NRL Footy Show slipping
Nine’s NRL Footy Show has seen its Sydney ratings drop in the last six weeks, with the show struggling to top ABC1’s political debate program Q&A.
While producers are at a loss to explain the sudden desertion, the show’s founding executive producer believes the similar opinions of panel members Paul Vautin, Matthew Johns, Paul Harragon and Laurie Daley was turning the show “a little beige”.
“They’re very careful what they say about players and I understand why, but I don’t think that necessarily helps out television,” Gary Burns - now Nine’s Event TV executive producer told news.com.au.
“That creates a lack of tension, but the commentators are paid to commentate and I think they should air their differences of opinion. But if they all have the same opinion, then it’s something we suffer from because then it gets a little beige.”
The show also attracted some criticism for comments about a disabled security guard, which drew an apology from Nine and Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin.
Meanwhile Nine’s Friday night NRL coverage was beaten by all but SBS programs in Sydney last week.
The downturn is in stark contrast to State of Origin series, 2008 figures are the highest-rating ever.
The Footy Show’s Sydney audience fell to 186,000 viewers after Origin game three, a record low beaten last week when the audience plummeted to 166,000.
In March it had an average of 271,000 viewers.
Source: news.com.au
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What do they expect? They won’t let anyone with a different opinion to theirs near the show. Look what happened to Rebecca Wilson, they froze her out of their little boys’ club. The show is way past its prime.
David,
The same continues to be true for the AFL Footy Show. Maybe, just maybe, the ratings reflect that the population has had enough of this sort of program, along with Big Brother.
Rebecca Wilson didnt have a clue about Rugby League. She’s nothing more than a glorified gossip columnist who writes about sport.
Look what she writes in the Sunday Telegraph!!! All its about is gossip and scandel.
She has been ridding on the coat tails of Tony Squires for years and she has managed to drag him down slowly but surely
The show is not about hard hitting rugby league news. Its about boys mucking around. Yes it has got a little old but at least its not another CSI/Ramsey/Reality offering from Eddie.
Hey theres an idea CSI Ramsey!
I’m with dr_rudi… perhaps the viewing public are sick of the same old programming.
It is interesting that the Friday night figures are dropping so much. Is NRL really that boring to watch? Do we need another Super League sideshow to pique some interest?