Seven taketh away
Posted January 30th, 2010 by debritz
Is signing Matthew Johns really a coup for Channel Seven? To my mind, it's a calculated risk that Johns, who was suspended by Channel Nine last year after revelations on the ABC'S Four Corner program about a 2002 group sex scandal, has the talent to draw big audiences to his planned variety program. Probably just as important to Seven, though, is that having Johns in a pair of golden handcuffs weakens its opposition. If, as some have tipped, the Johns show is scheduled against his old program, The Footy Show, it could have a terminal effect on one of Nine's longest-running and most popular franchises. Or, as others believe, if Johns is scheduled against the revived Hey Hey, it could cripple one of Nine's great hopes for 2010 and beyond.
I can think of better and more creative coups, Brett.
Why can't the brains which let the Brisbane Footy Show go to air, attempt at least, a local football product. If Seven want to know what Queensland viewers want, just look at the comments on every article concerning Extra, The Footy Show, even football State of Origin, and you'd realise Queensland RL fans (who are also Queensland viewers) are peeved by Sydney commentators (Phil Gould), and the way the Sydney Footy Show is usually focused on the Sydney clubs.
If Seven can address this issue, well before it bids for RL rights, they are halfway to fixing their impending struggles at 6, and at 5:30.