Media Buzz: Why Matty Johns throws himself into media work

Lucky Matty Johns isn’t one for down time — the face of Fox Sports has a hectic schedule coming up for 2023. Plus check out all the latest sports media chatter from Phil Rothfield.

Matty Johns throws himself into his media work. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Matty Johns likes to keep busy.

He doesn’t play golf, fish or have any hobbies and it’s why the face of Fox Sports throws himself into his media work.

This year he will take on two live TV shows, three podcasts, a radio show on SEN and a column for The Daily Telegraph every Friday.

“In the off-season when I’m not doing anything I find myself down at the local having a beer all the time,” he said.

Matty Johns throws himself into his media work. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“I don’t play golf like a lot of the fellas and Trish keeps saying ‘you’ve got to get a pastime.’

“I said what … flying kites?, collecting stamps?”

Even jobs around the house are generally left to Trish.

“We had a broken flyscreen the other day,” Matty said, “I held it while Trish hammered the nails in.”

“So in the footy season I love my work and keeping busy.”

No other sporting media star has a schedule as busy as Johns. His Fox Sports shows will continue Thursday and Sunday nights.

Matty Johns pictured at home with wife Trish. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It’s the same crew with Gordie Tallis, Fletch and Hindy.

He has three podcasts – one at Fox with Cooper Cronk and two at News Corp – his family chat with Trish and sons Cooper and Jack plus a new one called the Good Chat.

It’s a series of offbeat interviews with some of Australia’s most fascinating characters – like Kyle Sandilands, sports broadcast guru David Hill, rock promoter Michael Chugg, Stan Grant, Wendy Harmer, Matt Nable and many more.

SUPER BOWL’S EXTRAORDINARY NUMBERS

Almost 115 million viewers tuned into the Super Bowl across America on Fox on Monday.

In a population of 334 million it equates to more than one in three Americans watching the game.

The NFL got more viewers in one day than the entire NBA finals over six games.

It is an extraordinary number when compared to State of Origin in Australia, traditionally our highest rating television sporting event.

The final Origin game last year rated 2.6 million on Channel 9 in a population of 26 million.

That equates to just one in 10 Australians watching the Blues v Maroons.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes off on a run against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Picture: Getty Images

UFC’S HUGE RATINGS REVEALED

Subscription TV purchases for boxing and UFC are always kept a closely guarded secret.

We can however reveal that last weekend’s big fight in Perth, Alexander Volkanovski against Islam Makhachev on Main Event, was the highest ever figure for a UFC fight in this country. The numbers weren’t in the same league as boxing blockbusters like Mundine v Green, Horn v Pacquiao or Mayweather v McGregor but up there with Tim Tszyu’s big events.

FOX NABS EEL IN COMMENTARY COUP

Parramatta NRLW star Tiana Penitani has joined Fox Sports. The network will cover all NRLW games in the 10-team comp over nine rounds before the finals. The impressive Penitani, the Eels’ captain and marquee player, will be part of the match-day coverage for non-Parramatta matches throughout the season.

TV presenter Emma Lawrence.

MEDIA PROFILE: EMMA LAWRENCE, 32 (Channel 9, Triple M)

First job? OverBoard Surf Shop in Macarthur Square and as a maths and English tutor.

Sporting Heroes? I’ve always looked up to my brother Chris who played for the Wests Tigers and as a netball lover growing up, I was always a fan of Cath Cox.

What league team do you follow? It’s hard to go past the Tigers but I’ll always have a place in my heart for Souths. My great grandfather Vic Lawrence played for the Bunnies in the 1920s, along with his brother Jack.

What sports did you play? Netball was my life growing up. Unfortunately that led to two hip reconstructions, so I had to learn how to report on sport instead of playing it.

How do you spend a day off?: No days off during footy season but if I get a spare moment, I love a cheeky wine and spending time with family especially nieces Emmerson and Ella.

Career highlights? The 2022 Rugby League World Cup. Another favourite moment from the early days is interviewing Robbie Farah perched on the Leichhardt Oval scoreboard. To this day, he still insists he made my career!