On Sunday morning Offsiders celebrates ten years on air. The program, which each week features a panel of leading sport commentators and experts, was conceived and initially hosted by Insiders presenter Barrie Cassidy.
“Barrie’s concept was a thinking person’s sports program, free of any commercial compromise or broadcast loyalties that are a reality elsewhere,” said current host Gerard Whateley, who has been with the program from the start.
“It was steeped in the idea that those in virtually every endeavour of life from politics to business, find their passion and release in sport. That portion of the community craved an adult conversation that extended beyond the on-field action and placed sport in its societal context.”
The weekly mix of respected, insightful and relevant panellists and Whateley’s sharp analysis has proven to be a winning formula. In 2015 Offsiders delivered its highest average audience on record, up an impressive 22% on the 2014 series, with audience gains experienced across all demographics.
On the panel to help celebrate on Sunday morning will be rugby league legend Roy Masters; author and writer for The Australian, Gideon Haigh; and editor of the Footy Almanac, John Harms.
The program will also open the vault and look back at some of the memorable moments from the show over the past decade.
Airs Sunday, February 14 at 10am on ABC & iview, and 3.30pm (AEDT) on ABC News 24
