(Update August 31, 2010): The situation has a satisfactory resolution. We've been informed that ESPN Classic will now carry the match LIVE from 11:30 PM EDT through to 4:00 AM EDT will full coverage. ESPN2 will pick up the coverage live, in progress, at 1:00 AM EDT (probably some time around the start of the 2nd quarter. ESPN3.com will also have live and full coverage as previously announced. Thanks to all fans for their support!)
As of today (August 26, 2010), the Grand Final is NOT live in the USA except via the Internet (ESPN3.com or Omnisport.tv). The AFL and ESPN have confirmed that ESPN plans to delay the game by 30 minutes (1:00 AM EDT broadcast start) on ESPN2 and skip all pre- and post-game coverage with telecast ending at 3:30 AM EDT. Coverage would begin with bouncedown but on a delayed basis. This is acceptable and within the contractual agreement between the AFL and ESPN according to sources we have (which are reliable). Thus neither the AFL or ESPN have legal reason to change this. Only fan demand can make a difference. ESPN has a contractual requirement to air an MLS soccer game live from 11 PM EDT until 1:00 AM. There isn't live programming on other ESPN channels (such as ESPN-Classic or ESPN-U) however, for reasons that we are told are confidential, the game cannot be moved. AFANA feels however, that at least the pre-game and the start of the game need to be aired elsewhere live. Unless that occurs, the late start is potentially disastrous for parties in the Eastern and Central time zones. For parties everywhere, missing the pre-game, Advance Australia Fair, and the festivities is a huge loss. What do you think?
AFANA will issue updates on this site if this changes. We will be posting suggestions on the site shortly for how you can use the ESPN3 feed to provide coverage for your party if it comes to that and you can get ESPN3 locally.
Canada: The Canadian coverage will be live on TSN2. We are awaiting the starting times for TSN2 and should have those posted on our web site TV Schedules page shortly. We do not know definitively if Canada is impacted by the ESPN plans but we do not believe that to be the case based on current information.
Tell us how this situation affects you or your party. Let us know why the late start and edited coverage is a problem. Tell us what you want to see in the coverage and how ESPN and the AFL should respond (the more specific the better). We'll share a summary of this thread with ESPN and the AFL. Be civil and polite, keep the language family friendly, and remember we want the AFL and ESPN to help us not be angry with us (or we'll moderate comments in accord with our site policies). You can also e-mail comments to gf_feedback[at)afana[ dot }com (click on the three dots to view the address).
Re: How does the ESPN schedule for the Grand Final affect ...
Re: How does the ESPN schedule for the Grand Final affect ...
The late start doesn't bother me so much as long as they show the whole game. After all, it's only 1/2 hour. But I would really like to see the pre-game activities too. It's not just the game, but everything that precedes it as well that makes the Grand Final a major event.
Re: How does the ESPN schedule for the Grand Final affect ...
I would rather see it on live and with the pre-game and post-game coverage if at all possible, even if that means moving it to another ESPN outlet. But if it has to be delayed, I'd rather see the bouncedown at 1 am sharp rather than even later. I wonder, though, if 3:30 will be late enough to get the whole game in; last year's game ended around 3:15 EDT, and 2:40-2:45 is fairly standard for footy matches. I assume ESPN would stay until game's end, but an abrupt or even (gasp) a premature cutoff would be very unfortunate.
Re: How does the ESPN schedule for the Grand Final affect ...
I'm on the East Coast of the US and a delayed Grand Final will cause the party we typically attend to be canceled. With no pre-game festivities and a delayed start, the party's organizers feel it's not economically viable to open their facility at such a late hour for such a short period of time.
I ask that ESPN please reconsider their decision and choose to cover the entire Grand Final from pre-game through post-game. Thanks!
TSN2
TSN2 Finals Coverage and GF situation resolved!
Thanks, Rob. We received the info from the AFL overnight and we'll be updating our web pages today with the match info for this weekend. We haven't heard from TSN yet but expect to shortly.
I'm not sure it's a given we'll get 2 matches per week the next two weeks but it is a good possibility and consistent with their previous plans.
We have good news on the GF front as it appears we will get full wall to wall coverage on ESPN Classic and probably TSN2. Again this info came in overnight and has to be verified but it looks as if this issue is solved!
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: TSN2 Finals Coverage and GF situation resolved!
TSN broadband has had a game a week for most of the season so it is possible to get the remainder of the finals not broadcast live as per the home and away season. Games on demand for approx 48 hours at watch.tsn.ca
Re: TSN2 Finals Coverage and GF situation resolved!
It's possible but all TSN is obligated to do by contract is one live game per week on TSN2 and one game on demand on TSN.ca (they do not have to be the same game). Anything beyond that is at the "generosity" of TSN and with the agreement of the AFL, and requires the game to have been taken by ESPN. At the moment, AFANA has conflicting information on the week one finals coverage and is seeking clarification from both the AFL and TSN before we list a second game.
AFANA has listed the games on TSN outlets each week on our web site all season and will continue to do so throughout the finals and in the future. As has been explained elsewhere on this site and on our TV pages, TSN.ca, like ESPN3.com is contractually limited to keeping the games on demand for 48 hours from match start and no longer. This is to protect the rights of Telstra and it's contracted providers Aussie Sport TV and Omnisport.tv (services of Peform, Ltd). Fans are encouraged to check our TV schedule page.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: TSN2 Finals Coverage and GF situation resolved!
TSN has now confirmed that they will be carrying both Qualifying Finals this coming weekend.
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
Re: TSN2 Finals Coverage and GF situation resolved!
No sign of the Elimination Finals so I expect we won't see them from TSN since they already have both Qualifying Finals available on-demand at TSN broadband. For anyone who missed the games don't wait, TSN only posts the AFL games for about 48 hours before removing them.
Re: TSN2 Finals Coverage and GF situation resolved!
Hi dcmoses,
TSN will only carry games that ESPN has on offer and has agreed to carry only a specific number of matches per week. As a result, the Elimination finals will not be available.
For those having problems finding the matches, this is what TSN has told us: [go to the] "TSN.ca video player and look under 2010 Australian Rules Football League On Demand and both the St.Kilda/Geelong, and Collingwood/Western Bulldog matches are currently listed on the website. ....(I looked under Video Player - Video Library - then scrolled down.)"
-Rob
AFANA Chairman Emeritus and Site Admin
