Free to Air...are we becoming irrelevant

[Diamond_Jim 11,933]

Caroline Wilson has published an article in the Age suggesting that free to air games may reduce to 3.5 per weekend.

This is because Channel 10 is having difficulty doing a deal with Foxtel under the new broadcasting deal commencing in 2017.

Melbourne does not feature often on free to air and it could be even less next year. This has an obvious impact on sponsors. revenue etc

With the introduction of Netflix and Optus getting the English Premier League Foxtel is fighting for its life. Hope we do not suffer in the cross fire

Here's the link

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-tv-rights-deal-free-to-air-squeeze-on-games-20160608-gperpe.html

[BAMF 3,787]

I'm with Optus and watch via the AFL live pass. 

Won't be able to do that next year either. It's amazing that in 2017 AFL will be harder to access than ever before. It's almost like they don't want anyone to watch.

I refuse to pay for foxtel as I previously worked for their parent Sky television in the UK and know how much they try to bleed customers dry.

[Binmans PA 26,292]

I think if anything we'll only get more games as we rise on FTA.

But I have FOXTEL and can't stand the commercial broadcasters, so less games on FTA suits me. 

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Don't get me started on Optus and the EPL. Setting a dangerous precedent if this is the way sport is going.

[Lucifers Hero 37,207]

8 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Caroline Wilson has published an article in the Age suggesting that free to air games may reduce to 3.5 per weekend.

This is because Channel 10 is having difficulty doing a deal with Foxtel under the new broadcasting deal commencing in 2017.

Melbourne does not feature often on free to air and it could be even less next year. This has an obvious impact on sponsors. revenue etc

With the introduction of Netflix and Optus getting the English Premier League Foxtel is fighting for its life. Hope we do not suffer in the cross fire

Here's the link

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-tv-rights-deal-free-to-air-squeeze-on-games-20160608-gperpe.html

While the AFL says: win more games to get Fri night (& other prime TV)  times it simply isn't true (see no. of Carl and Ess over the last 3 years).  The reality is prime FTA time slots (and the whole fixture on venues, Home game opponents, start times etc) favour the Big Vic clubs.   The 'system' keeps the strong clubs strong, and b....er the rest!!  Will be interesting to see how many how many Thur. Fri. Sat night FTA time slots Rich, Carl. Ess. Hawth. Coll have next year!! 

Unfortunately, we missed the boat in the early 2000's when those clubs were setting up training and club facilities cheaply and marketing their clubs very successfully, building memberships.  Even in our successful years (2000 to 2006) our admin sat on its laurels. Now we are stuck in a 'Catch 22' relying on the largesse of the AFL.

PJ and Co are working hard to get us back onto the radar eg Anzac Eve, record membership, good sponsors.  As always, we need to win more games to get more members.  Then even if we don't get many prime FTA gigs at least PJ can rally to have the big Vic as our Home game opponents, to increase our revenues.  Then the wheel starts turning in our favour.

Are we irrelevant?  Less so than a few years ago.  But we are pushing uphill to get noticed.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Lucifer's Hero

[Lucifers Hero 37,207]

A timely and interesting article about broadcasting AFL games played in Australia, into China http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/staggering-growth-in-chinese-afl-audience/news-story/948ae22861ab75f12e42671311256934

The viewing audience in China for the 2 Port Adelaide games broadcast this year are quite staggering.  What caught my eye was this:  As part of the new agreement between Port Adelaide, the AFL and CCTV, one in every three games broadcast in China will feature the Power, giving other clubs and stadiums the opportunity to reach a new audience. 

Hats off to Port for being creative in their vision for playing and broadcasting games into China.  Its a real shame we weren't able to capitalise on our pioneering work there 5 years ago.  I bet that the Big Vic clubs will be the 'other clubs' to be fixtured for broadcasting into China...Eddie for one will be flying the flag.

Sigh...

Edited June 8, 2016 by Lucifer's Hero

[MadAsHell 4,088]

Wish they just did it like they did back in the 90's.

Just give us the Friday Night, saturday afternoon replay/highlights (comprising left over matches), Saturday Night and a double header on Sunday.

Living in the past, I know.....

[beelzebub 22,244]

32 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

A timely and interesting article about broadcasting AFL games played in Australia, into China http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/staggering-growth-in-chinese-afl-audience/news-story/948ae22861ab75f12e42671311256934

The viewing audience in China for the 2 Port Adelaide games broadcast this year are quite staggering.  What caught my eye was this:  As part of the new agreement between Port Adelaide, the AFL and CCTV, one in every three games broadcast in China will feature the Power, giving other clubs and stadiums the opportunity to reach a new audience. 

Hats off to Port for being creative in their vision for playing and broadcasting games into China.  Its a real shame we weren't able to capitalise on our pioneering work there 5 years ago.  I bet that the Big Vic clubs will be the 'other clubs' to be fixtured for broadcasting into China...Eddie for one will be flying the flag.

Sigh...

wasnt drawn into our Blueprint !!  

[jnrmac 19,131]

So how do the EFC get Friday night and Saturday night games?

All those here that have rabbited on in the past about 'we have to perform better to get good games on TV and good fixtures against big clubs' now have it writ large that the fixture and TV rights are a cartel.

It's like the MRP though. COmplaining just gives you a headache and doesn't achieve anything.

 

[ArtificialWisdom 3,888]

9 hours ago, Night Crawler said:

I'm with Optus and watch via the AFL live pass. 

Won't be able to do that next year either. It's amazing that in 2017 AFL will be harder to access than ever before. It's almost like they don't want anyone to watch.

I refuse to pay for foxtel as I previously worked for their parent Sky television in the UK and know how much they try to bleed customers dry.

Why not? there wasnt anything about telstra locking was there? they just run it.. which is why it's such poor quality, same with the afl website... and app and pretty much anything on the internet with AFL branding

[beelzebub 22,244]

6 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

So how do the EFC get Friday night and Saturday night games?

All those here that have rabbited on in the past about 'we have to perform better to get good games on TV and good fixtures against big clubs' now have it writ large that the fixture and TV rights are a cartel.

It's like the MRP though. COmplaining just gives you a headache and doesn't achieve anything.

 

Boyz Club

[old dee 22,945]

Just now, beelzebub said:

Boyz Club

And the Pie Man has stated he wants Essendrug up as soon as possible.

Yes bb a Boyz club

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Becoming?

[old dee 22,945]

I think what we are seeing is the Mr. Murdock paid too much for the rights last year and now News is having trouble making a profit.

That is what this is all about MONEY.

Who sees what and when is secondary for the AFL.

[jnrmac 19,131]

1 minute ago, old dee said:

I think what we are seeing is the Mr. Murdock paid too much for the rights last year and now News is having trouble making a profit.

That is what this is all about MONEY.

Who sees what and when is secondary for the AFL.

He will have trouble when EFC plays FREO in the battle for the #1 draft pick. Total audience, 6.

[old dee 22,945]

2 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

He will have trouble when EFC plays FREO in the battle for the #1 draft pick. Total audience, 6.

But do the AFL Care?

No

[ArtificialWisdom 3,888]

2 hours ago, Forest Demon said:

Don't get me started on Optus and the EPL. Setting a dangerous precedent if this is the way sport is going.

Online streaming is the future and thats a good thing! Only problem is that the EPL deal isnt accesaple to non-optus customers. If subscriptions were available at a reasonable cost to non-customers then i think it would be great for the vast majority. Fox footy will soon be going the way of the dinosaur and good riddance, why should I have to pay colossal amounts for channels ill never watch just so I can see 1/2 games a week

Edited June 8, 2016 by ArtificialWisdom

[Diamond_Jim 11,933]

1 hour ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Online streaming is the future and thats a good thing! Only problem is that the EPL deal isnt accesaple to non-optus customers. If subscriptions were available at a reasonable cost to non-customers then i think it would be great for the vast majority. Fox footy will soon be going the way of the dinosaur and good riddance, why should I have to pay colossal amounts for channels ill never watch just so I can see 1/2 games a week

I think that is the point. The Take up rate for cable television in Australia has been one of if not the lowest in the world. Within 2-3 years (if  not earlier) the NBN will deliver reasonable internet speeds to the vast bulk of the population allowing online streaming of all content. Netflix, Amazon etc will be the big players and even less people will go for what is after all a relatively expensive product in the form of Foxtel. If you can get your TV shows elsewhere who would pay around $60 a month for a few games of football.

From an MFC viewpoint we run a real risk of our brand being increasingly marginalised unless we can get exposure on free to air.

Of course if someone were to come up with a streaming service with all games for $10 per month (not the low grade tablet streaming service we see now) it would be interesting to see what happened. I suspect it would still be outbid by Foxtel as their model is often to use sport as a loss leader.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

2 hours ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Online streaming is the future and thats a good thing! Only problem is that the EPL deal isnt accesaple to non-optus customers. If subscriptions were available at a reasonable cost to non-customers then i think it would be great for the vast majority. Fox footy will soon be going the way of the dinosaur and good riddance, why should I have to pay colossal amounts for channels ill never watch just so I can see 1/2 games a week

And it is a massive problem. They are holding the EPL hostage, and won't let people access it unless you buy other, unrelated services from them. It is ridiculous.

What do people do if they are on existing plans with other providers? What happens if other codes and competitions strike similar deals with other providers?

As I said, it is setting a dangerous precedent.

[ArtificialWisdom 3,888]

Just now, Diamond_Jim said:

I think that is the point. The Take up rate for cable television in Australia has been one of if not the lowest in the world. Within 2-3 years (if  not earlier) the NBN will deliver reasonable internet speeds to the vast bulk of the population allowing online streaming of all content. Netflix, Amazon etc will be the big players and even less people will go for what is after all a relatively expensive product in the form of Foxtel. If you can get your TV shows elsewhere who would pay around $60 a month for a few games of football.

From an MFC viewpoint we run a real risk of our brand being increasingly marginalised unless we can get exposure on free to air.

Of course if someone were to come up with a streaming service with all games for $10 per month (not the low grade tablet streaming service we see now) it would be interesting to see what happened. I suspect it would still be outbid by Foxtel as their model is often to use sport as a loss leader.

I wish! we wont have reasonable internet speeds within the decade. Esspecialy while the liberals continue to push their circa 1990s technology. We are embarassingly far behind the rest of the devloped world and they refused to allow google fibre to come to aus because it would ruin telstra's monopoly. There are underdeveloped countries with higher average internet speeds than us.. 

Mini rant aside, I would like to see netflix get into the live sport market. Their quality of service is outstanding (although very limited in australia). But given their current niche i doubt it will change any time soon.

I have the NBA league Pass and that service is brilliant, HD, multiple commentary choices (imagine never having to listen to channel 7 commentary again!!), live, no ads and most importantly ON THE COMPUTER!! not this [censored] tablet/phone crap we have to deal with.

I was furious with the new broadcast rights deal, it was a complete failure. Served up 0 improvement for the fans. I hate hearing people say ch7 in HD is impressive, that is embarrasing! its at best half a decade late!

3 minutes ago, Forest Demon said:

And it is a massive problem. They are holding the EPL hostage, and won't let people access it unless you buy other, unrelated services from them. It is ridiculous.

What do people do if they are on existing plans with other providers? What happens if other codes and competitions strike similar deals with other providers?

As I said, it is setting a dangerous precedent.

Yeah very true, i hope the AFL doesnt follow suit but given they are little more than prostitutes willing to sell everything for more $$$ I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

[jnrmac 19,131]

11 minutes ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

I wish! we wont have reasonable internet speeds within the decade. Esspecialy while the liberals continue to push their circa 1990s technology. We are embarassingly far behind the rest of the devloped world and they refused to allow google fibre to come to aus because it would ruin telstra's monopoly. There are underdeveloped countries with higher average internet speeds than us.. 

Do you know how many people have actually signed up for the highest internet speeds using the NBN and where it is available? The answer is less than 5. $70bn for what exactly?

So the argument about having the fastest internet speeds is simply a croc. I can stream movies and sport without NBN quite readily on 6Mbps.

[beelzebub 22,244]

just thought  thread needed retitleling

Free to Air...are we  are becoming irrelevant

there...thats how the Boyz club see it

[Diamond_Jim 11,933]

Hi

I don't want to get into a debate over NBN etc... the point I was making is that with the HFC (hybrid fibre) roll out planned for the next two years high speed internet (sure it could be higher) will be available for most metropolitan homes.

From the NBN site:

What speeds will be offered?

HFC technology over the  nbn™ network is expected to offer the same wholesale speed tiers that are available on our Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network, ranging from up to 12 (download)/1 (upload) Mbps right through to 100 (download)/40 (upload) Mbps

[ArtificialWisdom 3,888]

1 minute ago, jnrmac said:

Do you know how many people have actually signed up for the highest internet speeds using the NBN and where it is available? The answer is less than 5. $70bn for what exactly?

So the argument about having the fastest internet speeds is simply a croc. I can stream movies and sport without NBN quite readily on 6Mbps.

That statement is simply wrong, we are ranked in the 30s or worse in the world in all internet speed ratings. Just last year the Akamai State of the Internet Report ranked us as 44th globaly. We still remain below global averages in percentage with speeds above 10Mbps (what is 'reasonable internet' for this day and age and that is being lenient) Lets not even talk about upload because thats even more atrocious. 

6 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Hi

I don't want to get into a debate over NBN etc... the point I was making is that with the HFC (hybrid fibre) roll out planned for the next two years high speed internet (sure it could be higher) will be available for most metropolitan homes.

From the NBN site:

What speeds will be offered?

HFC technology over the  nbn™ network is expected to offer the same wholesale speed tiers that are available on our Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network, ranging from up to 12 (download)/1 (upload) Mbps right through to 100 (download)/40 (upload) Mbps

Ok fair enough this will be my last post on the matter but so you know FTTP (also refered to as fibre to the home) is not a thing any more, since the liberals took over it was changed fiber to the node (FTTN) which is more or less what we already had, it offers theoretical maximums of only 24Mb/s which that theory doesnt take into account any internet traffic from your neighbours.

Clearly I dont deal well with slow internet like most of my generation haha. Us youngans are a bit impatient... But we're here to talk footy so ill stop complaining.

[daisycutter 28,630]

35 minutes ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Ok fair enough this will be my last post on the matter but so you know FTTP (also refered to as fibre to the home) is not a thing any more, since the liberals took over it was changed fiber to the node (FTTN) which is more or less what we already had, it offers theoretical maximums of only 24Mb/s which that theory doesnt take into account any internet traffic from your neighbours.

Clearly I dont deal well with slow internet like most of my generation haha. Us youngans are a bit impatient... But we're here to talk footy so ill stop complaining.

i know it was your last post on this matter but you are quite wrong

FTTN is NOT more or less what we had (adsl) and it is NOT by any stretch limited to only 24mb/s. It is FAR superior to adsl in performance.

jnr is also right when he states that with the existing FTTP connections VERY FEW customers are signing up for the highest speeds. ie they are signing up for lower speeds (mainly but not not only because they do not want to pay the higher charges for the top tiers)