The AFL Footy Show has been dumped by the Nine Network after 25 years on the air. Key points: The last episode of a revamped version of the show went to air last night The last episode of a revamped version of the show went to air last night The program was Australia's longest-running sports entertainment TV show The program was Australia's longest-running sports entertainment TV show Former co-host Eddie McGuire has said he is "sad and gratified" at the end of the program "It is with regret that The Footy Show will no longer be produced," Nine's Melbourne managing director Matt Scriven said in a statement on Thursday. "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." Nine pulled the plug on this season's major revamp of the show — the latest in a series of incarnations over the show's run — after just eight episodes as it plummeted to an all-time ratings low of 53,000 viewers in Melbourne last week. In comparison, Channel Seven's rival AFL show The Front Bar earned 278,000 viewers in Melbourne on the same night. The Footy Show debuted in 1994 with co-hosts Eddie McGuire and Sam Newman at the helm and became a ratings powerhouse. A previous incarnation of The Footy Show featured Eddie McGuire (second left) and Sam Newman (second right) as hosts. ( AAP/Channel Nine: Les O'Rourke Melbourne great Garry Lyon, former North Melbourne president James Brayshaw, journalist Rebecca Maddern and high-profile businessman Craig Hutchison have all hosted the program over the last decade. The show frequently courted controversy during its run, with former co-host and 300-game Geelong player Sam Newman regularly criticised for his comments. In one incident, Newman refused to apologise after flashing his genitals to the studio audience on air. The latest incarnation, led by Anthony Lehmann, Neroli Meadows, Dylan Alcott, Brendan Fevola and Shane Crawford, debuted on March 21 featuring a new set and format in a bid to reinvigorate the show. Mr Scriven said the network would still be producing AFL content, with Footy Classified and the Sunday Footy Show set to continue. During its run, The Footy Show was Australia's longest running sports entertainment show. Thursday night's show was its 735th and final episode. Its axing comes after Nine cancelled the NRL version of the show late last year. Program 'changed my life': Eddie McGuire Speaking on his Triple M radio breakfast program this morning, long-time host McGuire said he was "sad and gratified at the same time" over the end of a program he credited with setting up his career. "It changed my life, it was the biggest thing in my life," he said. Eddie McGuire said his heart goes out to the crew of the program. ( AAP: David Mariuz "When we first started the show we were told 'you've got six weeks to make it great' and here we are 26 years later. And we've got 729 more episodes out of it than what anybody thought. "I think it's transformed football, and certainly the entertainment and the commercialisation of the game. So we're hugely proud of that." McGuire also paid tribute to the show's long-term co-host Newman, who attracted controversy for various comments that sparked accusations of racism, sexism and homophobia. "Sam Newman should be in the TV hall of fame, whether or not they do that's up to them, but there's no doubt that Sam Newman is one of the most influential people in the history of media," McGuire said. He also paid tribute to the final team of presenters on the program, who he said "should be very proud of the last show that went to air". AAP/ABC<doc-sep>The cast of the The Footy Show: Neroli Meadows, Brendan Fevola, Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann, Dylan Alcott and Shane Crawford. Picture. After less than two months following a major revamp, The AFL Footy Show has been sensationally axed by Channel 9 after a staggering 25 consecutive years on the air. The network released a statement late on Thursday night confirming production of the show had ceased. The long-running footy show hit an all-time ratings low on May 2, with just 53,000 viewers tuning in with the show which featured a new cast, including Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann and Brendan Fevola. Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > Up against Channel 7’s rival show, The Front Bar, Channel 9’s Footy Show struggled to compete despite the relaunch, with the network announcing at the conclusion of their show on May 9 that the show would cease production. The Footy Show has battled ratings issues for several years, with hosts such as Craig Hutchison and Rebecca Maddern unable to stop the decline. Following the May 9 show, Nine’s Melbourne Managing Director Matt Scriven confirmed the show would be no longer produced after clocking up 735 episodes since it premiered in 1994. “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,” Mr Scriven said in a statement. A previous incarnation of The Footy Show, at its 2017 Grand Final edition. Source: Supplied “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.”<doc-sep>
The longest running sports entertainment program in prime-time Aussie TV has met its bitter end with tonight’s announcement that The Footy Show has been axed. In a press release sent out after tonight’s show, Nine’s Melbourne managing director, Marr Scriven, announced production of the iconic football panel show had ceased and paid tribute to the team behind the program. It comes just days after Nine reportedly denied rumours the channel would be pulling the pin on the embattled program, which has been smashed in recent weeks by Channel Seven's The Front Bar, starring Andy Maher, Mick Molloy and Sam Pang. Last week The Front Bar drew 427,000 viewers in the five capital cities compared to The Footy Show's dismal 97,000. It was a similar story in Perth, where The Front Bar attracted 67,000 viewers - almost seven times the 10,000 who watched The Footy Show. In a release Mr Scriven said: “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”. “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.” Rumours that the show had been flagged for termination following last week’s record-low ratings ran rife this week when only 53,000 Melburnians tuned in to watch the revamped panel. Mr Scriven said “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.” Since it premiered in 1994, The Footy Show has clocked up 735 episodes, making it the longest running sports entertainment program in the history of prime-time television in Australia.