Rob's Thoughts

Responses to Fan Survey Comments

Thanks to all of you who have already responded to our survey.  It's going to really help.  Since I don't have a lot of time tonight, I'm going to quickly respond to some of the more interesting issues raised by fans in their comments at the end of the survey form.   I've paraphrased the comments.

Why does the time clock in the corner sometimes go up and sometimes down?

Well, what we see here in North America is taken directly from the source networks in Oz.  There are three of them: Nine, Ten, and Foxtel.  Each have their own way of presenting things.   A good analogy would be the differences between FOX, ABC, and CBS coverage of American football.  

Bring back Seven network's coverage.

Well, not much we can do about that one.  We just have to wait until 2006 and see who wins the next domestic AFL TV contract in Australia.  

I live in "suspended footy land" and wish your web site home page didn't tell us the results of last weeks matches.   That way the programs would keep their suspense.  

Well, you must be looking at another web site.  I went to our home page and I'll be darned if I can see where it tells you the results of last weekends matches.  We have links to those results but not the results.    We are probably the only major footy web site that doesn't put up the results on our home page.   If I'm wrong, someone point it out and correct me.  

I've been counting this year and so far Collingwood has been shown "X" times...

Fear not, AFANA tracks the "featured clubs" in the two programs week by week and has for some years now.  We do it for you.  If you check my blog from several days ago, you'll know how I feel about the match selection.   You can be sure we'll raise the issue with the AFL after the season is over.

We should have live video coverage over the 'net.  The technology exists to limit that to outside Australia.

Unfortunately that "technology" is imperfect and can be defeated by "anonymizer" web sites and programs.  Even if it was perfect, it's not likely to happen for several reasons.  First is bandwidth.  It would be extraordinarily bandwidth intensive and given that the AFL & Telstra can't get 24 hour delayed coverage right I won't place money on whether they could do live coverage.  Another problem is that the foreign broadcasters would be very unhappy.  It hurts their audience numbers.   AFL Films has already indicated the current Telstra audio/video package has caused them problems with the networks outside Australia.   It will happen eventually when the potential revenue exceeds the probable loss of foreign coverage.

Why can't FOX Sports World put some footy information on their web site?

Now there's a million dollar question.   I have no good reason why in the six years it has been on World they haven't been able to add one iota of Aussie rules news.  It reinforces the appearance of just how much they don't like the sport.   I'm sure Fox Sports Australia would work with them on it.   Hey, AFANA offered to work with them on it and has been ignored.   Hey FSWorld management:  the offer still stands.  

Why isn't Foster's advertising on the programs, after all they are the named sponsor?

As I understand it... Foster's, having achieved market surpremacy among foreign brands in the US beer market, have shifted their advertising dollars and effort elsewhere this year.   But you'll really have to ask them.  Believe me when the replacement adverts are for "We Are Just 18" dial a porn services it makes them look bad.  

Most of the fans are of Aussie background, so they probably don't agree with me.

Buzzzzzz.  Nope, not any more.  I believe the survey will confirm that over half of the serious audience of the programs here is now US or Canadian born.   I estimate the number is probably around 70% but our survey will likely be under that due to the demographics of those who actually respond.  

I wish the programs were in HDTV or widescreen.  I heard they are filmed in widescreen.  

The latter is correct and is why there is vertical and horizontal distortion in the programs when the go to air in the US and Canada.   So far as I know they aren't in HDTV per se, but they are increasingly in high res digital.  We'll get that when the majority of the networks here are that way.  Give it five years.

That's all for today.  

-Rob
AFANA Chairman (who is going to bed now!)