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The Sounding Board

S11 E11 - Question Time

14 Apr 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

6.545 - 26.106 Craig Hutchison

This is the Sounding Board Podcast with Hachi and Damo. Thanks to DrinkWise. If you're choosing to have a drink, choose to DrinkWise. Question time on the Sounding Board for DrinkWise. If you're choosing to drink, choose to DrinkWise. Michael on email kicks us off today. Guys love the show. Have the Channel 7 commentators been instructed to incorporate the Toyota Tundra or Tundra?

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26.086 - 49.379 Craig Hutchison

Logo on the oval as part of commentary. I noticed a few times the commentary such as he kicks it to the Toyota Tundra logo. If so, this would be additional in-game advertising viewers are being exposed to. Appreciate the opportunity to ask. Don't know, Michael, but it would be a fair theory, I think. What I would like to have known before Michael asked that question was, was it Brian Taylor?

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49.54 - 63.372 Craig Hutchison

Because if it was Brian Taylor, sorry, I'm assuming it's Brian Taylor, and Michael, I would argue, without knowing the absolute intricacies of any deal, but Brian's always been a big Toyota supporter, hasn't he, has he, for reasons that he might just like the cars?

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63.392 - 80.489 Damian Barrett

Yeah, and we are seeing a bit more advertising integration into footy on all platforms, 7.9, Fox, on this, AFL and NRL, respectively, and That's fair and reasonable given the price has asked for the rights that you need to better try and drive a return on your investment. So I don't know where it is or isn't, but I think it's good business if it is.

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Chapter 2: What is the future of the NRL and Channel 9's relationship?

81.149 - 99.329 Craig Hutchison

Leon X, the Fin Review wrote, Channel 9's management should, quote, pay heed to the fact that its current depressed market value and agitated shareholder base cannot tolerate an exorbitant jump in rights costs, close quotes. How will they afford the NRL rights when PVL is asking for a record number? Good one to ask, Hachi.

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99.87 - 119.227 Craig Hutchison

Good question by Lee because I've been saying now for the best part of two years, you personally have been lobbying Peter Volandis to get the State of Origin away from Nine, not just the NRL, but the State of Origin specifically, away from Channel Nine across to your current network, that being Channel Seven. But back to Lee's question here.

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119.828 - 130.864 Damian Barrett

I read that. Not sure what the papers were questioning the share price and the market value of nine and whether they could afford to leap the rights.

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131.665 - 149.669 Craig Hutchison

Lee, as you can tell in Hutch's guarded voice here, he's clearly got commercial confidentialities at play here and he can't answer it. And I'm not equipped to answer it. I'm not in that space. It's a good question though. Lee on an email. Not sure if this was just my luck. and he's got in brackets, my guess, or a 5D chess genius move from Jack Higgins.

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149.709 - 164.363 Craig Hutchison

But has there been a smoother transition from villain to promoter? I think he's onto something here, Leon Hutchie. I'll keep reading Leon's email. Jack Higgins dropped the don't like Adelaide comment after a game last year and now has turned that into a paid ambassadorial role this year.

164.723 - 175.553 Craig Hutchison

With a seemingly all expenses paid trip around the sites of the state, there's a lesson there for others to think about how they can turn normal footy coverage into media opportunity. It's a good pickup.

175.914 - 186.689 Damian Barrett

Great pickup. And clearly, he's done an ambassadorial deal. He's talking about the limestone coast in Macambia. So I think genius by whoever did that deal. They flipped it into a positive, and it's cut through in social.

186.929 - 196.583 Craig Hutchison

And you say you got engaged as part of this deal as well? Would you have written in, if I get engaged, a little bit of that? Bonus. Yeah, an engagement bonus.

196.603 - 218.057 Damian Barrett

If I pop the question in Port Augusta, what's it mean commercially? It's the... It's not a bad idea for me. I'm joking. I'm joking. Jokes. Jokes. Careful. Hey, Leon, I can tell you another thing too. Jack Higgins was second choice for that. I had Damo pegged to be the South Australian ambassador, but his showdown moved to the MCG. Well, here's one on the show.

Chapter 3: What are the implications of advertising integration in sports broadcasting?

227.15 - 240.33 Craig Hutchison

What is Hutchie's view of Damo's proposed showdown class at the MCG? David, I'll just refer you back to the start of the most recent main body of sounding board. Hamish on Facebook, given the love of Victorian politics on the show.

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240.43 - 259.774 Damian Barrett

Can I give you my view on the showdown now, by the way? I feel like we were in mirth mode on... The main body, as you call it. Don't tell me you're going to support me now. Well, I am. Yeah. Oh my goodness. But a little bit differently. So what I think is this. We're on mirth mode, were we before? I didn't know we were. I thought we were in serious mode.

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260.075 - 270.609 Damian Barrett

I don't really understand why we, no one's going to agree with this theory because everyone wants fairness in the draw. I'm the opposite. I want, I want maximize event in the draw.

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271.711 - 272.932 Craig Hutchison

As I say with you, follow the money.

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273.092 - 283.647 Damian Barrett

As the game expands in Tasmania and inevitably into a 20th license, I think there's an opportunity to, for the marquee games to be played three times, not twice.

284.568 - 284.648

Hmm.

284.628 - 306.955 Damian Barrett

And Adelaide and Port would be that example. And the deal that could be done there that would be a win-win is- To sell it to the MCG. You have one home, one away, Adelaide and Port showdown. And the third game, which becomes like state of origin, game three called of their series, would be at the MCG. But in turn, South Australia gets to have a big marquee visiting game.

307.375 - 315.554 Damian Barrett

Carlton Collingwood's a bad example. There'll be other better examples than that. But- You know, they get a big Victorian game there where people go to, to follow and in turn South Australians.

Chapter 4: What challenges does Channel 9 face with NRL rights costs?

316.455 - 318.177 Damian Barrett

So, and it's not expensive.

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318.298 - 325.907 Craig Hutchison

So after all that, and after getting five minutes on the main body of, of attempting to pile on like everyone else and ridiculing me, you actually agree with me?

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326.087 - 347.397 Damian Barrett

No, I only agree with you on the basis that the competition weeks expand and it can be a bit creative on the third attempt and the, and the Adelaide marketplace keep what they got now and get something additional in return. And I think it was an entirely wrong – if you rank the weeks not to do that, 1 to 30 – You've been down that path, Hutchie. Let it go. You picked the wrong week. Yeah.

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347.457 - 350.642 Damian Barrett

I can't believe GMTV didn't give you a real kick up the backside.

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351.924 - 368.246 Craig Hutchison

It got big on me, Hutchie. Jason on X. How would CEO Hutchie fix the GWS Giants and or the AFL in that part of Sydney? It seems like a lost cause. Have we got a bigger issue than we realise? It's a passion point for me, this. Yeah. It needs a bit more time. Does it? Yeah. I believe we might park that as well.

368.847 - 374.011 Craig Hutchison

Hutchie's got to fix the Virgin Coffee Lounge next week, and he's also now got to fix the Giants.

374.031 - 381.018 Damian Barrett

Yeah, and I'll do this, but in a way that I think needs to be said, because I've got a strong view about how Western Sydney needs to... Okay, we'll do it next week.

381.458 - 395.511 Craig Hutchison

Danny on X. Notice members of the media pushing back on Jackie Epstein, reheating of soup from radio shows and reporting from AFL functions. How will the News Corp react to the calling out of its gossip column and focus on its clickbait journalists? Is a turning of the tables coming?

395.531 - 400.657 Damian Barrett

Well, Danny, I think... The heraldson.com that you were fine with it, but news.com that you're up in arms.

Chapter 5: How is Jack Higgins redefining his image as an ambassador?

476.208 - 494.815 Craig Hutchison

Gather round. A little bit like that, isn't it? Yep. It's got a bit of the Vegas NRL vibe about it. Yeah. But you can't, Brett, just in Adelaide's and Gather round's defense, you could not possibly go there and immerse yourself in, A, the matches, but B, everything around the matches. And not appreciate it. Is that fair to say, Hutchie? Yep.

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494.855 - 514.266 Craig Hutchison

You couldn't possibly have a negative word to say about it. If you haven't been, I'd argue you should go. It is worth doing, I would think, at least once in a supporter's life. Corey on Facebook. Should the AFL increase the soft cap back to what it was 10 years ago? Maybe more to put that funding into the development of coaching and create a greater depth of future coaches.

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517.216 - 525.135 Craig Hutchison

I think I'm all for coaches being paid more, Damo. Yeah, I paused there hoping you'd answer, given that you now manage the two biggest names in Victorian coaching.

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525.155 - 532.693 Damian Barrett

No, I've got a very clear rule on this, Damo. Whatever everyone else decides the rules are, I'll just try and play within it. Yep. Don't spend your time worrying about everybody else.

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532.673 - 551.655 Craig Hutchison

I'll finish this one this week this way, Hutchie. Sam on email. Hutchie, last week a mate of mine and a fellow long-time sounding board listener had a close encounter with you in Adelaide. He wanted to approach you but couldn't muster up the courage to do so. Do you have any advice for him and other sounding board fans for coming up? for a quick chat with you.

551.815 - 556.644 Craig Hutchison

Any do's and don'ts should we be aware of? Are Craig's carry-on related topics a quick way to your heart?

556.804 - 572.451 Damian Barrett

Sam, we did the right thing. Just leave me alone. It's my private space. I'm not interested in talking to people on the street and making small talk. Actually, Sam, he's not. Completely joking, Sam. Of course. I would like to think I'm approachable, so just come and say g'day. Good question, Sam.

572.431 - 591.141 Craig Hutchison

Someone called me Hutchie during one of the functions, Hutchie, and he'd had a few, and I'd certainly had a couple myself responsibly. But I thought it was just a complete piss take until for 10 minutes he just kept calling me Hutchie, and everyone around me thought it was hilarious. To then, five minutes after that, he came over and apologised, saying, sorry, I just confused you with Hutchie.

591.721 - 596.81 Craig Hutchison

I don't know how that could happen, Hutchie. Well, that worries me too. And it was time to go home at that point in time.

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