5:00 Around The Grounds.
5:30 Seven News.
6:00 AFL Winners. AFL news and highlights from today's games: Melbourne v Geelong, North Melbourne v Port Adelaide.
8:30 AFL Football: Round 8. Adelaide v Sydney. Live from Football Park.
SUNDAY May 18
9:00am Sportsworld. Live.
11:00 Footy Panel with Rex Hunt. Live.
12pm AFL Gameday. Live.
2:00 AFL Football: Round 8. Fremantle v Brisbane. Live from Subiaco.
5:00 AFL Football: Round 8. Highlights from Essendon v St Kilda, Carlton v Hawthorn.
MONDAY May 19
8:30 AFL Football: Round 8. Richmond v West Coast. Delayed telecast from the MCG.
11:30 Talking Footy. AFL panel discussion show hosted by Bruce McAvaney, with Mike Sheahan and Leigh Matthews.
ROUND 12
FRIDAY June 13
7:30 AFL Football: Round 12. Sydney v Richmond. Live from the SCG.
SATURDAY June 14
4:00 Interfooty.
4:30 Rex Hunt's Fishing Adventures.
5:00 Around The Grounds.
5:30 Seven News.
6:00 AFL Winners. AFL news and highlights from today's games: Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide, Collingwood v West Coast, Geelong v Hawthorn.
SUNDAY June 15
9:00am Sportsworld. Live.
11:00 Footy Panel with Rex Hunt. Live.
12pm AFL Gameday. Live.
2:00 AFL Football: Round 12. Fremantle v Essendon. Live from Subiaco, followed by Adelaide v North Melbourne. Live from Football Park.
10:40 AFL Football: Round 12. St Kilda v Carlton. Replay of today's match of the day from Waverley Park.
As you can see, Seven only ever aired three or four games per round in full, with many games only being allocated up to an hour in highlights packages.
Here's Seven's schedule from a few random rounds...
ROUND 8
FRIDAY May 16
8:30 AFL Football: Round 8. Collingwood v Western Bulldogs. Delayed telecast from the MCG.
SATURDAY May 17
4:00 Interfooty.
4:30 Rex Hunt's Fishing Adventures.
5:00 Around The Grounds.
5:30 Seven News.
6:00 AFL Winners. AFL news and highlights from today's games: Melbourne v Geelong, North Melbourne v Port Adelaide.
8:30 AFL Football: Round 8. Adelaide v Sydney. Live from Football Park.
SUNDAY May 18
9:00am Sportsworld. Live.
11:00 Footy Panel with Rex Hunt. Live.
12pm AFL Gameday. Live.
2:00 AFL Football: Round 8. Fremantle v Brisbane. Live from Subiaco.
5:00 AFL Football: Round 8. Highlights from Essendon v St Kilda, Carlton v Hawthorn.
MONDAY May 19
8:30 AFL Football: Round 8. Richmond v West Coast. Delayed telecast from the MCG.
11:30 Talking Footy. AFL panel discussion show hosted by Bruce McAvaney, with Mike Sheahan and Leigh Matthews.
ROUND 12
FRIDAY June 13
7:30 AFL Football: Round 12. Sydney v Richmond. Live from the SCG.
SATURDAY June 14
4:00 Interfooty.
4:30 Rex Hunt's Fishing Adventures.
5:00 Around The Grounds.
5:30 Seven News.
6:00 AFL Winners. AFL news and highlights from today's games: Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide, Collingwood v West Coast, Geelong v Hawthorn.
SUNDAY June 15
9:00am Sportsworld. Live.
11:00 Footy Panel with Rex Hunt. Live.
12pm AFL Gameday. Live.
2:00 AFL Football: Round 12. Fremantle v Essendon. Live from Subiaco, followed by Adelaide v North Melbourne. Live from Football Park.
10:40 AFL Football: Round 12. St Kilda v Carlton. Replay of today's match of the day from Waverley Park.
As you can see, Seven only ever aired three or four games per round in full, with many games only being allocated up to an hour in highlights packages.