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TEN: “No decision” on Before the Game’s future

Mick Molloy says Friday night's Grand Final edition of Before the Game will be the last, but the network says it hasn't made a decision.

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The future of TEN’s AFL panel show Before the Game is under a cloud today after panelist Mick Molloy told TripleM radio listeners that this Friday’s Grand Final edition would be the last.

TEN ends its AFL commitments on Saturday with the AFL Grand Final.

But today a TEN spokesperson told TV Tonight, “No decision has been made at this stage – we are concentrating on Grand Final Edition on Friday night.”

The show has been produced by Roving Enterprises since 2003 when it began as After the Game. Its light-hearted look at all things AFL has been very successful, with its current line-up of Dave Hughes, Ryan Fitzgerald, Samantha Lane, Andrew Maher and Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann.

The Age recently reported TEN would not be bringing back chat show One Week At A Time next year but that The Game Plan would stay.

Not having rights to AFL broadcasts would not necessarily mean the end for Before the Game, as Nine has demonstrated with The Footy Show but TEN is expected to shift gears on Saturdays next year with The Graham Norton Show.

On the other hand Seven has struggled to perfect a primetime AFL show -could Before The Game end up switching networks next year?

The Grand Final edition of Before the Game, potentially its last, will air at 8:30pm Friday night in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

More to come…

21 Responses

  3. Since it is a Roving Enterprises production Hughesy and Co. could probably still do it no matter what channel it was on. It was the same with Thank God You’re Here. It was a Working Dog production which is why they could have personalities from all networks on it and why it was hosted by Shane Bourne who was acting in City Homicide at the time despite it being shown initially on Ten. It all depends on contracts really. Hughesy may not have a contract with Ten for 7PM but rather one with Roving.

  4. Before the Game is the best footy show. Its also the favourites of most of the players.

    It wont work on 7 because Andy Maher and Hughesy wont go to 7. The rapport wont be the same if they have others. The footy show have 3 shows on to do with footy and they dont have the rights.

    It may seem a bit odd to have before the game on 10 then flick to 7 to watch a match but i’d do it. It would be a pity to lose it.

  5. I’d like to see seven pick up the show – but having to replace Hughesy and Andrew Maher (I assume?) at the same time could leave it feeling like a different show.

    I can’t see Ten wanting to keep it around next year – they seem very keen to get rid of most traces of AFL.

  6. Sorry to see my favorite footy show go. Don’t want to see it on Channel 7, they don’t have a good track record for this kind of show, plus they would probably change all the panelists.

  7. As i have said before the gutting continues at the Ten Network. Not surpised at this. YOu know when “a TEN spokesperson told TV Tonight, “No decision has been made at this stage” that usually means that the show will be axed, they did the same with all the other speculations about the potential axing of shows.

  8. Not bringing back One Week at a Time – geez, I hope that’s just a rumour. As an AFL supporter in NSW, that is the one program I watch each week as it gives pretty serious treatment to the issues of the week. Memo to Ch7 – if Ch10 don’t want it, pick it up and install Mick Malthouse in Wall’s position and work out the other roles.

  10. @ smiley_mick – totally agree. I think it’d be great on a Saturday night on Seven.

    Saturday afternoon game
    Seven News
    Before the Game
    Saturday night game

    Seven have never been able to pull off a good AFL show so maybe this is the answer. It’d be a shame to lose it altogether.

    Replace Andrew Maher with Hamish McLaughlin or Dennis Cometti and find another comedian to replace Hughesy and they’d be all set.

  11. But the constant time and day changes, and the slipping in of unnecessary repeats of modern family put me off all those shows and 10 aswell. The late news became a farce when they merged it with st. It basically became 4 minutes of news followed by a 10 minute infomercial for a car company . IMO 10 need to be more consistent with their programming. All the chopping and changing just alienates the viewers. 9 does the same thing, and both deserve the severe punishment the viewers are dishing out. Also have to say 10’s promo department overuses the line “you won’t believe your eyes” in their stupid over dramatic promos. Complete turn off.

  12. Pity was a great lead in to the footy. What the heck is going on at 10? 2011 has been a miserable year. It all went sour with the “news revolution”. Just like 9 it feels like the soul has been ripped out of the place. I suppose they have no one but themselves to blame. I was an avid fan of modern family, glee and tbyg

  13. any room at Ten for Before The Game on a thursday or friday night? probably wishful thinking. and yeah i agree that One Week At A Time is the best of One’s AFL shows.

  16. Seems sensible to have Before The Game move to Channel 7, to help transition from the afternoon match to the evening match. But then what of Hughesy and others who are a part of 10’s 7pm Project?

  17. Wow… if I had to pick a AFL show Ten should keep, it would be One Week at a Time.

    I’ll be happy if its moved over to Seven. Either way, One Week at a Time deserves to keep going.

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