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No HD for AFL Grand Final

Update: TEN advises it can't air the AFL Grand Final on ONE due to a scheduling clash with the Moto GP.

AFL fans may be in for a rude shock with confirmation that this year’s Grand Final will not be screened in High Definition.

A TEN spokesperson has confirmed to TV Tonight the network will only screen the live game on its primary channel.

In glorious Standard Definition of course.

While ONE is an HD channel, it won’t be used for the match on Saturday October 1st.

Last year Seven broadcast the game on both Seven and 7mate, as part of a launch for their new HD channel. It was lucky enough to land a tied match and get the bumper audience back a week later. It even broadcast the game in 3D for those with 3D televisions.

After 10 years TEN is walking away from its AFL deal at the end of the season, which may have influenced its decision not to reward fans with the HD broadcast.

TV Tonight readers have consistently urged networks to play sports live and in HD.

10.00am: Grand Final Day at the MCG
2.30pm: AFL Grand Final Day – pre-match entertainment
2.30pm: AFL Grand Final (teams TBC)
5.30pm: AFL Grand Final Presentations

UPDATE: TEN responds:

The inference that Network Ten is “walking away” from its AFL deal is incorrect. Network Ten has fulfilled all broadcast obligations of the AFL over the last ten years and has implemented a number of inaugural groundbreaking production values, including goal post cameras, coaches box cameras and changing room cameras. It is also incorrect to suggest that the reason we are not broadcasting the AFL Grand Final in HD is in some way connected to our decision not to pursue AFL broadcast rights in 2012 and beyond

The AFL Grand Final is on the Government’s anti-syphoning list and therefore must air on the primary channel (TEN) first. While we have previously simulcast the AFL Grand Final on both TEN and ONE, this year, due to the timing of the Grand Final, we find ourselves with a schedule conflict. Network Ten is contractually required to broadcast live the qualifying round of the Moto GP (Japan) on ONE on Saturday, October 1 at 2.55pm. Our decision to air the AFL on TEN and the Moto GP on ONE fulfils our obligations to both sporting codes. On 1 October, Network Ten will provide sport fans with two viewing alternatives – the 2011 AFL Grand Final and Moto GP (Japan).

TEN is committed to delivering the highest quality production on the day. On air from 10am, the 2011 AFL Grand Final coverage will include all of TEN’s commentary team and will boast more cameras than ever before and an outside studio.

70 Responses

  1. What is stopping them putting the Moto GP on Eleven for the overlap and then back to ONE once the footy finishes, ala Wibledon on Seven TWO & Seven?

    No excuses for not broadcasting the grand final in HD.

  2. “Network Ten has fulfilled all broadcast obligations of the AFL over the last ten years” so that gives them the right to throw the toys out the pram the second they lose the rights? I shudder to think what GF day could turn out to be at this rate, Welcome to your blurry SD broadcast of the grand final, Don’t like it? Tough. Now down to the boundary line with the game already in progress with our special boundary rider team for the day, The cast of the Renovators!!! I’m stoked.

  3. I would also like to thank One for trying to do HD in the past….. but there is no excuse for this. Put the MotoGP on 11, HD Grand Final on One and the blurry SD version of the Grand Final on 10. It’s not that hard. Show us you still have some production values left. Oh, and since the next rights deal was announced, you have been sooking by pulling games from One and broadcasting SD blurryvision.
    Can’t wait for all games on Foxtel next year – Freeview has lost the plot and doesn’t deserve any sporting rights.

  4. Dont know enough about the technical reason but Reinhardt (rich), Packer (rich and with conflicting media interests) and Murdoch (rich and very conflicted via Foxtel) have good reasons for not doing it

    Also dont they have Eleven as well?

  5. Great no HD and if it’s a close game we have to pretend it’s the 1970’s and put up with that infuriating 5 minute warning! I certainly won’t miss that next year!

    Looking forward to Foxtels 2012 coverage in HD and without a 5 minute warning.

  6. I would like to thank the previous management at TEN for offering its viewers at the time… AFL in HD. Seven have never offered it properly. Ten did for a few years. To watch our great game in HD was a big step forward. The detail in the wide shots and the faces of the players was like we have never seen before….and sadly will not see again on FTA TV. Amazing to think….we can go and buy a domestic video camera or even a digital stills camera and watch our own home videos in HD……but not a multi-million dollar sport like AFL…..unless you want to pay $100 per month for Foxtel.
    Again TEN (previous management) – Thanks for the memories!

  7. The real question is will the 2012 Grand Final be in HD? Channel 7 have shown no interest in broadcasting AFL in High Definition next year, and Fox Sports can only rebroadcast the footage they are supplied with.

    The reality is that Fox Sports will only broadcast a few genuine HD games each week next year. The rest will be unscaled SD broadcasts on the HD channel.

    Under the terms of the deal next year it’s highly likely that all finals matches will not be broadcast in true HD, despite the advertising campaign currently being conducted by Foxtel.

  8. Fair enough, it’s due to the MotoGP qualifying being on at the same time, but I for one would not have minded if the MotoGP was shifted to 11 just for that. It is only qualifying after all.
    But is sad to see major sporting events lose their HD broadcasting though, 3 years ago it was awesome, HD cricket, HD AFL, HD NRL, now we don’t get any of that in HD on Free-To-Air TV anymore 🙁
    The only sports that seem to be in HD now are MotoGP and Formula 1.

  9. Farhan, When you’ve watched an AFL game in HD, you can’t believe how out of focus SD appears. In HD, the numbers and faces are crystal clear, whilst in SD they are out of focus particularly if the players are running.

    TEN, your petulant behaviour towards AFL since you pulled out of bidding for the rights has been embarassing. I imagine you will be showing some boring doco you paid $1.50 for on ONE whilst a foggy AFL GF is on the primary channel. I bet the commentators can’t wait ti get out of there because you are demeaning their work.

  10. It’s very disappointing that this year’s Grand Final won’t shown in HD. Ten must be in such a bad financial position that it will not rent the necessary equipment for a HD broadcast.

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