Nine playing hardball with its Thursday night Footy Show fixture
IT might be getting smashed in the ratings but don’t write The Footy Show off just yet. The stars might be out of contract, but insiders at Nine say they’re not going to concede to rival The Front Bar.
Fiona Byrne
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THE future of the troubled Footy Show remains very much up in the air with Channel 9 executives understood to be considering up to eight different options for its prime-time footy entertainment offering in 2019.
Insiders say Nine will have a football focused show produced out of Melbourne next year for the 8.30pm Thursday timeslot, and will not simply move aside and allow 7’s Front Bar to drink up the available audience unchallenged.
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Eddie McGuire’s production company, JAM TV, is expected to remain at the helm, but it is understood Nine will have strong influence and input into the structure, look, feel and line-up of the show.
At this stage key Footy Show cast Sam Newman, Billy Brownless and Shane Crawford are out of contract at the end of the year.
When asked about his Footy Show future Newman said: “I read on Twitter that I had quit The Footy Show. I would never quit The Footy Show. Maybe they will quit me, but I would never quit The Footy Show.
“I like being on live television, I haven’t been on any other television for the last quarter of a century. I have always enjoyed the spontaneity, the irreverence and the informality of The Footy Show. ”
Brendan Fevola still has a year to run on his current two year deal. The status of Chris Judd and Dane Swan’s contracts are unclear, however Swan appears to be doing OK, appearing on a Footybox clip on last week’s show enjoying a bottle of 2012 Penfolds Grange.
It is understood discussion is still taking place over whether the name of the show will be carried into next year’s offering or whether the fresh product needs a totally new name.
While speculation has centred on the future of the Thursday night Footy Show, no such concern surrounds the Sunday Footy Show and Footy Classified. They are expected to continue with minimal line up changes.
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