Dear Mr Arrigo,
Thank you for your email regarding the broadcasting of St Kilda Wizard Cup games on FOX Footy Channel.
Unfortunately, FOX Footy Channel was contractually unable to broadcast the Rnd 1 & 2 St Kilda games any earlier than we did.
Channel 10 held the live rights to both the Rnd 1 & Rnd 2 St Kilda games and FOX Footy Channel is not permitted to broadcast a Wizard Cup Channel 10 (or Channel 9) game in NSW any earlier than either the scheduled end of Channel 9 or 10’s telecast, or 11.30pm.
If Channels 9 or 10 choose not to broadcast a Wizard Cup game until 11.30pm or later, then unfortunately FOX Footy Channel cannot show the game any earlier than 11.30pm. In the circumstance of last weekend, the decision to not broadcast the game until 11.45pm on Channel 10 was a decision made solely by the 10 Network. Likewise this weekend, the fact that Channel 10 will not screen the St Kilda match until 12.10 am on the Sunday morning is a decision solely made by the 10 Network.
FOX Footy Channel will be broadcasting that match as soon as we are contractually permitted to - that is 11.30pm. We appreciate your frustration, however, in this situation there is nothing that FOXTEL can do otherwise - in this instance, such decisions rest with the 9 & 10 Networks.
We certainly value your continued loyalty to FOX Footy Channel and trust that you continue to enjoy the 3 EXCLUSIVELY LIVE games during the home & away season as well as a great line-up of footy programming on the channel (commencing Monday 22 March).
Thank you again for contacting FOX Footy Channel - we hope that you enjoy FOX Footy Channel as part of your Essentials package for season 2004.
Regards,
FOX Footy Channel
