Channel 7 coverage of the Olyroos

[Juventino]

Seven Snub For Olyroos Beijing Campaign

EXCLUSIVE: Channel Seven has released details of its Olyroo coverage at the Beijing Olympics - and it's likely to frustrate football fans.

The free-to-air network won't show live coverage of the first Olyroo group game against Serbia on Thursday August 7.

Instead, the match will be on a two-hour delay so as not to interrupt the network's regular coverage, a spokesperson told au.fourfourtwo.com today.

This despite the game being played the day before the Games' opening ceremony.

Seven also confirmed that the Olyroo v Serbia game will be interrupted "at some point" to cross to the AOC team reception for the flag bearer announcement.

The network hoped this would be during half-time but could not guarantee the time or duration of the cross.

Given this announcement isn't actually a sport, this won't go down well with viewing fans, particularly if the match is at a crucial point.

What's more, according to the network's coverage details, the crunch match for the Olyroos against Argentina on Sunday August 10 will begin at 7pm, however, by 8.30pm - that is with around 15 minutes to go of the crunch match - the coverage is set to switch to swimming.

For the Olyroos' final group match against Ivory Coast on Wednesday August 13, the game's coverage will be shared with women's basketball.

The spokesperson added: "The nature of any Olympics is such that no way is it possible to be able to show uninterrupted coverage of all events."

Seven's football commentator for the Olympics will be Gordon Bray, known as the voice of Rugby Union for the network.

And the network stressed in its coverage details that "Seven will be integrating key AFL coverage within the Olympic broadcasts."

What a joke.

[pires7]

why bother watching anyway I can't stand delayed sport i'll just stream it on the net hopefully.

Channel 7 really, really, really suck ass, give it to SBS please

[Missing Post Count]

I thought they were going to give it to sbs.

[Juventino]

Channel 7 has the Olyroos while SBS have the other countries.

[pires7]

lucky us

[Juventino]

I can't wait to see who will be holding the flag!

Surely that can be delayed on channel 7 for 20 minutes or so?

[pires7]

times like these that further back the support for Fox to have games of the national team, atleast people could go to a pub or friends place ect. to see Australia live. We would holb back an election if steve waugh was in the 90's nearing the end of the days play

[Missing Post Count]

Channel 7 has the Olyroos while SBS have the other countries.

I read it in the World Football Forum after I posted in this thread. If channel 7 is going to keep it they should have the courtesy to show it in full. They show different programs on their HD channel so there's no reason why they can't do that with the football.

[Russia2O18]

theres only 2 things i'm interested in at the Olympics, the Football and the Basketball.

problem is Channel 7 will screw up the coverage so badly i wont even enjoy those 2 things.

the olympics are an over hyped excuse for the TV networks to make you watch about at least 3 times as many commercials as you normally would.

[Missing Post Count]

theres only 2 things i'm interested in at the Olympics, the Football and the Basketball.

problem is Channel 7 will screw up the coverage so badly i wont even enjoy those 2 things.

the olympics are an over hyped excuse for the TV networks to make you watch about at least 3 times as many commercials as you normally would.

Never got into the olympics because coverage (and that's not just in thsi country) was you had to watch three hours of bullshít to find five minutes of something you might be interested in.

[ford prefect]

GG Army protest to CH7...

MEDIA RELEASE

FOOTBALL FANS OUTRAGED AS SEVEN TURNS THE SCREWS ON THE OLYROOS

The Green and Gold Army, Australia’s international football supporter’s network has been left dumbfounded by the Seven network’s announcement of a patch-work quilt coverage of Australia’s football (soccer) matches at the Beijing Games.

“From information received by the network itself, coverage of the Olyroos opening game against Serbia will be delayed and interrupted by an AOC announcement, which is disappointing to say the least,” says spokesman John McGuaren.

The news gets worse for fans for the all-important second game against reigning gold medallists Argentina who are bringing a full strength team to China.

“We anticipate it to be the country’s biggest competition game since the World Cup in Germany and Seven have said that they’re cutting away in the last 15 minutes to cover another event - it’s just a kick in the guts for fans,” explains McGauren.

News has spread fast amongst the‘football nation’ about the networks latest sortie against the game.

“There was a cheeky campaign running about a decade ago where Seven was refusing to cover the world game, despite having rights to do so. A bumper sticker campaign carried the message ‘Nobody screws soccer like Seven’, I reckon a few of the old relics might pop out of the archives over the next fortnight,” says McGauren.

“The Socceroos and the A-League have shown that there is a significant television market for the game in this country. Ratings for the new national league have been beyond the wildest dreams of Fox Sports, which makes this affront from Seven particularly puzzling.”

The Green and Gold Army, which boasts a membership of more 11,000 in more than 60 countries, will be working with the wider football community to affect a change in policy by the official Olympic network.

“One of two things should happen from their perspective,” explains McGauren.

“Either commit to covering the games in their entirety or switch them over to SBS, as has been done with other events at the games, including football.”

The ‘Army’s’ campaign to sway Seven’s view will unfold over the coming days.


Ch7 threaten legal action....

Legal Threat Claim Over Olyroos Outrage

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/80926,le ... aspx?r=rss
Aidan Ormond
Jul 22 2008 22:11

EXCLUSIVE: Beijing broadcaster Channel 7 has threatened legal action against Socceroo supporter group The Green And Gold Army as fans fume over the network's proposed Olyroo coverage at the Olympics.
Following yesterday's story outlining Channel 7's proposed broadcasting schedule, many Aussie football fans have expressed their anger on numerous forums and blogs.

The public storm led Socceroo supporter group The Green And Gold Army to issue a press release today claiming Seven had "turned the screws on the Olyroos".

According to sources close to the fan group, a Seven employee contacted them within five minutes of the release being sent out to claim inaccuracies in it and threaten legal action against them.

SBS: Our Hands Are Tied
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/80927,sb ... -tied.aspx
Aidan Ormond
Jul 22 2008 22:50

EXCLUSIVE: SBS TV will have extensive coverage of the Olympic football tournament - including Brazil, Italy and Holland games - but are locked out of covering the Olyroos due to Channel Seven's broadcast deal.
An SBS spokesperson told au.fourfourtwo.com today that although Olympic TV schedules can change "...at this stage, Channel Seven have the Olyroos and we have the rest of football."



Protest organised outside CH7 sunrise on Friday...

http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=183 ... f21b8e00cc

[ozzie owl]

Seven Snub For Olyroos Beijing Campaign

EXCLUSIVE: Channel Seven has released details of its Olyroo coverage at the Beijing Olympics - and it's likely to frustrate football fans.

The free-to-air network won't show live coverage of the first Olyroo group game against Serbia on Thursday August 7.

Instead, the match will be on a two-hour delay so as not to interrupt the network's regular coverage, a spokesperson told au.fourfourtwo.com today.

This despite the game being played the day before the Games' opening ceremony.

Seven also confirmed that the Olyroo v Serbia game will be interrupted "at some point" to cross to the AOC team reception for the flag bearer announcement.

The network hoped this would be during half-time but could not guarantee the time or duration of the cross.

Given this announcement isn't actually a sport, this won't go down well with viewing fans, particularly if the match is at a crucial point.

What's more, according to the network's coverage details, the crunch match for the Olyroos against Argentina on Sunday August 10 will begin at 7pm, however, by 8.30pm - that is with around 15 minutes to go of the crunch match - the coverage is set to switch to swimming.

For the Olyroos' final group match against Ivory Coast on Wednesday August 13, the game's coverage will be shared with women's basketball.

The spokesperson added: "The nature of any Olympics is such that no way is it possible to be able to show uninterrupted coverage of all events."

Seven's football commentator for the Olympics will be Gordon Bray, known as the voice of Rugby Union for the network.

And the network stressed in its coverage details that "Seven will be integrating key AFL coverage within the Olympic broadcasts."

What a joke.

On 5AA and 5RPH "Con from Athelstone" continually whinges about the lack of free to air coverage of Aussie team. Kept saying watch he ratigs when seven covers the olyroos. Well guess what Con, once again free to air screws the world game. The olyroos opening game will be shown delayed but can't gurantee the remaining games won't be cut into for other sports. Well you got your wish , not as nice as you first thought.

[Napoli]

Sign the petition.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/olyroos/

[ADEL.GOONERS]

miss the last 15 mins of the argie game what a joke,these people must be

[LFTWNG11]

seriously the biggest crock of shit channel seven has served up... and you know who is responsible, the scum bags that run the AFL. Just like with the old NSL, the AFL use channel 7 to screw over the world game. I hope channel 7 burns to the fucking ground... cunts. if you havent got time to show it cos of important accouncements about a fucking flag bearer, then pass it onto SBS/Foxtel and see what rates more you fucking cunts... i guarentee no one cares about a flag bearer...

[ozzie owl]

That is why we don't want commercial free to air tv getting their grubby hands on the beautiful game!!!

[Russia2O18]

i remember about 9 or 10 years ago when they opened the new Olympic stadium in Sydney, an exhibition match was played between the Socceroos and a world all star team.

Channel 7 televised the match live. Only thing was they decided to go to an ad-break when a throw-in was taken (several times throughout the telecast actually).

When we had returned from that ad-break, a goal had been scored.

excellent work channel 7.

[ford prefect]

7's response to 442

We are disappointed to read a number of claims on a football fan website about our plans for coverage of the football competition in the Olympic Games.
Seven – along with SBS – will be producing more than 500 hours of coverage of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Yahoo!7 will be broadcasting significant highlights packages online and Seven’s broadcast of the Olympic Games will be delivered to mobile phones through Telstra 3G.
This is the most expansive broadcast platform ever undertaken for an Olympic Games in Australia.
The Olyroos are an iconic Australian team. And like all Australians competing at the Games, we will be following their progress. Contrary to a number of claims on http://www.au.fourfourtwo.com and in a press release from the Green and Gold Army, Seven is covering complete the Olyroos opening match against Serbia on 7 August.
We are planning to cover live the announcement of the Australian who will carry the Australian flag and lead Australia’s athletes into the Olympic Stadium. The live news nature of this announcement means we are timeshifting the Australia-Serbia match to allow us to cover both this important soccer match uninterrupted and also the live announcement of the Australian who will carry the flag. At this point, the exact timing of that announcement is to be confirmed by the Australian Olympic Committee.
We are also working closely with SBS to ensure that coverage of the football competition – and Australia’s campaign in that competition – is the biggest coverage ever undertaken of a football competition at any Olympic Games.
We admire the passion of football fans. It’s what makes this such a great sport. The disappointing aspect of the past 24 hours has been some of the inaccuracies in some statements which have misled many fans. Seven and SBS are committed to ensuring all Australian athletes are honoured and their endeavours at these Games are broadcast to as many Australians as possible.

[ford prefect]

A Statement From FourFourTwo

In light of the recently distributed statement issued by Channel 7, FourFourTwo feel it is necessary to clarify our position and respond to claims of inaccuracies in our reporting.

FourFourTwo have made repeated efforts to gain clarification from representatives of the Seven Network as to what the “inaccuracies” in our reporting of its proposed coverage of the Australian Men’s Football Team at the Beijing Olympics are.

They have been unwilling or unable to do so.

As one of the most respected football magazines in the world, it is not in our interests to mislead football fans as alleged by the Channel 7 statement. Our only objective is to fight for a fair go for Australian football and its supporters at all levels.

Given Channel 7’s much publicised treatment of football in the past, we believe Australian football fans are entitled to a clarification as to the nature of Channel 7’s Olympic football coverage and we stand by the accuracy of our reporting of this matter.

The Olympic football tournament is a fantastic opportunity for young Australian football players to test themselves against some of the best young players in the world in the most popular sport on the planet. As such it deserves parity of coverage with all major events at the games which, to a football fan, involves seeing all 90 minutes of the game uninterrupted.

We, along with every Australian football fan, look forward to being able to support the Olyroos in Beijing in this manner.

[Missing Post Count]

The live news nature of this announcement means we are timeshifting the Australia-Serbia match to allow us to cover both this important soccer match uninterrupted and also the live announcement of the Australian who will carry the flag. At this point, the exact timing of that announcement is to be confirmed by the Australian Olympic Committee.
We are also working closely with SBS to ensure that coverage of the football competition – and Australia’s campaign in that competition – is the biggest coverage ever undertaken of a football competition at any Olympic Games.
We admire the passion of football fans. It’s what makes this such a great sport. The disappointing aspect of the past 24 hours has been some of the inaccuracies in some statements which have misled many fans. Seven and SBS are committed to ensuring all Australian athletes are honoured and their endeavours at these Games are broadcast to as many Australians as possible.

So it's not live then

[ford prefect]

7 are holding over "this important soccer match" till after the announcement that James Tompkins will carry the flag which is at 9pm.
Thanks but i'd rather have the match live and on prime time.

btw 7 moved its sunrise program upstairs to the second level this morning to stifle the planned protest outside it's windows by football supporters. one word - gutless.

[ozzie owl]

The live news nature of this announcement means we are timeshifting the Australia-Serbia match to allow us to cover both this important soccer match uninterrupted and also the live announcement of the Australian who will carry the flag. At this point, the exact timing of that announcement is to be confirmed by the Australian Olympic Committee.
We are also working closely with SBS to ensure that coverage of the football competition – and Australia’s campaign in that competition – is the biggest coverage ever undertaken of a football competition at any Olympic Games.
We admire the passion of football fans. It’s what makes this such a great sport. The disappointing aspect of the past 24 hours has been some of the inaccuracies in some statements which have misled many fans. Seven and SBS are committed to ensuring all Australian athletes are honoured and their endeavours at these Games are broadcast to as many Australians as possible.

So it's not live then

Yep.

What do you expect from Channel Seven.

[ozzie owl]

FFA take heed, never sell rights on football to the commercial big three, cus they will fuck it up.

[Juventino]

If only SBS had the $$$$$

[ozzie owl]

If only SBS had the $$$$$

I agree, but sadly they don't have enough.

[pires7]

With all the fucking adds they should have money now. Another disaster left behind!

[ford prefect]

Aloisi Urges Better TV Plan
Aiden Ormond
Jul 24 2008 16:38
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/81074,al ... -plan.aspx

EXCLUSIVE: Former Olyroo Ross Aloisi knows what it's like to watch coverage of the Olympic football tournament then have it cut away to something else at a vital time.

"Just recently, I watched the 1996 Olyroos match against Spain, a game I played in," Aloisi told au.fourfourtwo.com from his base in Adelaide.

"We were up to 2-1 in the game and the coverage crossed to another sport Then when it came back there was Bruce McAvaney saying it was 2-2 or 2-3."

The match against the Spaniards was one of the most nail-biting of the group stages in Atlanta. Brilliant Spain defeated Eddie Thomson's Olyroos 3-2 in a stunning comeback win.

What's more, against Saudi Arabia also in the group stages, Olyroo striker Mark Viduka's back-heeled effort was is generally agreed to be one of the greatest ever national team goals.

Aloisi says while broadcasting the Olympics is tricky, Seven needs to realise the importance of the Olyroos as a TV product.

"No, it's not right," he said of the network's plans to potentially cut to the swimming in the final 15 minutes of the Argentina group match. "There needs to be some respect."

Aloisi, a former Socceroo who retired from competitive football this year after an extensive career in Europe and in the A-League with Adelaide and Phoenix, suggested Seven make better use of its digital channels to show the Olyroos live and uninterrupted.

"That could be something looked at," he said. "I know how difficult it is to cover all events uninterrupted."

However, all is not lost. SBS TV will have extensive coverage of the Olympic football tournament - including Brazil, Italy and Holland games - but are locked out of covering the Olyroos due to Seven's broadcast deal.

An SBS spokesperson told au.fourfourtwo.com that although Olympic TV schedules can change "...at this stage, Channel Seven have the Olyroos and we have the rest."

SBS has a "complementary" broadcast deal for the Olympics next month.

"I shouldn't say this but maybe it's a way for them to keep football under control," added Aloisi of the furore.

[Piola]

seriously the biggest crock of cabernet channel seven has served up... and you know who is responsible, the scum bags that run the AFL. Just like with the old NSL, the AFL use channel 7 to screw over the world game. I hope channel 7 burns to the bottle of shiraz ground... champagne. if you havent got time to show it cos of important accouncements about a bottle of shiraz flag bearer, then pass it onto SBS/Foxtel and see what rates more you bottle of shiraz champagne... i guarentee no one cares about a flag bearer...

i agree with you

but trust me, this country we live in is so f*cked in the head when it comes to sports, that yes the same people who think swimming is the greatest "sport" on earth, would also like to see what this flag bearer crap is.

well I dont give a f*ck, I want to see Aleksandar Kolarov and Argentina play football!!!

channel 7 has always been the worst, of all commercial TV stations.

[Missing Post Count]

if you havent got time to show it cos of important accouncements about a bottle of shiraz flag bearer, then pass it onto SBS/Foxtel and see what rates more you bottle of shiraz champagne... i guarentee no one cares about a flag bearer...

Must have missed it the first time round, but spot on!

[ozzie owl]

Want to see our next generation take on the world.

Go Aussies show the dickheads at Seven, what you can achieve.