Axed: Marngrook Footy Show
Indigenous AFL show is ending after 12 years on NITV / SBS but Grant Hansen is hopeful of another home.
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Long-running Indigenous AFL show the Marngrook Footy Show has been axed by NITV.
The show has enjoyed 12 years on SBS and NITV, and previously ABC2 and C31. It first aired in 1997 as a radio show and received two Logie nominations as Best Sports show.
The weekly footy panel show, led by Grant Hansen, Gilbert McAdam, Leila Gurruwiwi & Shelley Ware will not be returning when the 2020 AFL season begins in March.
Founder and producer Grant Hansen wrote on Facebook, “It’s true that NITV – SBS has decided after 10 successful years and there (sic) most popular show not to continue with the Marngrook Footy Show.
“We are hopeful of continuing on another network. We thank all our fans and supporters for your support to the program over 12 years.”
He also told News Corp “I can’t understand their reasoning, it was the most popular show on the network and brought people to NITV.
“People are just stunned. They were lining up to be on it, musicians used to call us to get on the show, players and their managers would want to come on.
“It’s a really crazy decision. Hopefully someone will come to their senses at SBS.”
Hansen said he had already fielded some interest from mainstream networks.
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14 Responses
Amateur content.
Has there been an official word from NITV/SBS on why the show was axed? Seems like a crazy decision considering it’s ratings, quality, and their charter.
Looking into it.
A very odd decision. I hope there can be a resolving of whatever reasons had caused the axing for reinstatement. Marngrook Footy Show has been one of the highest rating shows on NITV, attracting and bringing together audiences beyond Indigenous Australia.
The show and regular cast had been very professional. It had surpassed some of the other Australian Rules Football shows in quality, such as The AFL Footy Show and was unaffected with controversy that had plagued The AFL Footy Show in the past on Nine.
I had read that the program might have been cancelled due to budgeting issues. There had been an article in the past which mentioned the high costs of paying high-profile guests from the football community. I don’t think they would have taken the cancellation lightly.
I have sent formal correspondence to the communications minister suggesting the consideration of funding for Marngrook Footy Show, from either SBS or the government. This is due to the pivotal role the show has in the community for sporting.
Hopefully ABC pick this up, or they do an online sort of thing. Didn’t mind occasionally tuning into this when nothing else interested me.
Irony is, they went to SBS/NITV because the ABC dropped the program, where it originally started, in the first place.
Anyway, here’s hoping that the ABC brings it back to where it started.
This is disappointing news, it’s an excellent program that consistently brought eyeballs to NITV. I know, over the years, I’ve tuned into many good programs on the network that I wouldn’t have been exposed to if I hadn’t have been watching Marngrook. I hope they can find a new home, and one that is just as freely accessible.
I hope one of the main channels take this up, it’s hugely popular and would do well on FTA.
I find it odd that they decided to axe this too. It’s NITV’s most popular show after all.
I hope it’s picked up somewhere in 2020.
Maybe Nine can pick it up now that they don’t have The Footy Show?
let’s hope nine leave it alone lol.
I think it would rate really well on nine, footy enthusiasts love it and comedians would love going on it also, it would challenge The Front Bar.I really need to be in charge of programming!