Channel 9 to ramp up Footy Show discussions
CHANNEL 9 will definitely have an AFL-based show to go head-to-head with The Front Bar. But it’s not clear what it will be called or which stars will be involved. So where does that leave The Footy Show?
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CHANNEL 9 CEO Hugh Marks says that working out what to do about The Footy Show in 2019 will be the focus of intense discussions over the next month.
Marks has confirmed that Nine will definitely have an AFL-based show in the 8.30pm Thursday timeslot next year.
But Marks says there is still no firm decision as to the show’s format, what it will be called or who it will include.
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“It (what to do about The Footy Show in 2019) is high up on the list of priorities,” Marks said.
“Finding the right solution, whether it be the AFL Footy Show, a variant thereof or something else is a real point of focus.”
Mystery grew over the fate of The Footy Show when Eddie McGuire and Sam Newman were absent from Nine’s upfront presentation in Sydney last week.
A Nine sport-focused media release included The Footy Show but didn’t mention any on-air talent.
That suggested that McGuire, Newman, Brendan Fevola, Shane Crawford and Billy Brownless were no certainties to be part of the line-up.
Once certainty though is that reporter Damian Barrett will not be back with the program should it return in 2019.
He exits The Footy Show after a decade but is expected be involved with other Nine footy related shows.
Nine’s move to axe The NRL Footy Show after 25 years also seemed a bad omen but Marks insists that has no bearing.
“(Ending) the NRL Footy Show was a slightly easier decision because we went rugby league coverage into The NRL Footy Show which pushed it out until 9.45pm and it just started to be a lot of money spent late at night,” Marks said.
“The Melbourne Footy Show is a different equation. Our commitment to Melbourne, our commitment to (AFL) football — we have to maintain that focus.
“There are constant discussions and that will be pretty active over the course of the next month. There is certainly a real commitment to AFL and a footy show next year.”
It is believed that McGuire’s JAM TV is contracted to make whatever the football show is that will screen on Nine next year.
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