THE Footy Show is taking a ratings beating, with viewers turning their back on the show and leaving Nine with its worst-ever Sydney figures.
Support for the 15-year-old show - which has long polarised rugby league fans but maintained a strong following with its mix of boofhead variety and NRL talk - has collapsed in the past six weeks.
The unexpected decline has been concentrated in the past three weeks, with the show struggling to top ABC1's political debate program Q&A - and being beaten by it in key periods.
While producers are at a loss to explain the sudden desertion, the show's founding executive producer believes the similar opinions of panel members Paul Vautin, Matthew Johns, Paul Harragon and Laurie Daley was turning the show "a little beige".
"They're very careful what they say about players and I understand why, but I don't think that necessarily helps out television," Gary Burns
And it's not just The Footy Show that's hurting - the figures coincide with a big drop in audience for Nine's Friday night NRL coverage, beaten by all but SBS programs in Sydney last week.
Support for the 15-year-old show - which has long polarised rugby league fans but maintained a strong following with its mix of boofhead variety and NRL talk - has collapsed in the past six weeks.
The unexpected decline has been concentrated in the past three weeks, with the show struggling to top ABC1's political debate program Q&A - and being beaten by it in key periods.
While producers are at a loss to explain the sudden desertion, the show's founding executive producer believes the similar opinions of panel members Paul Vautin, Matthew Johns, Paul Harragon and Laurie Daley was turning the show "a little beige".
"They're very careful what they say about players and I understand why, but I don't think that necessarily helps out television," Gary Burns
And it's not just The Footy Show that's hurting - the figures coincide with a big drop in audience for Nine's Friday night NRL coverage, beaten by all but SBS programs in Sydney last week.