A Sunday night AFL Grand Final

[Mel]

Keep it on Saturday afternoon. The GF is a big day for my whole family. We have a big party starting before lunch. Kick-to-kick at the park at half time, then celebrating well into the night. The past few years have seen four generations kicking the footy around at half time, it's a tradition in our family. Having said that though, last year the tradition was broken since most of us were at the game

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Mel
Keep it on Saturday afternoon. The GF is a big day for my whole family. We have a big party starting before lunch. Kick-to-kick at the park at half time, then celebrating well into the night. The past few years have seen four generations kicking the footy around at half time, it's a tradition in our family. Having said that though, last year the tradition was broken since most of us were at the game

2005 was the first year I have ever celebrated after a GF.

[Pommie Swannie]

IMHO, it should always be Saturday arvo for the GF. At some point, history etc should count over revenue.

However, if it were ever to come down to it with the networks, the only acceptable concession should be a Saturday night GF. It makes no sense to me to be on a Sunday. (if for no other reason, the phrase 'last Sunday in September' would just sound w*nk!!).

At least the NRL have the public holiday the day after, so the supporters (those who SHOULD be at the forefront of considerations) can properly enjoy the day and celebrate / commiserate appropriately in to the next day!

It's good to see Andy D coming out strongly against this. The AFL should make clearly stipulate prior to subsequent rights negotiations that the staging of the GF is NOT up for discussion!

Cheers

[wheels27]

Agree with all that, but the NRL grand final never used to be on a long weekend, was moved when the Sunday night decision was made.

The last weekend in September used to be the highlight for any footy lover in Sydney, as Roy & HG called it - the festival of the boot.

[Frog]

Originally posted by Pommie Swannie
IMHO, it should always be Saturday arvo for the GF. At some point, history etc should count over revenue.

Please, someone, explain to me how 91/92K people at the 'G' (full house so to speak) and 3 - 3.5 million viewers nationwide for a Saturday afternoon match would change for a Sunday night game - and where would the revenue be ?

Why would people not interested enough in AFL to watch it on a Saturday afternoon all of a sudden watch it because it is at night?

I take it that this is nothing to do with the MCG - You can only fit so many people in, and it will be a sellout - No matter what time of day or which day even. I further summise that the only other reason would be more expensive advertising in prime-time (that is TV prime-time) ... Excuse me ? They don't charge prime-time rates for the Grand Final now for a Saturday afternoon match ?? Pull the other one ...

Where is that revenue increase resulting from a night game that everyone keeps harping on ?

[Pommie Swannie]

Originally posted by Frog
Please, someone, explain to me how 91/92K people at the 'G' (full house so to speak) and 3 - 3.5 million viewers nationwide for a Saturday afternoon match would change for a Sunday night game - and where would the revenue be ?

Why would people not interested enough in AFL to watch it on a Saturday afternoon all of a sudden watch it because it is at night?

I take it that this is nothing to do with the MCG - You can only fit so many people in, and it will be a sellout - No matter what time of day or which day even. I further summise that the only other reason would be more expensive advertising in prime-time (that is TV prime-time) ... Excuse me ? They don't charge prime-time rates for the Grand Final now for a Saturday afternoon match ?? Pull the other one ...

Where is that revenue increase resulting from a night game that everyone keeps harping on ?

Allegedly, the networks would prefer a Sunday night GF as they could generate greater revenues. There would be no additional revenue for the AFL given that TV rights are on fixed contracts.

[Frog]

Originally posted by Pommie Swannie
Allegedly, the networks would prefer a Sunday night GF as they could generate greater revenues. There would be no additional revenue for the AFL given that TV rights are on fixed contracts.

Call me dumb, but that is what I asked to have explained - greater revenues from what ???

[Pommie Swannie]

I would assume from advertising revenues.

Not working for the networks I can't say for certain. However, I would imagine that the only reason they would push for a change would be down to money!

[Frog]

I used this line in my original post:

They don't charge prime-time rates for the Grand Final now for a Saturday afternoon match ?? Pull the other one ...

I have been searching the web for advertising rates, can't find them .... I have found that Network 10, Television Operations, lists
the AFL Grand Final as its number 1 program (here, click Annual Reports)

I would almost hazard a guess that they would charge equal or greater advertising rates for the Grand Final than what they do for Prime Time ...

I am all for a conspiracy ... there is something else behind this push ...

:

[Pommie Swannie]

Originally posted by Frog
I used this line in my original post:

They don't charge prime-time rates for the Grand Final now for a Saturday afternoon match ?? Pull the other one ...

I have been searching the web for advertising rates, can't find them .... I have found that Network 10, Television Operations, lists
the AFL Grand Final as its number 1 program (here, click Annual Reports)

I would almost hazard a guess that they would charge equal or greater advertising rates for the Grand Final than what they do for Prime Time ...

I am all for a conspiracy ... there is something else behind this push ...

:

According to the ahem 'venerable Caroline Wilson' (see other thread!) :

"In the past, Channel Seven, and for the past four seasons Channel Ten, have reaped sufficient grand final reward from selling advertising packages for an all-day event that starts with the North Melbourne breakfast telecast at 8am."

"Now it seems that by starting programming in the late afternoon and scheduling a first bounce for about 6pm or 6.30pm, six hours of television in prime time would prove much more lucrative in advertising dollars."


Source

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Pommie Swannie
According to the ahem 'venerable Caroline Wilson' (see other thread!) :

"In the past, Channel Seven, and for the past four seasons Channel Ten, have reaped sufficient grand final reward from selling advertising packages for an all-day event that starts with the North Melbourne breakfast telecast at 8am."

"Now it seems that by starting programming in the late afternoon and scheduling a first bounce for about 6pm or 6.30pm, six hours of television in prime time would prove much more lucrative in advertising dollars."


Source

From the same article is this gem...

And who would have ventured five years ago that close to 70 per cent of all AFL finals, including both preliminary finals, would be played under lights?

Is it just me, or did other people watch the Eagles/Crows PF on Saturday afternoon last year? This just proves what we have been saying in the other thread about this idiot Caroline Wilson.

[Pommie Swannie]

She is a worry!! But you've always got to have some journos to laugh at!!

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by goswannie14
Is it just me, or did other people watch the Eagles/Crows PF on Saturday afternoon last year? This just proves what we have been saying in the other thread about this idiot Caroline Wilson.

Probably confused herself with the time difference.

[Pommie Swannie]

She certainly does appear easily confused ...

[goswannie14]

According to some advertising guru on Southern Grandstand on ABC radio, the advertising revenue for GF day is $10,000,000, this could possibly rise to $11,5000,000 with a night GF.