The Olympics hold a more special place in the hearts and minds of Australian sports fans than pretty much anywhere else in the world. Sure, the Olympics are a big deal all over the world, but we tend to go that extra bit gooier every four years when the summer games roll along even if we have scant regard for the winter version.
It's with this in mind that football nation is looking to pick itself up off the canvass after Channel 7's sucker punch announcement that there won't be any live coverage of the Olyroos opening game at Beijing '08... despite it being played a day before the games officially begin.
Even when shown on delay they'll be cutting away to an AOC press conference announcing who'll be carrying the flag at the opening ceremony. Read that last sentence again, it isn't a typo.
The Argentina game sees the reigning gold medallists stacked full of the world's very best players up against Arnie's battlers. You know those mates in the office that don't mind football but will only watch it for big games… this is one of those ones. Can we see it on the Olympic broadcaster? Yes BUT they'll be switching to the swimming in the 75th minute… good luck if it's one-all. Pathetic.
What about the last pool game against the Ivory Coast? Yep, they've got it… only problem it's going to be fused with women's basketball throughout the 90 minutes.
Nobody screws soccer like… yep, we know, we know. This is the channel that strangled the life out of the game domestically throughout the late 90's and early years of this decade and it seems its thirst for football's blood isn't quenched just yet.
The Olympics are a big deal here, we get it. Seven say the nature of games coverage is switching and swapping. That works for short run stuff like swimming heats and athletics races - not for football games, or basketball games for that matter; another sport the network has ritually pack raped in Olympics past.
Channel 7 can't handle a whole Olympics on one channel, which is why they engaged SBS for 'spill' coverage, and they are showing a fair slice of football. So if Seven can't or won't fully cover the Olyroos, why aren't these Aussie games on the traditional football broadcaster? Seven is completely half-pregnant on this. Either Olyroos football rates and they want it on their network or it doesn't and it is dispensable. What they are running with is a disgraceful patch-work quilt.
The final insult is the choice of commentator. Seven have put up their Rugby man Gordon Bray. We can only assume this is because Kochie has the week off.
Bray once spoke of that network's poaching of Rugby from the ABC where he was once employed as akin to your wife leaving you. So he, more than most, might understand the king-hit his employer has landed on football fans across the country. For his sake I hope he does the job justice… for the little time that he gets to do it that is
We're all going to Jo'Berg!
Total Posts: 464 | Posted: 22/07/2008 11:43 AM
GGArmy_Admin
Moderator
This post has been DELETED:
Reason:
We're all going to Jo'Berg!
Total Posts: 464 | Posted: 22/07/2008 11:45 AM
Human Lunch Box
Moderator
well done van Aken...you're not such a flog after all.....
Total Posts: 814 | Posted: 22/07/2008 12:01 PM
Pablo B
Regular
I can only imagine why the previous post was deleted!
Maybe you'd better delete too what I really wanted to say about Channel 7!
Think we need to launch an email/letter/phone campaign against this TV station by insisting that all Olyroos games be covered in full (even if by SBS) and that a decent football commentator be employed when Seven do coverage - so let's all spread the word and bombard the Seeven switchboard, internet and mail room to get a fair result for coverage for the millions of football fans in Oz!
Also, well done Mark van Aken for a clever, well written and punchy article that is spot on!
EDIT: correction to my second spelling of "Seeven" (of course Seven) - I must have caught a NZ virus at Nth Sydney oval !
Total Posts: 1797 | Posted: 22/07/2008 12:07 PM
azza
Regular
Kerry Stokes will try to hunt us down no doubt
EDIT: and once again, Channel 7 is showing those 'Australian' values of 'fair go' as usual
THE ROBIN HOOD PERMANENT REMOVAL SERVICE "We steal from the rich and keep it for ourselves"
"Being a football fan is like buying a box of strawberries, sometimes almost every strawberry has this unbearable sourness with only one consisting of pleasant sweetness, for a football fan, that one moment we savour makes the years of tears and heartbreak a worthwhile experience"
Calle Dragones - Barrio Chino
Total Posts: 5111 | Posted: 22/07/2008 1:19 PM
CatD
Regular
Decided to provide some "feedback" to Ch7.. here's their contact details: _________________________ Hello,
Thanks for contacting Yahoo! AUNZ Customer Care!
This automated response has been sent as it appears you are wishing to contact our Team at Channel7. Although we work very closely together, Channel 7 are the experts in resolving all your television program queries/complaints. We can, however answer any Yahoo!7 online questions you may have.
At this stage, Channel 7 do not accept complaints, feedback, or answer any questions via email support, however you can contact Channel 7 through the following methods:
Phone: 02 8777 7777
Postal Address: Channel Seven PO Box 777 PYRMONT NSW 2009
Alternatively if you have a question there may be someone out there that may be able to answer you. Try logging onto Yahoo!7 Answers: http://au.answers.yahoo.com
Yahoo!7 Message Boards is a great way to express and have your opinion heard. Search several topics other users are discussing: http://au.messages.yahoo.com/
If your query is in relation to any Yahoo!7 online properties please reply to this email and a Yahoo!7 Customer Care representative will respond accordingly.
We are sending out a media release shortly, which will be published here.
We are also looking at getting a large group together to stand out the front of Channel Seven/Sunrise on Friday morning.
So start spreading the news!
We're all going to Jo'Berg!
Total Posts: 464 | Posted: 22/07/2008 2:06 PM
Daims
Regular
Quote from GGArmy_Admin: We are sending out a media release shortly, which will be published here.
We are also looking at getting a large group together to stand out the front of Channel Seven/Sunrise on Friday morning.
So start spreading the news!
Nice Work!!
DUC Founded: Green Mango Koh Samui
Total Posts: 1675 | Posted: 22/07/2008 3:18 PM
GGArmy_Admin
Moderator
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.
We're all going to Jo'Berg!
Total Posts: 464 | Posted: 22/07/2008 3:56 PM
woodstock
Regular
Hey
**** channel 7
Total Posts: 1299 | Posted: 22/07/2008 4:36 PM
Jace
Regular
Just imagine what we could achieve if the GGarmy put as much effort into getting the Socceroos games back on Free to Air where they rightly belong.
Seven has no excuse in not broadcasting the games - they have a second HD digital channel which they could broadcast the games on.
Why are they doing this - simple - they want to protect the sport that they paid so much for the rights for - AFL.
Champagne will be popping down at AFL headquarters!
Total Posts: 547 | Posted: 22/07/2008 4:54 PM
Kat|
Regular
following on from CatD's post, below are some details I found... dont we love Google?
Mail: Sunrise Channel 7 PO Box 777 Pyrmont NSW 2009
Fax: +61 (02) 8777 7757
Telephone: +61 (02) 8777 7777
SMS: 19 77 4321 (Charged at 55c per message)
Story ideas: All story ideas should go to the following email address only. This mailbox is checked three times a day. sunrisestory@seven.com.au
Complaints cannot be accepted via email, click here for further information on how to make a formal complaint.
"The harder you work, the luckier you get"
Total Posts: 1917 | Posted: 22/07/2008 5:03 PM
woodstock
Regular
Quote from Jace: Just imagine what we could achieve if the GGarmy put as much effort into getting the Socceroos games back on Free to Air where they rightly belong.
Seven has no excuse in not broadcasting the games - they have a second HD digital channel which they could broadcast the games on.
Why are they doing this - simple - they want to protect the sport that they paid so much for the rights for - AFL.
Champagne will be popping down at AFL headquarters!
Agree with you mate!
But i just have something to say to channel 7. You may have won the battle, but you will never win the war!
AFL will never give Australia international recognition like what football will! Shame on all these people at channel 7!
Total Posts: 1299 | Posted: 22/07/2008 5:05 PM
Muz
Moderator
Nobody screws football like 7!
GGARMY: BEYOND THE NORMAL
Antifa Hooligans
Total Posts: 16608 | Posted: 22/07/2008 5:14 PM
woodstock
Regular
Quote from Muz: Nobody screws football like 7!
And channel 9
That is why we should call upon all sydney and melbourne fans to please not get into any fights and let these idiots at 7 and 9 to make a meal out of it!
