Comments on: Why no one watches free-to-air TV anymore http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/05/crikey-says-100/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:34:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: deccles http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/05/crikey-says-100/#comment-39904 deccles Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:24:56 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/05/crikey-says-100/#comment-39904 The growth in subscription Television is simply because the free to air option is so bloody appalling. The siphoning laws have had no effect on the broadcast of rugby union into Victoria or AFL into Brisbane and Sydney (although Foxtel does rebroadcast AFL on their 'Main Event' station for sydney - but as Paddy noticed - you have to subscribe for that).Unfortunately Foxtel can't do the same for league back into Melbourne. One of the most anticapted Rugby Union Bledisloe tests in recent years wasn't shown live by Channel 7 (they broadcast 'The Sound of Music' for the 9,012,387 time) , resulting in an arrogant response from Channel 7's head of sport and then causing the Melbourne switchboard to meltdown and the switchboard operators in tears. Channel 9's just following Channel 7's lead. Last point to note is that subscription TV is now starting to turn a profit and it's market share has dramatically increased in the last 3 years - given free to air TV it is no wonder. The weakening of the content provision hasn't helped, there is no local TV drama or comedy that can stand up to the best of UK, EU and US television. The growth in subscription Television is simply because the free to air option is so bloody appalling.

The siphoning laws have had no effect on the broadcast of rugby union into Victoria or AFL into Brisbane and Sydney (although Foxtel does rebroadcast AFL on their ‘Main Event’ station for sydney - but as Paddy noticed - you have to subscribe for that).Unfortunately Foxtel can’t do the same for league back into Melbourne.

One of the most anticapted Rugby Union Bledisloe tests in recent years wasn’t shown live by Channel 7 (they broadcast ‘The Sound of Music’ for the 9,012,387 time) , resulting in an arrogant response from Channel 7’s head of sport and then causing the Melbourne switchboard to meltdown and the switchboard operators in tears. Channel 9’s just following Channel 7’s lead. Last point to note is that subscription TV is now starting to turn a profit and it’s market share has dramatically increased in the last 3 years - given free to air TV it is no wonder.

The weakening of the content provision hasn’t helped, there is no local TV drama or comedy that can stand up to the best of UK, EU and US television.

]]> By: paddy http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/05/crikey-says-100/#comment-39784 paddy Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:12:26 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/05/crikey-says-100/#comment-39784 Yes the coverage on FTA is often crap. Yes it would be nice to have some competition. But since I (and a heap of other Australians) can't afford pay TV, it's not much use chanting the "competition mantra" and offering no real solutions. I note you've mentioned Conroy's beloved soccer as something that will soon be "cursed" with the anti-syphoning laws. I for one would be thrilled. As, so far, I've never been able to watch a single A league game, or any of the Socceroo's qualifiers for the world cup. Clearly, the Crikey team have pay TV and have forgotten that the majority of Australians do not. Yes the coverage on FTA is often crap. Yes it would be nice to have some competition.
But since I (and a heap of other Australians) can’t afford pay TV, it’s not much use chanting the “competition mantra” and offering no real solutions.

I note you’ve mentioned Conroy’s beloved soccer as something that will soon be “cursed” with the anti-syphoning laws. I for one would be thrilled.
As, so far, I’ve never been able to watch a single A league game, or any of the Socceroo’s
qualifiers for the world cup.
Clearly, the Crikey team have pay TV and have forgotten that the majority of Australians do not.

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