There needs to be football on free to air TV. Prime is owned by sky, does that mean they can play football free to air? or doesnt it work that way? They should be playing every phoenix match, like they do for the Warriors. It would be awesome if they played even just one premiership match per week. it would make it easier for people to like football. im sure people must get tired of rugby.
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Well I love football. And think it would be great if it was free to air.
But I also love rugby and I never get tired of it so I dont think the last point is valid.
Gangsta!2008-07-15 20:50:07
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completly agree, just not sure about all there regulations and what not - probably dont permit it.
nice idea though
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I think they can so long as there is an appetite for it. Sky use Prime as a bit of a leader to people buying sky so it might be worth a bit of a campaign!
Normo's coming home
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Hope you can pull it off and get the FTA broadcast ........awesome achievement if you does get broadcast.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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There needs to be football on free to air TV. Prime is owned by sky, does that mean they can play football free to air? or doesnt it work that way? They should be playing every phoenix match, like they do for the Warriors. It would be awesome if they played even just one premiership match per week. it would make it easier for people to like football. im sure people must get tired of rugby.
I'm so sick of Rugby
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To be fair there isn't much rugby on free to air tv. all black games and one super 14 game a week i think, plus grassroots. thats hardly a lot on free to air
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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To be fair there isn't much rugby on free to air tv. all black games and one super 14 game a week i think, plus grassroots. thats hardly a lot on free to air
Point taken and it is the National sport (at present, haha ).
But with football growing when will the networks wakeup and show some games on free to air. We dont even see NZFC let alone the A-league.
Years ago TVNZ use to show premier games delayed on a Sunday, surely the ratings would have risen since they cancelled them.
CTV showed all the Canterbury home games a couple of years ago, a did a great job too. I reckon that theres a spot for regional TV to fill.
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TV stations exist to sell advertising/make money for their owners. Therefore what is deemed higher rating content will be shown ahead of 'marginal' content, such as football.
Until now you've needed Sky to watch PL and most football (TV1 has shown world cups, Prime showed Euros). By owning a subscription, subscribers are taking themselves out of the pool of available (FTA) viewers, leading to less FTA demand. I don't blame anyone who has a sports sub, I would too if I could afford it.
Football needs to reach it's tipping point to show it is viable as consistent, income producing, FTA coverage (such as an A-league season rather than one off world cups/olympics). I think Prime and other channels probably would have watched closely the Euro's ratings to see demand. Who knows, the A-league season runs across a low point in the rugby/league seasons, so it may fill a programming gap.
There may also be broadcasting rights issues I am not aware of (i.e. rights may cost extra if shown on FTA and sub TV rather than just one or the other).
I think awareness is getting bigger, particularly with the Nix (and the Galaxy game) doing so well. There is good news coverage of PL etc in the papers and on TV3 in particular.
What does concern me with football is the concentration on overseas leagues by many fans. This is why rugby is so widely broadcast, the reported/broadcast games are very relevant to the viewers (Nzer's) - eg All Blacks, Wellington, Hurricanes, Auckland, Blues rather than Liverpool, Man U etc. This is changing as discussed above, due to the Nix and Olympic/All White/age group national side campaigns rising to prominence, but it is a change that needs to become broader to make FTA football a more commercial proposition.
At least that is my opinion. Feel free to cut to shreds.
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Two questions to YF.
1. Out of ten ...... were would you rate the Nix's chanes of being broadcast FTA; 1 out of 10 or 6 out of ten, whatever ?
2. In Wellie or say outside Auckland what is more popular the A-League or the NRL, I have assumed the NRL but a Kiwi mate tells me outside Auckland there is a huge football following but in the main EPL, but many taking an interest in the A-League?
Thanks
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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One out of ten, unless Sony or Hyundai pay them too in which case the odds shorten hugely.
I have the impression that general NZ interest in the NRL is down all over the country, Warriors or any side. Of course I only see the urban centres, but 5-10 years ago the profile seemed considerably higher than it is now.
You have always been more likely to see a football shirt in NZ urban centres than a Rugby or League shirt, but the media bombardment means the perception of average NZ sports fan doesn't see that.
I have the impression that general NZ interest in the NRL is down all over the country, Warriors or any side. Of course I only see the urban centres, but 5-10 years ago the profile seemed considerably higher than it is now.
You have always been more likely to see a football shirt in NZ urban centres than a Rugby or League shirt, but the media bombardment means the perception of average NZ sports fan doesn't see that.
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League is much, much bigger than the A-League, and still a long way ahead of the premier league which is ahead of the A-League.
People don't buy league jerseys because they are rude (the jerseys that is, not the people)
james dean2008-07-17 20:56:57Normo's coming home
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It would be covered in detail by the broadcaster at negotiation stage with the rights holder (i.e. FFA) how many games are broadcast on what channels and at what times.
A rights holder would always prefer a free to air deal as that will maximise exposure and increase the value of other deals such as stadium signage etc, not to mention increasing the general profile of the sport. However the value to a free to air broadcaster depends on advertising revenue, and the advertising ratecard depends on expected viewership. Hence when the A-League first stated, and it was unproven, the FFA had to go with Fox (& Sky I guess), however both the FFA and Fox will now admit that as the league has grown the value of the deal has now far outgrown what the deal was signed for 3-4 years ago. I can't remember how many more years the current deal goes for, but the FFA will benefit from something of a windfall next time the rights are up for renegotiation. However they are also rateful to Fox for paying a not insignificant punt on the A-League before it had started when all that had gone before was the TV unfriendly NSL.
From memory the same broadcast deal also incorporates Socceroos matches, the value of which has also increased significantly since the last Fox deal was done. Not sure if Sky's contract would be directly with the FFA or with Fox, in any case if they wanted to start broadcasting in Prime then it would involve a renegotiation of contract terms.
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It will have to wait after the latest FoxSport deal with the A-league officials. They have exclusive rights to the TV showing (including SkyTV as their sub-channel) and so the free-to-air broadcasters in Australia can't do anything since Fox bankrolls the competition. This means that free-to-air TV in NZ like PrimeTV even tho they are owned by SkyTV, are unable to show it. The free-to-air TV will have to wait like after the next 4 years when the contract deal runs out. Currently they are on a deal worth like $120 million for the next 5 seasons since 2007.
The real good news is that because of the Australian Government willness to open all sport codes on to the free-to-air TV after a period of time to encourage sport promotion and well-being, we in NZ are able to get A-league football on free-to-air TV as fair rights as well. This is something that FoxSport Australia cannot stop because it is a Governmental policy of both their parties. The chances are that we would get this all on one of the freeview channels by 2012. So selection of games will be then shown on free-to-air TV and but FoxSport (and by proxy, SkyTV) will still show all A-League Games as main TV broadcaster and financial sponsor as primary rights.
However it can also mean that local broadcasters can have rights to all of their own local A-league team home games if they are able to foot part of the bill. Therefore Wellington Phoenix should be able to get their own home games on either regional TV or by negotiation have either TVNZ or TV3 to do the coverage for them making delayed coverage for the rest of the country but also live coverage for their regional TV.
So come on 2012!!!AllWhitebelievr2008-07-18 19:57:31
The real good news is that because of the Australian Government willness to open all sport codes on to the free-to-air TV after a period of time to encourage sport promotion and well-being, we in NZ are able to get A-league football on free-to-air TV as fair rights as well. This is something that FoxSport Australia cannot stop because it is a Governmental policy of both their parties. The chances are that we would get this all on one of the freeview channels by 2012. So selection of games will be then shown on free-to-air TV and but FoxSport (and by proxy, SkyTV) will still show all A-League Games as main TV broadcaster and financial sponsor as primary rights.
However it can also mean that local broadcasters can have rights to all of their own local A-league team home games if they are able to foot part of the bill. Therefore Wellington Phoenix should be able to get their own home games on either regional TV or by negotiation have either TVNZ or TV3 to do the coverage for them making delayed coverage for the rest of the country but also live coverage for their regional TV.
So come on 2012!!!AllWhitebelievr2008-07-18 19:57:31
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Thanks Allwhitebeliver and others you position is similar to Australia, and we have five more years to wait for FTA and big money, ..... just hope the game keeps expamding each year so as the next TV deal is huge. Also RL as I tho was much bigger than A-League in NZ.Midfielder2008-07-20 23:36:28
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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Id almost rather it be on sky sport than Prime. Some free to air channels seem to cheapen the sport,rather than make it more appealing.
Remember the warriors on sky one? ugh
Allegedly
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I think Channel 9 in Dunedin (from what i read) showed the Otago United NZFC games as well and they have (or did have) a local socer show as well.
Its good the smaller channels do it but the lack of resources makes it look cheap i guess, and some parks prob dont have decent spots for tv cameras either so the view of the game is far different from the likes of the EPL , A-league etc
Its good the smaller channels do it but the lack of resources makes it look cheap i guess, and some parks prob dont have decent spots for tv cameras either so the view of the game is far different from the likes of the EPL , A-league etc
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Hey Christo,
You can come home to Dunedin, you know you want to...
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bit of a commute to phoenix games though lol
and back on topic i have noticed through my telstraclear box we can get Canterbury TV so roll round the NZFC season again.
and back on topic i have noticed through my telstraclear box we can get Canterbury TV so roll round the NZFC season again.
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So who can tell me about Sky's 'World of Football'? Not being a dish owner (my marriage is worth more...and it means I have a legitimate excuse to get to the 4 Kings for away games...)I have no idea, but a crew of two were in the Nix shop last saturday and they filmed Junior Hotspur Mk II passing to the presenter. Is this a current show..or something that will be used before A league games featuring the Nix?
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So who can tell me about Sky's 'World of Football'? Not being a dish owner (my marriage is worth more...and it means I have a legitimate excuse to get to the 4 Kings for away games...)I have no idea, but a crew of two were in the Nix shop last saturday and they filmed Junior Hotspur Mk II passing to the presenter. Is this a current show..or something that will be used before A league games featuring the Nix?
its a Monday night hour long show during the A-league season, it covers A-League, NZFC, womans football and a little bit of overseas stuff. It is usually on before the Premier league highlights show.
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Figures from Throngmedia website, which give figures of sports content on each news channel
Top sports on ONE News:
1 Rugby 29%
2 Rugby League 17%
3 Soccer 12%
4 Cricket 10%
5 Netball 8%
6 Motorsport 6%
7 Golf 4%
8 Athletics 2%
9 Swimming 2%
10 Olympics 2%
Top sports on 3 News:
1 Rugby 26%
2 Rugby League 17%
3 Cricket 12%
4 Soccer 12%
5 Motorsport 9%
6 Olympics 5%
7 Netball 5%
8 Golf 3%
9 Tennis 2%
10 General 2%
Top sports on PRIME News:
1 Rugby 25%
2 Rugby League 21%
3 Soccer 16%
4 Cricket 13%
5 Golf 7%
6 Netball 5%
7 Motorsport 5%
8 Tennis 2%
9 Athletics 1%
10 Basketball 1%
Top sports on TVNZ News at 8:
1 Rugby 28%
2 Rugby League 16%
3 Netball 11%
4 Soccer 10%
5 Cricket 9%
6 Motorsport 8%
7 Athletics 3%
8 Cycling 2%
9 Olympics 2%
10 Golf 2%
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Figures from Throngmedia website, which give figures of sports content on each news channel
Top sports on ONE News:
1 Rugby 29%
2 Rugby League 17%
3 Soccer 12%
4 Cricket 10%
5 Netball 8%
6 Motorsport 6%
7 Golf 4%
8 Athletics 2%
9 Swimming 2%
10 Olympics 2%
Top sports on 3 News:
1 Rugby 26%
2 Rugby League 17%
3 Cricket 12%
4 Soccer 12%
5 Motorsport 9%
6 Olympics 5%
7 Netball 5%
8 Golf 3%
9 Tennis 2%
10 General 2%
Top sports on PRIME News:
1 Rugby 25%
2 Rugby League 21%
3 Soccer 16%
4 Cricket 13%
5 Golf 7%
6 Netball 5%
7 Motorsport 5%
8 Tennis 2%
9 Athletics 1%
10 Basketball 1%
Top sports on TVNZ News at 8:
1 Rugby 28%
2 Rugby League 16%
3 Netball 11%
4 Soccer 10%
5 Cricket 9%
6 Motorsport 8%
7 Athletics 3%
8 Cycling 2%
9 Olympics 2%
10 Golf 2%
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span>
Interesting Stats - I would have expected Cricket to be higher and Rugby League a little lower.
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I think it fair enough what the likes of Rainman and James Dean observe regarding the need for football to be viewed as commercially viable before networks make commitments to invest and cover. However, I do think there is also a chicken and egg issue here. Sure, interest in football will generate coverage. But, coverage also generates interest.
Rugby league has a massive profile in this country, yet there's only one professional side in the country and its a minority sport at grassroots level. Here in Wellington City its a thiird tier sport and yet the Warriors, in particular, have a very high profile due to the level of coverage. One reason for this is probably the game's similarity to rugby, but I also think that the Winfiield Cup was marketed brilliantly back in the late 80s when there was not a lot of professional sport on our tele and, as a result, captured a huge following. Similarly, the slick marketing of the A-League in AUstralia and the Nix here in Wellington in recent times has created a market and an audience that exceeds what people thought possible or commercially realistic.
I suppose my point is that if the networks really wanted to, they have the power and ability, through coverage and marketing, to make football commercially viable. But, they do need a reasonable product to work with and give them the confidence to invest. They have that with the A-League. Could they do something with the NZFC? Maybe. Can they do something sustainable with the All Whites? Well, it would help if we got out of Oceania.
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I think your point regards Rugby League is interesting ML, anecdotally i would agree League is very strong despite relative weakness at grass roots level(well in Wellington anyway). Especialy amongst guys of my generation (20,21,22) maybe thats because we grew up with the Winfield Cup but most of my friends who come from middle class families in non rugy league towns and schools enjoy league just as much as union.
BigDunc would be able to say this better than me but of all the nights i have spent at 4kings this year the busiest i have seen it was Origin 3 filled mainly with the demographic ive just been talking about.
However i think your point regard the chicken and egg nature of football coverage is valid and i guess this little rant has been a convoluted way of saying i agree with what you are saying.
BigDunc would be able to say this better than me but of all the nights i have spent at 4kings this year the busiest i have seen it was Origin 3 filled mainly with the demographic ive just been talking about.
However i think your point regard the chicken and egg nature of football coverage is valid and i guess this little rant has been a convoluted way of saying i agree with what you are saying.
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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I think your point regards Rugby League is interesting ML, anecdotally i would agree League is very strong despite relative weakness at grass roots level(well in Wellington anyway). Especialy amongst guys of my generation (20,21,22) maybe thats because we grew up with the Winfield Cup but most of my friends who come from middle class families in non rugy league towns and schools enjoy league just as much as union.
BigDunc would be able to say this better than me but of all the nights i have spent at 4kings this year the busiest i have seen it was Origin 3 filled mainly with the demographic ive just been talking about.
However i think your point regard the chicken and egg nature of football coverage is valid and i guess this little rant has been a convoluted way of saying i agree with what you are saying.
BigDunc would be able to say this better than me but of all the nights i have spent at 4kings this year the busiest i have seen it was Origin 3 filled mainly with the demographic ive just been talking about.
However i think your point regard the chicken and egg nature of football coverage is valid and i guess this little rant has been a convoluted way of saying i agree with what you are saying.
League pisses all over Union imo. I've been followuing it for 15 years and am really enjoying the football in the off-season! It's a real shame that it lacks the same bite at international level. Can't see the Aussies losing the World Cup this year. The NRL need to somehow inject more money or else all the talent will end up doing a 'Sonny Bill'.
Go the Wests Tigers!!!
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Id just be happy if the results made the news!!!
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Yeah, the problem of no footie on free- to- air TV is really brought home with the Olympics with TVNZ refusing to screen any NZ men's and women's teams' games on TV One but putting the games on "Freeview" satellite instead which costs $200 for the receiver box. I know of no pubs which have Freeview either, so that's not an option.There's no excuse for this contemptuous treatment of footie ( the most popular sport in the Olympics in terms of crowds at venues for many years now- and very high TV ratings internationally, all of which the International Olympic Commitee loves in order to make the Olympics financially viable when many other sports on the program fail to attract crowds or TV viewership).
There's surely no excuse for not broadcasting a game such as the NZ men's opener against China live on Thursday night at 11.45pm when there's nothing else on TV One. As you say in your original posting above, the more people are exposed to top-level football, the more larger numbers of people will grow to like it. This would apply to the women's Olympic matches too.
I suggest all fellow irate fans phone their local TVNZ offices to complain about this lack of coverage on TV One and also e-mail their opinions to tvnz.co.nz (click on to "contact us" at the bottom of the homepage).
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
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Just been to the TVNZ website and expressed my opinion to them. Also pointed out there lack of coverage of football in general compared to other networks
templar2008-08-04 23:50:34
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League pisses all over Union imo. I've been followuing it for 15 years and am really enjoying the football in the off-season! It's a real shame that it lacks the same bite at international level. Can't see the Aussies losing the World Cup this year. The NRL need to somehow inject more money or else all the talent will end up doing a 'Sonny Bill'.
Go the Wests Tigers!!!
I think contraction in Sydney is the best bet - no more than four teams IMHO. That would stop the financial backing in Sydney being spread so thin, and allow out of state backers to support teams in places like Perth etc.
I won't elaborate for fear of a thread hijack
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