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Australian Open switches to 7TWO, but…

Seven exercised its right to switch an Australian Open tennis match to 7TWO. But it seems not everybody is happy.

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Last night Seven exercised its right to switch an Australian Open tennis match to 7TWO when the Jelena Dokic vs Zuzana Ondraskova match ran late. Viewers in Sydney and Melbourne were able to keep watching as play stretched across its 6pm News deadline.

The historic move, which follows Medibank International and AAMI Kooyong Classic games switching to 7TWO last week, was made possible thanks to a relaxing of the Anti-Siphoning rules by Senator Stephen Conroy.

“Viewers were able to see Seven News at 6pm on Channel 7 and the Dokic match on 7TWO meaning viewers had the best of both worlds,” said Seven CEO David Leckie.

Seven has now committed to scheduling matches on 7TWO where matches run over and clash with its regular programming.

But the switch to 7TWO doesn’t mean interstate viewers will start seeing all their games live, and looks set to only be used where a broadcast that has commenced runs over.

Daylight Saving means viewers in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are subjected to delays for evening matches. And that’s already attracting some ire as these TV Tonight readers demonstrate:

– So apparently Seven is allowed by the government to show matches on 7TWO but insists on showing it delayed in states other than Vic and NSW. What a Shame! Would Love to have Fox Sports at times like this but too bad i couldn’t afford it.

– Why isn’t 72 currently broadcasting the Groth vs Wickmayer match? Today Tonight is currently aired whilst this match is taking place, and now QLD viewers have just missed an entire set of live tennis?

– Firstly, I’m loving Channel 7′s new technique of splitting the screen in 8 to show simultaneous matches then zooming in and out – it adds to the excitement. However, I so wish they’d show games live into QLD. Their argument is always that the viewers would prefer to watch a full game from the start so they are simply giving viewers what they want. Rubbish. I’d prefer to come straight into the middle of a game after the news and watch it live. I just made the mistake of perusing news headlines on my iphone during an ad break and it said who won the game I was watching.

– The Jammilla Groth game is well finished and guess what, Seven Perth is still telecasting the event and we already know the result.

– Great! Australian playing Rod Laver Arena at 7 pm (EST) and what does Channel 7 give WA viewers- a delayed telecast at 10pm EST! Dont you get it we want it live!!!! !! Jarmilla’s game has started and we are watching re-runs of some crap! At least put it on 7-2 so those of us interested can watch it live!! After all we can get live scores on the web of your website or the Australian Open website- this is the 21st century!! Common 7 Perth!!!

It could be a long two weeks….

53 Responses

  1. What is really annoying me about the coverage is the shameless lengths channel 7 will go to to promote their shows.
    There was a desperate housewives/greys anatomy ad that came on during the coverage and bruce says that its his favourite show, poor leighton hewitt has obviously been told to say nice things about the show and you could hear he was clearly uncomfortable saying “i wouldn’t miss it”.
    Then they start talking about how relaxed one of the players seemed and the female commentator goes “yeah well usually you wouldn’t get a player talking in the locker room about desperate housewives or greys anatomy, that shows how relaxed she is”. Shameless! As If the player was talking about those shows.
    Do you think we’re thick 7?

  2. If anti-siphoning laws prevents pay-tv to broadcast sporting events in favor of free TV then it should also force free TV to broadcast live the events at list on one of their channels!!! it’s only fair!!!

    It is not right to have free TV also have pay TV and not being able to watch the sporting events live.

    We should be able to make a complain to ombudsman for Free TV services!!!

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