Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

[Sedat]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

What chance Robbo cops a 'Please Explain?'

We'll know soon enough - he has a weekly spot on Thursday nights discussing the teams and the next round of matches in depth between 6-7pm.

[Sedat]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

If you scroll down the Robbo article to the replies, you'll see one from Kieran Butler, who was an SEN employee and on-air contributor last year. This is his reply:

During my time on SEN in 2008 I had many a satirical crack at various AFL decisions. At the time, I felt I my right to an uncensored opinion was completely unencumbered. Something must have changed over summer. Before my last appearance in April I was asked if my new song contained any material that might be critical of the AFL. That particular song didn't - but the inference was that I would be censored if I had any plans to make any criticisms of the AFL as a part of my on air material. And I just write stupid songs. Congrats to you Mark Robinson. You have far more to lose than I. This type of stuff is bigger than SEN and the AFL. In all walks of Australian life a glaring lack of genuine pluralism in all sorts of supposed "free markets" stifles genuine critical debate and competition. If the status quo prevails we will all be poorer for it. Once again, kudos to you Robbo. Transperency is important here. If the AFL are significant shareholders in SEN then the station should let the public know all about it. Then the public can decide for themselves about what they are actually listening to.
Posted by: Kieran Butler of Melbourne 11:15am today

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[ledge]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

One interesting point though, if the AFL have shares and then dont give SEN a contract to call games i would imagine the shares would drop, shooting themselves in the foot.

Would it be pretty obvious if you had shares in any company that they would not bag you?
Shares and sponsorship are very much the same.
Bit like the Western Bulldogs bagging Mission.

I know we are talking media here so it really is a conflict of interest, the AFL obviously thought if they partly owned a station they would be owning a nothing but positive station, how the hell that works when you have 70% calls from the public is beyond me, or ex footballers on it who really know AFL football is going downhill with rules etc.

[Bornadog]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

Demitrou on 774 this morning (as he appears every Friday to give his tips at 7.30am), we do not censor any station. You know what, I actually believe him. Imagine the uproar if it was made public that the AFL try and censor the media. Think about it, they are not that stupid.

I think SEN management are the ones doing the censoring. GT is just another DH on radio that has been given the flick, probably because there have been too many complaints about his arrogant opinions.

[comrade]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

Demitrou on 774 this morning (as he appears every Friday to give his tips at 7.30am), we do not censor any station. You know what, I actually believe him. Imagine the uproar if it was made public that the AFL try and censor the media. Think about it, they are not that stupid.

I think SEN management are the ones doing the censoring. GT is just another DH on radio that has been given the flick, probably because there have been too many complaints about his arrogant opinions.

I honestly believe that rather than the AFL forcing SEN to give GT the flick, SEN have become gun shy with the radio rights being up for grabs and are censoring their own people in the belief that doing so will give them a better chance at landing a more lucrative deal (or any deal altogether).

They are a radio station that has always struggled financially, and losing the radio rights would threaten its ability to keep running. BUT the listeners deserve more respect – the football media is already too bland and cosy with each other. This is just another step in that direction and it stinks.

[Mofra]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

I think SEN management are the ones doing the censoring. GT is just another DH on radio that has been given the flick, probably because there have been too many complaints about his arrogant opinions.

I agree. People like conspiracy theories so the big bad AFL can cop another whack.
In any case, SEN knowing the rights negotiations were coming up would not want their on air staff bagging out the AFL administration at every opportunity, and would want their commentators to tone it down without the AFL making any direction to do so.

How many people bidding under a tender process would publically lambast the tender itself? AFL is a business, so in some circumstances business rules should apply.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

I think SEN and Grant Thomas were meant for each other.
I try to listen to the station on the chance they talk about some interesting AFL stuff but its so difficult to handle. The ads are excruciating, some of the presenters are painful and many discussion points are boring.
RRR breakfaster like to call the station MEN as for the lack of female input.

They need to replace Thomas with Tony Jones as he is a bigger idiot.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Grant Thomas gets the Sack from Sen Radio

Demitrou on 774 this morning (as he appears every Friday to give his tips at 7.30am), we do not censor any station. You know what, I actually believe him. Imagine the uproar if it was made public that the AFL try and censor the media. Think about it, they are not that stupid.

I think SEN management are the ones doing the censoring. GT is just another DH on radio that has been given the flick, probably because there have been too many complaints about his arrogant opinions.

I absolutely believe the AFL would censor a radio station. In a heartbeat.

Read Keiran Butler's comment.