Matildas fans are furious when Channel Seven bumps World Cup game with Sweden to a secondary channel in favor of AFL and Border Patrol
FIFA World Cup broadcaster Channel 7 has come under fire for prioritizing St Kilda in the AFL and Border Patrol over the Matildas in their bid for a bronze medal against Sweden.
Fans were furious to find out Channel 7 had relegated the Matildas’ highly anticipated final FIFA World Cup game on home soil to a secondary channel.
The spotlight was on the Matildas as they took on Sweden in a quest for both pride and a coveted bronze medal.
Hoping to finish the tournament on a triumphant note, Australia’s women’s soccer team drew record ratings for the free-to-air channel Channel 7.
The quarter-final against France shattered Australian TV’s ratings, only to be overshadowed by a whopping 11 million viewers who tuned in to witness the heartbreaking semi-final defeat to England.
Matildas fans hoping to see the third place playoffs had to find the game on digital television as Channel 7 favored Border Patrol and the AFL
Given viewership in almost half the country and its distinction as the most watched Australian TV program in this century, it was a confusing decision that Channel 7 chose to relegate the Matildas to a secondary platform for the third-tier play-offs. place.
It was especially confusing after the broadcaster moved the nightly news to prioritize the quarter-final against France on its main channel.
Viewers were left baffled and flipped through the channels in disbelief when the Matildas found themselves on 7Mate, while programs like Border Security took precedence over Channel 7.
Although it wasn’t the result Aussie was hoping for, the Matildas completed their FIFA Women’s World Cup with their best ever finish
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To add to the surprise, Channel 7 even broadcast its evening news at 6pm in Melbourne after the program ended and featured the AFL game between Geelong and St Kilda at 7pm.
This decision goes against the widespread support and viewership the Matildas have garnered over the past month and fans have been outraged.
“Channel 7 is in bad shape for relegating The Matildas to a digital channel,” said one irate fan.
“Disgraceful not airing free in Melbourne,” another posted.
‘How bad is this? Channel 7 doesn’t have the #Matildas on our high definition televisions. They have it on 7mate,” another complained.