The announcement on August 12 that Bowls Australia and the ABC will end its long-term association producing the TV Bowls Show is a major blow to the sport, but did not come as a surprise , according to BA CEO Neil Dalrymple.
“Bowls Australia now has the opportunity to drive progress and to produce a television product that creates more effective engagement with the viewing public which, in turn, will provide benefits to our state and territory associations, clubs and members
“This will be our major challenge in the next phase of our broadcast negotiations, particularly given the investment by other government departments in the development of sports participation for women,” Mr Dalrymple said.
Despite today’s announcement, Bowls Australia’s pay-to-view partner, Fox Sports, is expected to renew its agreement beyond 2011, ensuring that lawn bowls continues to showcase itself on national television, along with British Sky Broadcasting in the United Kingdom.
The ABC TV Bowls Show is free to air and, if the “BA New Stategy” is to produce a commericial TV Bowls show on Pay TV, then thousands of sporting veiwers will miss out on watching our great sport.
Come September 8 and now Bowls Australia has issued a call to arms from members to petition the ABC to continue broadcasting the sport beyond this year!
If you read behind the lines of both statements – August 12 and September 12 – then one has to wonder did ABC give BA the Big A or was it the other way round !
There is no doubt there will be a Bowls Show on TV next year, most likely on Pay TV and on the commercial network albeit at Mate … mate rates for that matter … and with long advert breaks for sponsors
There is always more drama behind the scenes than what you see on stage during a show and this is the case with the drama – ABC TV Bowls Show.
Smart people read behind the written lines and see the true story … and regretfull,y it is not pretty.
The ABC TV Bowls Show at 5.00pm on Saturday is currently showing the six finals of the Men’s and Ladies’ Australian Indoor Championships at Tweed Heads Bowls Club.
The final indoor show will be on Saturday, October 15 – well worth watching – the Men’s Final beween Jeremy Henry (NSW) and Lance Strachan (WA)
Greg Kelly
