Opinion The Scheduling Of An AFL Round (Start Times)

[Rod Stroker]

Not sure what the right answer is, but I just checked this weeks fixture to see when our game is on, and noticed that there is double header on Friday night? Overlapping games, the second game starts during half time of the first game.
Why would the AFL do this? Seems stupid, particularly if their goal with the broadcasters is to maximise TV audiences. Don't make viewers turn off from one game to watch another.
Having said that, this weeks double header looks underwhelming, given 3 of the 4 teams playing are in the bottom 5.

 

[czns]

Sunday is a graveyard slot for the AFL. Always has a horrible vibe, especially the crappy 3:20 Perth games.

Would rather they play multiple overlapping games on Saturday afternoon and nothing on Sunday.

 

[nobbyiscool]

People forget how rubbish a lot of matches are - overlap is a good thing a lot of the time!

That said, I do think we should have Thursday night every week, but I'm happy with overlap on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon, I don't think this is a big problem.

 

[LordLucifer]

6pm on Thur and Fri is no good. Are you assuming most people finish work at like 3 or 4pm? Not the case.

12pm starts would be horrendous early in the season in Qld. It is still 30+ deg up here.

---

Thur, Fri and Sat should be 7pm starts

You mean 6pm doesn't suit you, and yes, a lot of tradies do finish work that early.

Who gives a tinkers about 12noon slots in QLD, you think that every game up there would be scheduled like that ??

I'm guessing that a lot of the QLD home games would be in the late afternoon or evening but hey, what would I know.

 

[Elixuh]

You mean 6pm doesn't suit you, and yes, a lot of tradies do finish work that early.

Who gives a tinkers about 12noon slots in QLD, you think that every game up there would be scheduled like that ??

I'm guessing that a lot of the QLD home games would be in the late afternoon or evening but hey, what would I know.

So you’re locking out people who don’t finish work at 3 or 4 lol.

I’d have thought that being inclusive of a wider proportion of the working population would be more advantageous.

Why did you pick 6pm?

 

[Outtatym]

6pm is stupid and only really helps people that work in the cbd or school kids

 

[LordLucifer]

So you’re locking out people who don’t finish work at 3 or 4 lol.

I’d have thought that being inclusive of a wider proportion of the working population would be more advantageous.

Why did you pick 6pm?

In years gone by, working 9-5 was the norm but nowadays, people work all manner of weird hours.

As for why, because it would mean no overlap with the next game at 9pm.

 

[LordLucifer]

6pm is stupid and only really helps people that work in the cbd or school kids

Is it stupid because you have never thought of that option before or because it just doesn't suit you ??

I don't think you will have to worry about that just now though, I can't see your mob getting a primetime TV slot for a while.

 

[Outtatym]

I don't think you will have to worry about that just now, I can't see your mob getting a primetime TV slot for a long time.

Ooooh burn!!!!!1111
I enjoy watching Carlton s**t the bed in person though

 

[LordLucifer]

Ooooh burn!!!!!1111
I enjoy watching Carlton s**t the bed in person though

Well you will have to get there at 6pm then !!

 

[Bunk Moreland]

NRL is the same pretty much every week

Thu 8pm

Fri 5:30pm
Fri 8pm

Sat 3pm
Sat 5:30pm
Sat 7:30pm

Sun 2pm
Sun 4pm

 

[LordLucifer]

NRL is the same pretty much every week

Thu 8pm

Fri 5:30pm
Fri 8pm

Sat 3pm
Sat 5:30pm
Sat 7:30pm

Sun 2pm
Sun 4pm

Exactly ..... they work to a rather rigid set of game times, why can't we ??

Bear in mind, their game is much shorter in length though.

 

[PieLebo87]

Was personally frustrating for me yesterday. I was wanting to obviously watch my beloved Pies yet had to put Kayo on my phone to watch the end of the Dons/Port game as that had an exciting ending.

AFL should try and work this better for those that love watching their footy.

 

[LordLucifer]

Was personally frustrating for me yesterday. I was wanting to obviously watch my beloved Pies yet had to put Kayo on my phone to watch the end of the Dons/Port game as that had an exciting ending.

AFL should try and work this better for those that love watching their footy.

Great example right there, shows that there are people who want to watch more than just their own club.

Something else to consider, if all games were independent of the others in the roundly, how many people who do not watch other games may start to do so due to the better access ??

 

[PieLebo87]

Great example right there, shows that there are people who want to watch more than just their own club.

Something else to consider, if all games were independent of the others in the roundly, how many people who do not watch other games may start to do so due to the better access ??

I agree, at the end of the day, I had a quiet Sunday and even watched the start of the Collingwood v Williamstown VFL game on TV. No doubt fans will tune in if there isn’t another game on/their side wasn’t playing.

 

[Elixuh]

In years gone by, working 9-5 was the norm but nowadays, people work all manner of weird hours.

As for why, because it would mean no overlap with the next game at 9pm.

So on thur and Fri you’re also having a 9pm game now. Wot.

6pm is a terrible idea.

 

[deck]

Personally I see no need for it. How often do you have 2 ripping games happening at the same time. I much prefer to have the choice between 2 games rather the 1 ordinary game.

I don't mind the slight overlap on a Saturday night of a half hour so both games finish a quarter apart though.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Is it stupid because you have never thought of that option before or because it just doesn't suit you ??

I don't think you will have to worry about that just now though, I can't see your mob getting a primetime TV slot for a while.

As well as not suiting the vast bulk of workers, maybe because its 4pm in the second biggest footy market.

 

[LordLucifer]

So on thur and Fri you’re also having a 9pm game now. Wot.

6pm is a terrible idea.

Do I need to give you my spectacles so you can read the original post ??

Thurs is only the one game (6pm) but there is two on Friday (6pm & 9pm) with the later game to played in Perth to take advantage of the timezone difference.

 

[LordLucifer]

As well as not suiting the vast bulk of workers, maybe because its 4pm in the second biggest footy market.

Nah, you are talking out of bum now.

 

[Elixuh]

Do I need to give you my spectacles so you can read the original post ??

Thurs is only the one game (6pm) but there is two on Friday (6pm & 9pm) with the later game to played in Perth to take advantage of the timezone difference.

Ok I’ll slow it down.

What is the reasoning behind 6pm on the days where we aren’t having a game at 9pm (lol)?

 

[LordLucifer]

Ok I’ll slow it down.

What is the reasoning behind 6pm on the days where we aren’t having a game at 9pm (lol)?

Thank-you for resetting.

A long time ago we had one start time (2:10pm) and no-one ever forgot it. The big problem as I see it now is the inconsistency of start times, it creates confusion and makes it harder for fans to remember when they are on. This is in addition to having a system that allows viewers to watch as man ygame in full as they want to without interference.

If we implement four distinct timeslots (12noon, 3pm, 6pm & 9pm) then it is way easier to manage & co-ordinate. Furthermore, it should make it easier for the broadcaster to work to as well as the viewers to tune in to.

We know there is an appetite for watching games on TV and this was no better exemplified during the Covid period when there was a game every day for a month (if there was way to make that happen I'd be for that instead but it is impractical).

 

[Elixuh]

Thank-you for resetting.

A long time ago we had one start time (2:10pm) and no-one ever forgot it. The big problem as I see it now is the inconsistency of start times, it creates confusion and makes it harder for fans to remember when they are on. This is in addition to having a system that allows viewers to watch as man ygame in full as they want to without interference.

If we implement four distinct timeslots (12noon, 3pm, 6pm & 9pm) then it is way easier to manage & co-ordinate. Furthermore, it should make it easier for the broadcaster to work to as well as the viewers to tune in to.

We know there is an appetite for watching games on TV and this was no better exemplified during the Covid period when there was a game every day for a month (if there was way to make that happen I'd be for that instead but it is impractical).

So all I’m taking out of this thread now is that you want to change the entire television product re start times because you have trouble remembering when games start.

Unsubscribe me to this thread pls.

 

[LordLucifer]

So all I’m taking out of this thread now is that you want to change the entire television product re start times because you have trouble remembering when games start.

Unsubscribe me to this thread pls.

Unsubcribe yourself !!

If you don't think there is a proportion of footy fans who get confused with the start times then you are being unrealistic. Furthermore, if you don't think there is a proportion of footy fans who would like to have the option of watching all games live in full then you are being unreasonable.

And I'll go back to an original point, the TV network who has the broadcast rights at the time shouldn't get to dictate when & where games are played, they have no interest in anything else other than improvng their chances of selling airtime (it is the core revenue of their business). On the flipside, the AFL owns the product (this is their core business) so they should be offering it out to the networks (to bid on) in the manner that suits them best from a scheduling & management perspective.

 

[Elixuh]

Unsubcribe yourself !!

If you don't think there is a proportion of footy fans who get confused with the start times then you are being unrealistic. Furthermore, if you don't think there is a proportion of footy fans who would like to have the option of watching all games live in full then you are being unreasonable.

And I'll go back to an original point, the TV network who has the broadcast rights at the time shouldn't get to dictate when & where games are played, they have no interest in anything else other than improvng their chances of selling airtime (it is the core revenue of their business). On the flipside, the AFL owns the product (this is their core business) so they should be offering it out to the networks (to bid on) in the manner that suits them best from a scheduling & management perspective.

I usually just check game times on my phone

Or are we assuming most afl fans don’t have those