Analysis: Before the Game returns to Ten in 2012

In case you missed the news today, Before the Game will return to Ten in 2012, ending months of speculation as to whether it would switch to Seven (in which it would lose at least one of its current panellists in Dave Hughes) or just disappear altogether.

But the fact it is remaining on Ten is probably the best news possible for both fans of the show and fans of footy in general. Here's why:

- The show will be able to air for one hour every week, as opposed to before, when it occasionally had to truncate its length due to an earlier football match starting time.

- It shows Ten's support of live TV and means that at least in the "AFL states", there will be an hour of live prime time TV every night of the week, which is surely something to be proud of, regardless of what you think of either BTG or The Project.

- It also gives Ten's Saturday nights some sort of character which will appeal to even non-football fans -presumably the Graham Norton show will follow Before the Game at 7:30pm, giving the night a chatty/comedy type vibe. Who knows, if the double act proves to be successful, it could usher in a new, low-budget Saturday night talk show- hey, people will need something to switch over to at 10:30pm after a match is done and dusted (or 8:30pm in the case of a GWS match).

Sent from my iPhone