Seven has been fielding angry calls from tennis fans disappointed by the network’s decision to cut away from the Australian Open for the news and Today Tonight.
Last night the dramatic quarter final match between Andy Roddick and Marin Cilic was interrupted by the evening news as it was heading into the fifth set.
And on Monday fans were angered by a similar decision to ditch the Serena Williams and Sam Stosur game. Fans have been using Twitter to encourage others to call Seven to complain.
Saying there had been more than 100 complaints, programming boss Tim Worner defended the decision, telling AAP:
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“Seven News and Today Tonight viewers are there at 6pm each and every night of the year and we need to honour that commitment.”
Nine was also under fire from sports fans yesterday when it switched to the news from the one day international between Australia and Pakistan at a key moment.
As well as complaints to the broadcasters, they have also been aired on talkback radio and on the letters pages of today’s newspapers.
One of the difficulties faced by all of the free to air broadcasters is that although anti-siphoning legislation keeps key sporting events away from pay TV, it was written before the arrival of the new Freeview digital channels, and the networks are not currently allowed to switch their coverage away from their main channels – a point which some of those complaining on Twitter last night were unaware of. The government is currently undertaking a review of the anti-siphoning rules, which pay TV has long criticised for favouring the free-to-air networks.
One Sydney Morning Herald reader asked today: “What is the point of all these new free-to-air stations if they are all showing the same program simultaneously?”
And from Twitter:
- NickMoran: Seriously #channel7, if you buy the rights to the @AustralianOpen, show the end of the epics. So much for the 5th set of Roddick. Idiots
- rodstraks: Channel 7 you are shite. There are 3 other digital channels and you don’t switch the tennis to those. #tennis #ausopen #channel7
- baconchips: Too right! – Fans give Seven a serve over Stosur no show http://bit.ly/6edsvP #ausopen #channel7
- frameyourself: oh you fuckers, you’re not even showing highlights? its the last 4th rd match. They are both seeded. YOU BASTARDS #channel7
- frameyourself: oh FFS #channel7 put the vera vs vika match on, you can even claim its live; as you’ve not ruined the score for us yet-CONGRATS
- downesy: RT @sharonpiggott: AAaargh… Effing news! This is australia, WE LOVE OUR SPORT! when will you learn? #ausopen #channel7
- kerriem: @sharonpiggott @the_mum_files Can’t believe #channel7 screwed up the tennis coverage so badly. I understand the news maybe but TT and H&A?!
- thetone: I reckon Federer got a bigger cheer then Hewitt. Unaustralian like #channel7? #ausopen
- baconchips: way to go johanna griggs, you show me the end of the match and then tell me there’s a replay later. way to kill the mood. #ausopen #channel7
- kirstybuchanan: #channel7 just announced a re-play of stosur v williams match. 2 little 2 late seven, you have already annoyed us!
- speakspook: @kirstybuchanan – yes #channel7 will be showing, live(supposedly) the hewit match@ 7:30pm at the #ausopen
- kirstybuchanan: For those wanting to register their complaint to #Channel7 about not showing Stosur v Williams game call 029877 7777 #ausopen
- shannoncooper: Don’t need #channel7 when we have twitter for #ausopen updates…. Stosur out… Lleyton next?
- kirstybuchanan: So angry with #Channel7 programing!! RT @thetone: @kirstybuchanan Are they showing the Hewitt Fed match at 7:30 at least?
- whycantitbemine: Can’t fucking believe that the news is more important than the tennis #channel7 #australianopen
- TurnKel: OK come home, got myself a drink and sat down and no tennis?? WTF #channel7!!!! // KB is on it. She’s on the phone to Ch7
- kirstybuchanan: Just on hold to #channel7 to put in official complaint re: Showing Today tonight/ home&away instead of #tennis !
- speakspook: What a joke #channel7 !!! Going to the news instead of showing the sam stoser match at the #ozopen
- JanineMcGlynn: #channel7 should be ashamed. 1 all in the 1st set and u switch to the news! U have the only rights to the tennis so now we can’t watch!!!!!!
- sharonpiggott: AAaargh… Effing news! This is australia, WE LOVE OUR SPORT! when will you learn? #ausopen #channel7
- GrogsGamut: hurry up and change the TV regulations Conroy #channel7 is pathetic
Nobody from Seven was available for comment at the time of posting.