Rugby League is set to have a major make over if paid-television channel FoxSports gets it’s way. In a developing story it is believed that television funny-man Matthew Johns is set to sign a deal with the network to help re-launch the channel’s Rugby League options.
Johns was all set to sign with FoxSports rival Channel Nine earlier in the week after months of behind the scenes discussions between network bosses, Johns and his manager John Singleton after the former television personality was informed that the flagship rugby league program that has been on the air for 18-years was about to go under a major overhaul.
However despite being offered a reportedly $500 000 a year contract with channel nine, who seemed quietly confident that they had snared their man, Johns turned the offer down on the grounds that he had no creative control over the direction of the program and that network bosses were still looking at persisting with Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin despite dwindling ratings.
Matthew Johns was led to believe that he would be the new host of the show and would have creative control and directive input into the broadcast and the revamping of the show however was told late in negotiations that Vautin would be returning to the role for a 19th year.
It seems though that Channel Nine’s loss is a gain for their rivals as FoxSports immediately organized a meeting with Johns and his manager John Singleton to discuss a real revamped approach to Rugby League.
Johns who hosted the Matthew Johns show in 2010 before having a year off from television screens in the 2011 year is itching to get back on the screen and talking about the sport he loves the most – rugby league. And that is the attitude that FoxSports boss Gary Burns is searching for in his revamp of rugby league coverage.
Fox Sports are expected to be big players on the market when Rugby League’s Independent Commission starts to negotiate the new television deal for the National Rugby League with the network looking at poaching a live Friday night game, as well as creating exclusive Rugby League programming to ensure that fans are satisfied each week.
Matthew Johns is expected to finalize his future in the coming days.
Tagged with: Channel Nine, Creative Control, Fatty Vautin, Flagship, Fox Sports, Foxsports, Funny Man, Gary Burns, Independent Commission, John Singleton, League Coverage, Matthew Johns, National Rugby League, Negotiations, Revamping, Rivals, Television Channel, Television Deal, Television Personality, Television Screens
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