Fox Footy Channel

[Dutchy]

channel 7 wont agree to anything beacuse Kerry and co buggered them up with their C7 pay channel so in Stokesy eyes its payback

This is absolutely correct. Stokes lost in court over the collapse of C7, and Foxtel was a part of the problem in his eyes.

I would imagine both 7 and 10 are going to have to sell some of the coverage, because there's no way they can afford to cop the full $700mil+ bill and remain viable ... Actually be interesting to keep an eye on ESPN and see if they become a player in this ...

This is of interest - because the federal government has amongst it's changes in media laws a "use it or lose it" clause. Now if any games are missing from the Seven/Ten combo on their own and they don't sell it off (whether they can't or won't - it doesn't matter) they can get into some pretty serious trouble.

I don't know where ESPN would stand in this. For a start, do they have any interest to start with? I don't know how much Australian influence there is on that channel - but I'm concerned that there isn't enough. ESPN's bread and butter during the football season is baseball - as well as the basketball play offs mid year. Even though the World Series is usually on Fox Sports instead of ESPN - but that's October. Would they sacrifice MLB for AFL? It depends on what the Seven/Ten consortium are asking.

I'm waiting on the CEO of Foxtel, who is about to appear on White Line Fever.

ESPN have stated they they want to get a bigger footprint into the Australian market and this would be the biggest way to do it. They certainly would have the money, support and resources to ensure it is done correctly - as for the other sport they deliver as a US sport fan I wouldnt like to see this diluted at all and wouldnt suprise if they were thinking of a ESPN Footy channel like they have in the states.

[PhilG]

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[PhilG]

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[heater31]

ESPN have stated they they want to get a bigger footprint into the Australian market and this would be the biggest way to do it. They certainly would have the money, support and resources to ensure it is done correctly - as for the other sport they deliver as a US sport fan I wouldnt like to see this diluted at all and wouldnt suprise if they were thinking of a ESPN Footy channel like they have in the states.

They wouldn't be able to maintain an AFL channel, Dutchy. If they could, Foxtel could and Fox Footy would be staying. That's why if they did jump on board, they'd cut back on the other sports. Most likely the evening replays.

But it looks like Fox Sports 3 is the answer according to the CEO, Kim Williams.

surely ESPN would set up a local arm of their channel focused on Australian content if this was the case

[Dutchy]

ESPN have stated they they want to get a bigger footprint into the Australian market and this would be the biggest way to do it. They certainly would have the money, support and resources to ensure it is done correctly - as for the other sport they deliver as a US sport fan I wouldnt like to see this diluted at all and wouldnt suprise if they were thinking of a ESPN Footy channel like they have in the states.

They wouldn't be able to maintain an AFL channel, Dutchy. If they could, Foxtel could and Fox Footy would be staying. That's why if they did jump on board, they'd cut back on the other sports. Most likely the evening replays.

But it looks like Fox Sports 3 is the answer according to the CEO, Kim Williams.

surely ESPN would set up a local arm of their channel focused on Australian content if this was the case

exactly - they have much more $ than Fox...they have 4-5 channels in the US...

[Dutchy]

plus FOX3 was always coming with or without footy....with FOX taking on the domestic cricket and 100% a-league coverage they couldnt cover it all with 2 channels so dont take FOX3 as an assurance that the footy is going to be on FOX...

[heater31]

exactly - they have much more $ than Fox...they have 4-5 channels in the US...

If this happens can we force the yanks to watch our sport because i think they would find just as boring as when we watch their crap. Imagine them watching AFL footy they wouldn't know what hit em.

[mal]

SBS is in the equation now for telecasts.

[Brad]

SBS is in the equation now for telecasts.

I can't see they would have the $$$

[RustyCage]

ESPN have stated they they want to get a bigger footprint into the Australian market and this would be the biggest way to do it. They certainly would have the money, support and resources to ensure it is done correctly - as for the other sport they deliver as a US sport fan I wouldnt like to see this diluted at all and wouldnt suprise if they were thinking of a ESPN Footy channel like they have in the states.

They wouldn't be able to maintain an AFL channel, Dutchy. If they could, Foxtel could and Fox Footy would be staying. That's why if they did jump on board, they'd cut back on the other sports. Most likely the evening replays.

But it looks like Fox Sports 3 is the answer according to the CEO, Kim Williams.

surely ESPN would set up a local arm of their channel focused on Australian content if this was the case

The ESPN we have is a local arm of the US ESPN, they just show a lot of US stuff.

[heater31]

SBS is in the equation now for telecasts.

I can't see they would have the $$$

They had the cash to provide the coverage for the world cup

[PhilG]

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[Dutchy]

SBS is in the equation now for telecasts.

Where did you hear that, Mal? I don't believe it. They don't have the money - because of the amount they spent on that waste of time borefest in Germany!

The ESPN we have is a local arm of the US ESPN, they just show a lot of US stuff.

Exactly. ESPN won't go to a 24 hour local channel. It wouldn't be worth it where it counts for them - in the US. Having said though, I'd like to see the AFL get onto the cable screens in the US. That's why I think they'll sacrifice the evening replays of the baseball and whatever else to make room for it. If they chase it that is. If Foxtel want it on Fox Sports 3 and they get the deal done ESPN won't have a say in it.

Of interest - if the Seven/Ten consortium don't get another channel on board, as a part of the broadcast deal they HAVE to broadcast all eight games. That's going to make the 2007 AFL draw interesting to see - especially on Sundays! If the AFL don't play ball, there could be trouble!

you blokes dont watch ESPN obviously - its a specific Asian Pacific station covering US sports BUT ALSO cricket to appease the aust/asian audience...it is not the pure ESPN channel straight from the US that we get. They aslo have the aussie version of PTI with Sam Kecavich. The current version might just have AFL added but it might be a ESPN2 type to enusre they dont lose the US sports coverage which a lot of people watch.

[PhilG]

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[Dutchy]

http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/afl/sbs-courted-for-afl-role/2006/08/23/1156012609284.html

worth a read

[heater31]

you blokes dont watch ESPN obviously - its a specific Asian Pacific station covering US sports BUT ALSO cricket to appease the aust/asian audience...it is not the pure ESPN channel straight from the US that we get. They aslo have the aussie version of PTI with Sam Kecavich. The current version might just have AFL added but it might be a ESPN2 type to enusre they dont lose the US sports coverage which a lot of people watch.

Their cricket coverage is like cricket for dummies