Another season has reached it's conclusion. Like most Grand Finals or Super Bowls, it ended in a lopsided affair. I can't say I'm surprised that happened though I have my doubts that many predicted Brisbane would win so easily. Easily by the scoreboard anyway.
The Lions came to play and almost from the opening minute took control and save for the first five minutes of the third quarter the result never looked in doubt. Brisbane were way too good. Their midfield and ruckmen are the best group (at those positions) who have played the game in this era and they owned control of the center of the field. Just a year ago, the experts were doubting Clark Keating could do the job in the ruck for Brisbane in the 2002 GF. So much for that analysis, then and now.
As for Collingwood, their game plan never got off the ground. It wasn't just Rocca mising; they probably didn't have 3 or 4 match winners at any position on the day. It was a comprehensive win by one of the great sides ever. Leigh Matthews has now been part of eight premierships, one in every four since he joined Hawthorn as a player in 1969. That's an astounding statistic.
As for the telecast, I have a few observations. Those "We Are 18" and "Girls Gone Wild" adverts are totally and completely inappropriate for family oriented programs. I intend to complain strongly to the AFL that their US broadcaster is not exercising good judgement by airing them during the programs here. Frankly, if I was one of the other advertisers (Attn: USFooty), I'd be embarrassed to be along side such adverts.
The sudden start of the feed at 11:23 PM US EDT was a bit of a surprise. It was not reflected in anything provided to AFANA by either the AFL or FOX Sports World. Not that I am complaining mind you. I was pleased to see it. I had a hunch something was up by how fast they were moving through the "A-Z" program.
The "running sheet" provided to us by the AFL as late as Wednesday last week did not reflect the international TV feed being available at the start of the entertainment around 11:24 PM EDT. That's why AFANA's listing of the time line for the Grand Final didn't reflect that either. Inquiries to Network Ten about the international feed prior to the GF were ignored. (OK Ten, we know your PR people are busy before the GF, but you could have at least responded!). The lack of the usual intro for international viewers at 11:30 PM was also odd so that surely means that Ten decided to change the timing for the feed. It would sure have been nice if they told someone! I continue to be amazed that TV networks think that informing the audience of programming changes is too much trouble for them. Get a clue!
Aside from the aforementioned issue, to the credit of FOX Sports World and indirectly Network Ten, the telecast came off very smoothly this year. No inappropriate commercial breaks. No missed goals or post match presentations. From here it seems FOX Sports World did a good job with the live telecast. So far, AFANA has not received a single complaint about the telecast.
Unrelated to the Grand Final, but significant nonetheless for the future of AFL coverage in the US, is that The Football Network (TFN) is finally on the air after over five years in the planning. TFN has previously indicated an interest in full match coverage of the AFL for US viewers. Friday night just hours before the GF, they went live on Telstar 7, transponder 5. According to Tele-Satellite news: "TFN weekend programming includes a total of seven high school, college and CFL games. TFN will provide live coverage of a number of Division 1-AA conferences, including the Big South, the Southern Conference, the Atlantic-10 and the Big Sky, and will produce the first ever I-AA All-Star Classic on December 30, as well as the TFN Awards which will recognize standout performances from all levels of the game. In addition, TFN has agreements with the National Women's Football Association, Pop Warner Football, and the U.S. Flag & Touch Football League." Just what cable systems TFN is on and how soon TFN will be widely available, I can't say. The fact they want to add AFL coverage to their programming can only help us down the line. Readers: anyone who can monitor TFN please get in touch with me.
I don't know yet where the AFL coverage will be in 2004 though it now appears that at least one other network besides TFN will be interested. So, no reason for doom or gloom if FOX Sports World choose not to resign for another season. You can count on AFANA keeping you informed.
-Rob (who is enjoying a calm and empty e-mail inbox!)
Posted by rkdesantos at September 28, 2003 10:38 AM
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You say there were no inappropriate commercials: I assume you meant during the GF itself. There I am sitting down to a nice evening watching the GF with my 9 year old son. We decide to watch the "A-Z" show they air first because, well, it's fun to watch. I especially like the "Four and Twenty" pie part. Anyway, what shows up? In the space of less than half an hour, three pornographic commercials: two for girls gone wild and one for the "we're only 18" girls. I fast forwarded through the first one but after that I got so disgusted I turned it off and we have not watched the GF.
Is there anything we can do about these commercials? Is this the price we pay for FSW showing footy games? I guess, if they have to show one after the game, I could live with that. But interspersed all around the introductory show?
I look forward to the upcoming rugby world cup with a bit of dread. Sure, I'm thankful that Fox is deciding to show it: but is it going to be one long girls gone wild commercial with occasional rugby games interspersed? Can we look forward to, when (or if) in future FSW decides to show more cricket match replays, a girls gone wild commercial after every over?
I always tell people I love FSW - but I'm beginning to get fed up with them. The sad part is, if I didn't watch Fox sports channels I wouldn't watch TV at all. Maybe they've got me between a rock and a hard place. Which means, I suppose, they don't have to do anything. As usual, competition is good. Maybe The Football Network is our hope, especially if they are expanding their definition of football to include AFL and (hey, I can dream) rugby.
Gary,
Just to be clear... I did not say that there weren't any inappropriate commercials. In fact, 100% to the contrary: the commercials you refer to are entirely inappropriate for a family oriented program. What I did say was that the commercial interruptions (that is the placement timewise of the commercials) was acceptable.
There is something AFANA can do about the commercials and as indicated in my blog, we will do it. I will be making a complaint to the AFL on the subject today. Whether anything will change is unclear. AFANA will also file it's annual report to the AFL on the TV coverage this season sometime in the next month.
The situation is, I am sure, a product of the desperation in which FOX Sports World is in to sell commercial time at all. They are willing to accept advertisements that many other outlets refuse or wouldn't show except in the middle of the night during non-family programs.
Posted by: Rob de Santos at September 29, 2003 02:55 PMRob, I am in Oz and did not get to TV until ball was bounced.
You said Ch Ten did not have a welcome to the International Audience. Can you just confirm that.
On my other post on your other thread about FanS who will not see GF.
To clarify I was on the internet listening to 3Aw not on local radio.
Thanks
Posted by: Keith at September 30, 2003 07:46 AMKeith: in past seasons, when the international feeds kicked in the presenters would "welcome viewers around the world". Nothing of the sort happened this year. At 1:23 AEST, without warning, the feed we saw cut to Quarters on the ground introducing the pre-match entertainment. He made no welcome statement either then or at around 1:30 AEST (11:30 PM US EDT). The cutover didn't have any of the special intro graphics, etc. either. Sloppy at best and probably a late change in plans.
Posted by: Rob de Santos at September 30, 2003 11:36 AMOops, sorry, Rob, you're right. Somehow I missed that previous paragraph about the same commercials I mentioned. I read "no inappropriate commercial breaks" as "no inappropriate commercials."