Game Over: Footy Show axed midseason as the one-time ratings phenomenon limps out after 25 years of provocative segments and THAT cheating scandal
- The sports program got the sack on Thursday night following horrific ratings
- Only 53,000 viewers tuned into the AFL Footy Show in Melbourne last week
- Nine’s Melbourne managing director, Matt Scriven, thanked hosts for hard work
Channel Nine has cancelled The Footy Show following a dramatic drop in ratings despite their attempts to revamp the ageing format.
The sports program got the sack on Thursday night after only 53,000 viewers tuned in from Melbourne last week.
Nine’s Melbourne managing director, Matt Scriven, thanked the hosts for their hard work and contribution to the show.
Channel Nine has cancelled The Footy Show following a dramatic drop in ratings despite their attempts to revamp the ageing format
‘I want to thank the current hosts, Anthony Lehmann, Neroli Meadows, Dylan Alcott, Brendan Fevola and Shane Crawford, the former hosts of The Footy Show, and the hard-working crew for their great contribution,’ said in a statement.
‘It is with regret that The Footy Show will no longer be produced. It has been a tough decision to end the program that has been such a trailblazer, but sadly the new show has not captured audiences in the way we had hoped.
‘Over the past three decades Nine has led the way with AFL entertainment and news programs and we will continue to do so, with the production of the award-winning Footy Classified and the Sunday Footy Show.
‘We remain committed to the AFL and creating great AFL content, and we will continue to focus on new ways to engage audiences who love the code.’
The sports program got the sack on Thursday night after only 53,000 viewers tuned in from Melbourne last week (Brendan Fevola)
Since its debut 25-years-ago, the show has survived through several revamps
Since its debut 25-years-ago, the show has survived through several revamps.
Co-hosts Eddie McGuire and Sam Newman made the show a place for fans to tune in and get the latest news about AFL, combined with interviews and comedic stunts.
However, the show was never able to find its feet again after former host Garry Lyon started an affair with the wife his co-host and close friend Billy Brownless.
The affair was exposed in February 2016 and ultimately led to the collapse of Brownless’ marriage.
At the time, the father-of-three said he texted Brownless to apologise but did not receive a response.
The pair have not spoken to each other since before Christmas 2015, just a few months before the affair was exposed.
‘Nicky and I are together and I’m eternally grateful she was able to support me through all of this and I’d like to think there’ll be no more interest,’ he told SEN radio at the time.
Lyon (second right with ex-wife Melissa) was forced out of the public eye early in 2016 after it was revealed he had an affair with Nicky Brownless (second left), wife of fellow presenter and best mate Billy (left)
Lyon said he might not have responded to the text message apology either if the roles were reversed.
‘I know I’ve caused a lot of pain for the people I’ve been close to, in particular my ex-wife Melissa,’ Lyon said.
‘If people think I haven’t recognised that, they would be wrong.
‘It has been really difficult and there are lots of layers to that – many of which I won’t go into’.
In March 2016, Brownless opened up about the toll the affair has had on his family, saying ‘a good mate wouldn’t do that’ and believed the secret relationship could have been going on for up to four years.
‘I couldn’t believe it. I found out three or four months ago. I asked Garry and Nicky earlier on what is going on and they said they were just good friends. That’s what hurts the most,’ Brownless told the Footy Show.
‘By law it’s legal. Morally it’s wrong. We all know our rights and wrong. You don’t touch a man’s wallet, you don’t touch his wife.’