The Foxtel Footy Channel

[Whispering_Jack 30,019]

I was just having a look at some of the other footy supporter sites and noticed that Rhett Bartlett who works at FOXTEL has been posting on Bomber Blitz with information about the new FOX Footy Channel which begins on February 17th, 2012. 

The thread was started to provide information and get feedback about the new channel and I thought it might be worthwhile posting some of the FAQ's and responses that have been provided to date:

When will the channel launch ? 

February 17 2012

How many games will you be showing ?

We will be broadcasting every game of the AFL Premiership season, live, in HD and uninterrupted siren to siren. The same goes for Finals matches (excluding GF which will be on delay)

Will I pay extra for the channel ?

The channel will be part of the existing Sports Tier (which is $16)

Is the channel in Standard Defintion?

The channel will be broadcast in standard definition and hi definition

What if there are multiple games on at once ?

We will broadcast a game on the Fox Footy Channel, and the other game on a Fox Sports Channel.

Will you be broadcasting Ch 7 game ?

Yes, we will be broadcasting them on the FOX Footy Channel, and upscale them (if they aren't shot in HD) to HD.

Note: Programming details are not yet available but popular requests were for the return of two of my old favourites from the old Fox Footy Channel - White Line Fever and Grumpy Old Men.

[Footynut 302]

On top of this Telstra customers will receive access to watching every game live to mobile handset next season.

Can you imagine all the birthday's, weddings etc now people gathered around their phones watching the footy!

[hoopla 418]

Trouble is that the face of the Fox Footy Channel will be the face of the President of one of the competing clubs. He has already stated publicly that he will try to "destroy" one of the interstate clubs if it tries to pinch ( within the rules) one of "our players". How can he credibly promote the competition into markets he has ridiculed?

[Gippy Dee 48]

Trouble is that the face of the Fox Footy Channel will be the face of the President of one of the competing clubs. He has already stated publicly that he will try to "destroy" one of the interstate clubs if it tries to pinch ( within the rules) one of "our players". How can he credibly promote the competition into markets he has ridiculed?

I haven't got a problem with Eddie on the Footy Channel. He's a pure TV entity.

Could be worse, it could be hosted by Anthony Hudson, Kevin Bartlett or Michael Christensen... ergh...

Gippy

[Bossdog 2,002]

I haven't got a problem with Eddie on the Footy Channel. He's a pure TV entity.

Could be worse, it could be hosted by Anthony Hudson, Kevin Bartlett or Michael Christensen... ergh...

Gippy

Agree Ed is a good caller of footy

[Gippy Dee 48]

Agree Ed is a good caller of footy

Also agreed...

[Whispering_Jack 30,019]

The only problem I would have would be if McGuire was commentator for games involving Collingwood but Foxtel has assured that this will not happen.

[Steamin Demon 392]

Eddie McGuire is a self serving control freak and will push Collingwood where he can. I don't like his head on my TV.

[Sir Why You Little 37,033]

Eddie McGuire is a self serving control freak and will push Collingwood where he can. I don't like his head on my TV.

Just means that our club has got to get better.

[McQueen 17,864]

Just a reminder that if you are thinking about getting Foxtel connected in time for the launch, you better book now. There is a 4 week backlog of orders now.... In the West anyways..

[biggestred 5,076]

ha. i will never watch 7 except for the GF now.........friday night footy live? might actually watch it now

[Bossdog 2,002]

Eddie McGuire is a self serving control freak and will push Collingwood where he can. I don't like his head on my TV.

So don't watch Simple really

[rolly 149]

surely there is a conflict of intrest here...eddie the prez is now head commentator for the largest provider of afl?

its like having a teetotaler as head of the liquor board...their own agenda's will show through eventually

[Steamin Demon 392]

So don't watch Simple really

No I will keep watching and Eddie can [censored] off.

[Blistering 540]

surely there is a conflict of intrest here...eddie the prez is now head commentator for the largest provider of afl?

its like having a teetotaler as head of the liquor board...their own agenda's will show through eventually

I have no problem with Eddie and in fact would like our club to be run as professionally and as successfully as Collingwood.

Then when we beat them, we can give him some stick.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,166]

McGuire may be the face of the channel but is not head commentator. He is doing one match of nine per round.

Say what you like about McGuire but Collingwood games aside he is a fantastic commentator.

[biggestred 5,076]

subscriptions to foxtel will go mental in april when games are played and people realise how bad 7 are, and that their game isnt on tv...

[Dnic 5]

Would like to see the replays of VFL/SANFL/WAFL matches that ABC2 used to show - before they decided to focus on anything *but* sport.

Wasn't great for an early bedtime, but gave a good look at future talent around the country and glimpses of faded glory (like a bloated Damian Cupido waddling around the forward lines of suburban Adelaide etc...)

[diesel 420]

Note for Foxtel ppl:

I wont be subscribing until I can get the Footy Channel ONLY! I don't have to buy the whole menu at my local eatery and pay TV should be no different! Otherwise guess I will not watching not much footy on the TV this year with 7 being habitually crap!

[rbartlett 3]

Hello all.

I'm the Rhett Bartlett who has posted on other forum sites - and I noticed that this site had created a thread about the Fox Footy Channel.

So happy to assist with answering queries, collating feedback (good + bad).

Cheers

Rhett Bartlett

Opinions are mine

FOXTEL Employee

[rbartlett 3]

Diesel - Noted. However the Fox Footy Channel will simply slot into the existing Sports tier that subscribers have. It isn't offered as a stand alone.

Dnic- in the coming weeks, the programming on the channel will be revealed - so you can see what , if any, grade games will be broadcast. Keep me in mind we are broadcasting the FOXTEL Cup this year again.

Benno - and they will go crazy when people realise that only one channel is showing EVERY GAME LIVE. Us!

Big_Red_Fire_Engine- Correct mate. Eddie will be broadcasting one game per Round (non Collingwood). So there are 8 other games you can enjoy not hearing him (if you so wish)

Cheers

Rhett Bartlett

Opinions are mine

FOXTEL Employee

@rhettrospective

[45HG 1,539]

Hello all.

I'm the Rhett Bartlett who has posted on other forum sites - and I noticed that this site had created a thread about the Fox Footy Channel.

So happy to assist with answering queries, collating feedback (good + bad).

Cheers

Rhett Bartlett

Opinions are mine

FOXTEL Employee

Taking requests to show old games would be brilliant.

[sue 9,102]

Rhett

I agree with Diesel. I have no interest whatever in the raft of Foxtel packages. I want to pay for individual channels (ie Footy). The way Foxtel is currently marketed I either pay for a pile of stuff I don't want or I get nothing (and pay you nothing). Please tell your marketing gurus that that model is not the wave of the future.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,207]

Posted this on the bigfooty thread Rhett but having the option for multiple commentaries on games would be awesome even if only on the channel 7 games. So if I'm watching a game and press the red button I can choose to have either SEN, 3AW, MMM, ABC etc commentary instead of Dennis & Bruce.

Also second the "classic games" request particularly of games from the 80's & 90's (similar to what 7two were doing for a while). Bringing back Winners With Flares and From the Fox Footy Vault would be great as well.

[hardtack 10,537]

Rhett

I agree with Diesel. I have no interest whatever in the raft of Foxtel packages. I want to pay for individual channels (ie Footy). The way Foxtel is currently marketed I either pay for a pile of stuff I don't want or I get nothing (and pay you nothing). Please tell your marketing gurus that that model is not the wave of the future.

I doubt that any provider in the history of pay television has ever offered users the option of taking a single channel... the logistics involved would be ridiculously complicated when you consider how many channels there are and the number of permutations you could end up with if the viewing public had carte blanche. For simplicity's sake, they need to operate from a basic service that can then be built upon.

Edited January 9, 2012 by hardtack