The Boring Bean Counter from the Barton

[Eddie Woloschek]

Quote: AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson admits the 20-minute delayed telecasts in Adelaide are pushing attendances down, but raising television ratings – which will help the AFL when it renews its television contract.

"It is a fine balancing act," Jackson said.

So this is what it has come to. We can reduce the spectacle, but increase the price we charge for it? Good deal, huh? Of course, this is not new, it is the way they have run the game down there since this moron got the top job. Can't he just for once keep his mouth shut? Do we have to hear the official AFL view on everything in this universe.

Jackson and Demetriou are the two most likely blokes alive today to ruin footy. They have already inflicted enormous damage on the game and they should be removed by the clubs immediately.

 

[McAlmanac]

Without the TV revenue, you'd pay more at the gate. I thought Port folks were more diehard than to be put off by a short delay time on the replay.

 

[mic59]

If the absence of a delay means better TV ratings, why do they allow West Coast to have a 2-hour delay? We are missing out on the revenue from approximately 5000 extra bums on seats because of this short delay. And Saturday nights are all very fine but cold weather, as it was on Saturday will turn anyone away. And the night weather can be particularly bitter at West Lakes.

 

[Eago77]

There was something in the 'tiser today about why SA fans weren't turning up to games even though they had already got tickets. The main reason i'd think would be that coverage starts so soon after the actual game time. Other things like car park & food/drink prices, weather and the fact you cant have a beer or a smoke while watching the footy also add to likelyhood of people deciding to stay home and watch the slightly delayed coverage.

 

[dreamkillers]

Crows, Port want 90-minute TV delay
By Chief Football Writer MICHELANGELO RUCCI The Advertiser 09 April 2003

ONE in five football fans buying tickets to watch Crows and Power games at AAMI Stadium are not turning up – and SA's two AFL clubs believe the high "no-show" rate is caused by almost live telecasts of their home games.

Telecasts of Port Adelaide and Adelaide matches at AAMI Stadium are now on just 20-minute delays.
The Power and Crows believe telecasts of their home games should be pushed back to at least 90 minutes. And Port questions why SA games are shown so soon on television when in the similarly traditional market of Perth the AFL has extended the delay on telecasts of West Coast and Fremantle games from one hour to two. The trend of no-shows at AAMI Stadium has concerned both SA clubs after reviewing crowd figures at their home-openers in the past fortnight. They sold 99,483 tickets, both season and daily tickets, but 16,171 fans did not take their seats. Adelaide, despite the first appearance of star recruit Wayne Carey, had 7384 no-shows at its season-opener against Fremantle.

Port, despite hosting the AFL premier, had 8787 no-shows in last Saturday night's clash with Brisbane at West Lakes. Both clubs have concluded there are three major reasons why fans buy tickets but do not attend matches:

SOCIAL causes – such as family commitments with weddings, parties or holidays.

WEATHER, particularly cold, wet nights at AAMI Stadium.

TELEVISION replays on 20-minute delays. Port chief executive Brian Cunningham yesterday said having television replays become almost live telecasts had made it too easy for people to stay at home.

"They know they can have friends around, say for a barbecue, and watch the match unfolding on the television almost live," Cunningham said.

"In Perth they have put the replays on a 90-minute or two-hour delay – and the crowds at Subiaco Oval have been well-sustained."

"We're working hard to make live football at AAMI Stadium a great event with great atmosphere. And when people experience it at the ground, rather than on television, we're sure they will come back."

AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson admits the 20-minute delayed telecasts in Adelaide are pushing attendances down, but raising television ratings – which will help the AFL when it renews its television contract.

"It is a fine balancing act," Jackson said.

Adelaide and Port have the highest season-ticket sales in the AFL but their fans are becoming selective on when they attend AAMI Stadium. Crows fans will renew season tickets even if they cannot attend all 11 home games, for fear of losing their seats forever. Power fans are buying season tickets because they are cheaper – effectively $11 a match, compared to $16 at the gate. "We might be putting dollars in the bank, but for the team we want the stadium full; the team gets greater encouragement by playing before a full house," Adelaide membership manager Phil Harper said. Cunningham said empty seats cost the SANFL revenue from catering and led to overhiring of staff when crowds were smaller than expected.

To maximise crowds, the SANFL, Crows and Power will allow season ticketholders and AAMI Stadium members to lend passes to friends if they cannot attend.

Just how much television affects crowds at AAMI Stadium will be known next weekend. The telecast of Adelaide's Easter Sunday clash with West Coast will be delayed by at least three hours, due to Channel 9's commitment to live-broadcast Port's away game against Carlton at Optus Oval.

 

[Mudholian]

Originally posted by McAlmanac
Without the TV revenue, you'd pay more at the gate. I thought Port folks were more diehard than to be put off by a short delay time on the replay.

It is not the die-hards who stay home, it's those who might go if it was not on just 20 min after the start.

 

[Port01]

Funnily enough channel 9's flagship, Friday night football, is on a 90 minute delay in Adelaide. Yet for some reason this isn't good enough for Port or Camry home games in Adelaide. But its fine in Perth. Bizarre.