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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

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 26, 2010

Thanks for keeping us updated on all things footy. Unfortunately I see a zero percent chance of the GF replay being shown live here in the States. I've been waiting since 1982 to see my Magpies take the crown and I sure that with the tie over the weekend, that is not going to happen. Go Pies Go!!!!!!

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

Posted by Hal Sirkin (not verified) on September 26, 2010

Chances are that no one at ESPN who can change programming has come into work over the weekend. The good news is that the match is in the middle of the night when ESPN-2 shows repeats of Showtime boxing matches and I'd guess the audience for an AFL GF would be larger. If they find that the audience for the first GF was larger than their typical at 1-4am Saturday morning, they have every interest to put on the GF. Let's give them the chance. They are basically the only hope (especially as we see a lot of matches on ESPN3) that we can see AFL in the US legally! Rob thanks for making the effort for us. We all need to get more active in letting ESPN know we want more AFL during the season. They use that to sell the advertisers that they have a great audience. We'll all be disappointed if ESPN doesn't come through, but they are still our only source for live AFL.

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

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 26, 2010

Hi Anon (& Rob), I think there's more hope than that. Channel 7 did not have to pay extra for the rights to show the replay, so presumably this is free for ESPN too, and it would therefore be irrational for them not to want to show it. Then it's a matter of scheduling, but at least they have three channels. Furthermore, scheduling conflict is not a problem for their internet streaming, espn3.com, since they can (and do) stream any number of events simultaneously. So one would hope that it'd definitely be on espn3.com and perhaps also on (say) ESPN Classic. Rob, if it turns out they don't even schedule it on espn3, we'll be relying on you/AFANA to point out the obvious (i.e. the above) to them. [If the broadcast rights are different for ESPN, and the AFL tries to charge them extra, we'll be relying on you/AFANA to set the AFL straight!]

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

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

Posted by Edmund (not verified) on September 26, 2010

i sent ESPN an email and got this back Hello, Thanks for contacting ESPN. The continuation of the Australian Rules Football Grand Final will be aired on 10/2/10, at 12:00 a.m. ET on ESPN3.com and ESPN Classic. At 1:00 a.m. ET ESPN2 will pick up coverage of the match in progress. For search-able TV listings please visit ESPNTV.com. Please note schedule information is subject to change. Sincerely, ESPN Viewer Response Regards, Brandon ESPN.com Customer Care --------------- Original Message --------------- Will you be broadcasting the AFL Grand Final Replay in my area. The game ended in a tie and per AFL rules it will be replayed. I dont see it on espn3.com either. Thanks

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

Posted by Cameron (not verified) on September 27, 2010

Hi, I emailed TSN anout the replay broadcast in Canada... here it is. Thank you for emailing TSN. Live coverage of the 2010 AFL Toyota Grand Final featuring Collingwood vs. St. Kilda is scheduled to air at 12 midnight ET on Friday, Oct. 1 on TSN2. Regards, Simon TSN Audience Relations

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

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

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

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