Collingwood 9 14 (68) St Kilda 10 8 (68)
Grand Final draw means game is replayed next week
Congrats to both teams for an incredible match. The Norm Smith medal went to Lenny Hayes. We have the following coverage for the GF Replay (confirmed by AFL & ESPN and revised 9/30/10): ESPN3.com will be live from 10:00 PM EDT. ESPN Classic, and ESPN Mobile will be live from 12:00 MN EDT until 4:00 AM; ESPN2 will join the coverage in progress at 1:00 AM EDT and continue until 4:00 AM. Canadian coverage will be on TSN2 from 12:00 MN EDT to 4:00 AM and on TSN.ca on demand. Omnisport.tv will have live coverage from 12:00 MN EDT to 4:00 AM at the usual US$5.99. We have a special Grand Final party page up for the replay.
Article last changed on Friday, October 01, 2010 - 12:09 AM EDT
Comments
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Hi Anon,
We disagree 100%. When we say "we don't know" we mean "We Don't Know". The AFL was in touch with AFANA and ESPN a half-hour after the end of the drawn Grand Final. We (and ESPN) have received several subsequent messages. ESPN has not, as of this writing (Sunday 11:15 AM EDT), yet had an opportunity to work out what they might do. I cannot imagine, given the incredible match we saw this weekend, that ESPN would not want to show it. However, they have other contractual obligations and scheduling issues to work through. They deserve a chance to do that before everyone starts criticizing them for something that hasn't even been decided yet!
If you have followed AFANA for any portion of the past 15+ AFL seasons, you understand that we will keep you informed. We will be "in the contest" for you the fan. We'll provide you with all the information we can make public as soon as we can make it public (we never compromise future coverage by disclosing things that would cause the network or the AFL to refuse to cooperate with us in the future or get us in legal difficulty). We're the fan's voice and proud of that role.
Patience here. We want the match live here and both the AFL and ESPN know that.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Thanks Hal, for the words of support.
You are correct that it is highly unlikely that ESPN management will interrupt their weekend to rush in to the office, have a meeting, and decide this. While it might be important enough for all of us to worry about, it isn't that important for them. Your points on letting ESPN know we like the coverage and watch it are well taken. Showing appreciation never hurts! As a result of contractual obligations, and the extremely short window to work this out they are our only practical hope. AFANA remains cautiously optimistic this will have a good outcome.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Hi,
Presumably, since the rights for the AFL in the US & Canada are per season, not per round, there are no additional fees due. I can't say what clause the contracts have for drawn GF's, but I would imagine they are automatically included.
You're correct that the ESPN3 can have multiple live feeds at one time so that is not an issue. ESPN Classic is a question mark but given they made exceptions to the network format to air the GF last year and this past weekend, then that in itself shouldn't be the issue. They would need to staff the production room for the live event and keep them late so that would be a concern.
Thanks, and you can be sure we will point out any inconsistency to the AFL and ESPN if it comes to that. As it is Sunday in the US, I am sure this issue will be considered Monday morning at ESPN.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Hi Tony,
While that is possible, given the that the replay is in October not September, that probably won't be an issue. There are other issues with ESPN Classic carrying any programming not directly fitting their programming niche. However, it's my feeling that none of these concerns will be what determines if we get or don't get coverage on ESPN Classic.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Thanks, Edmund, for posting this. It's good info. We're just waiting for the management at ESPN to confirm the full details with us (we like "Customer Service" but they are often less than fully informed - note they called it a "continuation"). Until they do and we can get questions answered we're being cautious. If 15+ years of doing this we've been burned more than once. We expect to hear from ESPN by the close of business today (Monday).
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Hi Cameron,
Thanks for posting your message. As I noted in my response to the post by Jeremy, we want programming management at TSN to confirm the information and that is what is holding us up. Once we get the AFL and TSN saying the same thing, we'll be confident we have it. I think what they told you is likely correct but thinking it and knowing it are not the same.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
I don't know if you have checked but TSN is showing the Grand Final Replay on the TSN2 schedule the same times as ESPN. Also it is noted on the AFL site under their international coverage article.
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Hi dcmoses,
Yes, we were aware of what is on the TSN and AFL web sites. As noted above, AFANA prides itself on reliability and accuracy. To do that, we can not simply trust a web site, on screen guide, or other similar source. Frankly, when information is in question, we trust AFL and network programming management only as over the years we have been burned too many times by other sources which are necessarily 2nd or 3rd hand information. Further the AFL and network have to agree on what is to be aired before we believe it. We now have sufficient information that we have updated our TSN listings and will be updating this page shortly.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Re: Grand Final Ends in a Draw! Replay Next Week
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for the information. AFANA is aware of what is on the TSN web site. Y
You'll appreciate that we don't trust on-screen guides, often poorly maintained network web sites, or partial information. We want management for the network and the AFL to both confirm the information or we consider it tentative and unconfirmed. So far, TSN has not responded to our requests for confirmation. As soon as they do, we'll go with it. As an example, we have conflicts between what ESPN staff are telling us and their own web schedules now! We think, based on what the AFL has given us we know which is correct but it highlights the problems we face doing what we do.
We'll have something up on TSN soon and we expect it to parallel ESPN.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin