AFANA Footy BBS

Rob, I was wondering if you had talked to FSW about this issue, and wanted to relay my thoughts and observations.

After I saw those THREE inappropriate commercials during the footy A-to-Z show on Grand Finals night (actually, after I fast-forwarded past the two Girls Gone Wild and one We're 18 girls or whatever it's called), I got so disgusted with FSW that I turned off the tape and never did watch the Grand Final. (Only through AFANA do I know how it turned out.) I love footy, but there comes a certain point where you have to stand up for what you believe. Rob, if you have any more discussions with the AFL or FSW, please feel free to indicate that their inappropriate commercials succeeded in turning off at least one otherwise die-hard footy fan.

OTOH, I have been very happy with FSW's presentation of rugby events. The NRL Grand Final, although broadcast live at 3:30 AM, had absolutely no inappropriate commercials. Likewise, I have seen about half of the rugby union world cup and have seen no inappropriate commercials.

Is it just the AFL they single out? And is there anything we can do? I have already sent an email to Fox Sports about the issue (forgot to cc you Rob, sorry).

+ gary

> Rob, I was wondering if you had talked to FSW about this issue, and wanted to relay
> my thoughts and observations.

No, we have had no discussions with FOX Sports World on the issue. In our opinion, having raised the issue before, it's pointless. They won't listen and will just take offense that someone tried to tell them "how to do their job" (that's a quote from a previous reply from them).

...
> I love footy, but there comes a certain point where you
> have to stand up for what you believe. Rob, if you have any more discussions with
> the AFL or FSW, please feel free to indicate that their inappropriate commercials
> succeeded in turning off at least one otherwise die-hard footy fan.

You can be assured we will continue to raise the issue with the AFL. You aren't alone. Lot's of fans are unhappy about the inappropriate commercials. We believe the AFL can impact FOX Sports World or whatever network carries the coverage in 2004.

...
> Is it just the AFL they single out? And is there anything we can do? I have already
> sent an email to Fox Sports about the issue (forgot to cc you Rob, sorry).

What we can is get people to do as you have done: complain to them AND JOIN AFANA so that as the collective voice of footy fans in America we can impact the future of the coverage. Now, do they single out AFL coverage? There's no way to know for sure but we can say they obviously don't consider the sport important or respect the audience of Australian football coverage.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

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I agree the commercials were completely inappropriate. Disgusting would be a better word. Unfortunately, I'll bet that the folks at FSW see nothing wrong with them. What a sad commentary on the values of our modern society.