Australia NewsAloisi Urges Better TV Plan |
EXCLUSIVE: Former Olyroo Ross Aloisi knows what it's like to watch coverage of the Olympic football tournament then have it cut away to something else at a vital time.
"Just recently, I watched the 1996 Olyroos match against Spain, a game I played in," Aloisi told au.fourfourtwo.com from his base in Adelaide."We were up to 2-1 in the game and the coverage crossed to another sport Then when it came back there was Bruce McAvaney saying it was 2-2 or 2-3."
The match against the Spaniards was one of the most nail-biting of the group stages in Atlanta. Brilliant Spain defeated Eddie Thomson's Olyroos 3-2 in a stunning comeback win.
What's more, against Saudi Arabia also in the group stages, Olyroo striker Mark Viduka's back-heeled effort was is generally agreed to be one of the greatest ever national team goals.
Aloisi says while broadcasting the Olympics is tricky, Seven needs to realise the importance of the Olyroos as a TV product.
"No, it's not right," he said of the network's plans to potentially cut to the swimming in the final 15 minutes of the Argentina group match. "There needs to be some respect."
Aloisi, a former Socceroo who retired from competitive football this year after an extensive career in Europe and in the A-League with Adelaide and Phoenix, suggested Seven make better use of its digital channels to show the Olyroos live and uninterrupted.
"That could be something looked at," he said. "I know how difficult it is to cover all events uninterrupted."
However, all is not lost. SBS TV will have extensive coverage of the Olympic football tournament - including Brazil, Italy and Holland games - but are locked out of covering the Olyroos due to Seven's broadcast deal.
An SBS spokesperson told au.fourfourtwo.com that although Olympic TV schedules can change "...at this stage, Channel Seven have the Olyroos and we have the rest."
SBS has a "complementary" broadcast deal for the Olympics next month.
"I shouldn't say this but maybe it's a way for them to keep football under control," added Aloisi of the furore.
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