Since my last blog on comments by fans recorded in our on-going survey of attitudes toward North American TV coverage we've got even more for me to respond to. Keep in mind some humor is intended in these comments and the comments are paraphrased. If you live in North America and haven't completed the survey yet... do it now!
"We should see the most competitive match every week."
"The programs focus too much on equal time for each club."
In a perfect world, competitive matches would be exactly what any true fan would want but there are trade-offs. If we want the most competitive match we have to choose the matches to be aired after the fact. With the current AFL Films production and delivery system we would likely be seeing them even later than 6 3/4 days after they occur.
If fans of all sixteen clubs want to see their favorite club then we can never have competitive matches all the time. Should fans of those clubs be disenfranchised? If we got live coverage, we would get the best match that could be selected in advance since the satellite time and broadcast time would have to be reserved. So that wouldn't necessarily be it either. Finally, if you want to see the "blockbusters" such as Collingwood's Anzac Day match every year, scratch that, too.
We're surveying how fans feel about competitive matches vs equal time vs delay in viewing matches. While AFANA feels that all fans deserve to see their side a couple of times a season compromises are necessary.
"Don't repeat the same game several times each week, show us different matches."
The repeats perform a very important function. They insure that if you miss the first telecast or your VCR/DVR malfunctions or is programmed wrong, you can still see it. AFANA hears from fans every time there is a week with only one airing and someone misses that for whatever reason.
The larger problem is that AFL Films doesn't produce more than one version of each of the two programs for the US / Can market each week. To get more we need not only network interest and time but to convince the AFL or a sponsor to underwrite the production costs.
"It's shortsighted for the AFL and FOX Sports to force fans to lobby for coverage every year."
Umm, yeah. Not much to disagree with there. We've only been doing it here at AFANA for eight years in a row now. Sigh.
"We need updates on SANFL and WAFL on the (choose one or both): TV shows or AFANA web site."
It's hard to see the AFL giving up time on it's own programs to do that without the SANFL or WAFL contributing money to the production effort. More likely we may be able to get live or full match coverage of SANFL or WAFL programs in the future.
For AFANA, all we need is someone to write reports on those leagues. Anyone who wants to help there, contact us.
"Eleven PM is too late on the east coast of the US and Canada for the programs."
Probably is. It's better or nearing perfect for western North America at that time. A balance would be to have it on an hour or two earlier but prime time slots are hard to come by. A different network might see things differently. Note: they air in Canada only at or after when they air in the US so the key up there is to fix it down here.
"AFANA should lobby to make better internet coverage available."
AFANA is actively working to get the internet coverage improved. As I stated in an earlier blog there are some problems with getting live video coverage over the 'net but there is no reason why the quality and reliability of the intenet service can't be improved. However, we are still a long way from internet coverage providing a replacement for broadcast TV.
"The long delay between the when the matches are played and the telecasts in the US / Canada makes watching them pointless."
So you never watch taped sports programming?? Sure, as I stated in an earlier blog, I think the delay is too long but until we get live coverage or the AFL decides to get the video here in a more efficient way than air courier we're not likely to get the delay down to a day or two.
"I never know when the footy is on."
Hmm. Go to our home page or TV page once a week and you'll know. Even better, get our TV & media newsletter by e-mail (it's free) and we'll send you the schedules and the changes every week during the AFL season plus lots of other news about the coverage.
"The AFL should have aired an educational program about footy during the bye week."
"There should be more emphasis on explaining the game during the matches."
"The AFL should air an introductory program prior to the start of the season. "
To the first item, AFANA agrees they missed an opportunity. Regarding the second, it's something we pushed a few years ago. The results of the AFL's efforts to comply were mixed. Something needs to be done and hopefully the survey will tell us how important fans view the issue. To the third, AFANA agree's with that, too. "A-Z of Aussie rules" is dated and airs only during GF week which isn't good enough.
"Why don't the shows feature US footy scores any more?"
That's mostly an issue between USFooty and the AFL. However, I'll bet that it is due to the AFL cutting AFL Films budget and eliminating a unique version of the programs for the US market. Let's also remember that other factors are involved: many fans are interested only in the Australian results and don't want time given to other stuff, footy players in Canada probably want their scores included (and Japan and Denmark and New Zealand, etc.), and whether anyone outside the US has an interest.
"Will my favorite club ever play a match in US | Canada?"
As I mentioned before, exhibition matches are something AFANA has sought for it's entire existence. At this point, it isn't on the AFL's agenda. Their usual objection is lack of a suitable venue in North America. AFANA thinks that with the right sort of advance planning and nine months to a year lead time, that problem can be worked around and the match would be huge success.
That's all folks. 'Till next time.
-Rob (who hopes all of this is helping someone out there!)
Posted by rkdesantos at September 7, 2003 04:08 PM
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