Early ratings winner emerges in footy’s free-to-air TV war

Two weeks into the free-to-air footy show battle and a ratings winner has emerged, but it’s far from panic stations for the runner up.

Channel 7’s poaching raid on Footy Classified has formed the backbone of its new show.

A fortnight into the free-to-air TV footy show wars and a ratings winner has emerged.

Seven’s new show, The Agenda Setters, is pitted against Nine’s AFL mainstay, Footy Classified, on Monday and Tuesday nights, with the two programs squaring off on the same night from last Monday.

Footy Classified, which is entering it’s 19th AFL season on air, has come out on top through the first two weeks of the season, attracting a total of 683,000 viewers, while an impressive 649,000 have tuned into The Agenda Setters, according to ratings agency VOZ.

But in what could be a sign of better things to come for Channel 7, The Agenda Setters flipped the script in the most recent show.

For all the vagaries presented by lead-in programs, timeslots, channels, streams and apps, Seven is said to be thrilled with the results, given Footy Classified’s long established audience.

Seven has gone all in on the Monday night battleground, using the stars it poached from Nine — Craig Hutchison, Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson — against their old show. They are joined by newcomer Nick Riewoldt.

Footy Classified’s Monday panel is hosted by Sam McClure, with Jimmy Bartel, Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd.

A closely fought race on night one, turned into a closer battle on night two and this week has presented even more intriguing numbers.

Seven’s Tuesday night program is hosted by Cornes, along with Wilson, Dale Thomas and Luke Hodge.

Nine’s Tuesday night Footy Classified show is hosted by Eddie McGuire with recruits James Hird and Rory Sloane, plus reporter Tom Morris.

The Footy Classified panel of Jimmy Bartel, Matthew Lloyd, Sam McClure and Damian Barrett. Picture: Channel 9

On Monday this week there was a wider gap between the programs, with Footy Classified on top, but by Tuesday night The Agenda Setters had a positive result, which Seven views as vindication of its footy vision.

The show performed very well in Adelaide and Perth too, with the episode up 65,000 week on week.

Additionally Seven’s reliable product The Front Bar has started strongly in the top 10 shows nationally.

McGuire, who was behind the creation of Footy Classified 18 years ago when he was the network CEO, said viewers were spoiled for choice with Fox Footy’s line up on offer as well.

“We’re not worried about anyone else, you just do your own show,’’ McGuire said.

“The Sunday Footy Show has hit the ground running, on Footy Classified we’ve got Hird back on Tuesday nights and he’s an iconic football person and Rory has been a revelation. There’s the shows we (Jam TV) produce for Seven on a Sunday and it gives people another opportunity. I love that there’s a huge array of opinion. There’s something for everyone. If you want to find football there’s plenty of it and you can pick what you like.

“It is now the mainstay of broadcast in this town and one of the growth industries. People should be barracking for people to do well rather than death ride these shows.”

Originally published as Early ratings winner emerges in footy’s free-to-air TV war