Eddie McGuire return will see him take full control of The Footy Show

The Nine Network has dumped Craig Hutchison as host of the Footy Show just 7 months after giving him the job as part of a major shake-up of the program which will see original host Eddie McGuire return to the hosting chair alongside Rebecca Maddern and Sam Newman.

As part of the changes the show will now become a co-production between Nine and McGuire’s production company McGuire Media.

The Footy Show will take a two-week break as changes take place to the production team, before returning with Eddie and Rebecca as host on Thursday, August 10.

Updated – The Nine Network has confirmed to DeciderTV that Footy Show regulars Billy Brownless, Shane Crawford, Dave Hughes and Damian Barrett will remain, but declined to elaborate on how they will be used in the new show. 

The new production team has been given the mission of “evolving the show for fans in the modern era of football”.

Craig Hutchison will remain as host of Footy Classified on Monday nights, and his production company Crocmedia will continue to provide Damian Barrett to the network, as well as produce the Sunday afternoon program Future Stars.

The announcement comes after a year of poor ratings for The Footy Show amid fresh competition from Seven’s rival program The Front Bar.

DeciderTV understands McGuire had held a series of negotiations with Nine and Foxtel throughout the 2017 AFL season..

On Thursday, McGuire travelled to Sydney meeting with Foxtel’s CEO Peter Tonagh, and Fox Sports CEO Patrick Delany to finalise a deal allowing McGuire to take The Footy Show job in 2018.

However after disastrous ratings and media coverage for Thursday nights program, Nine’s management made the decision immediate action needed to be taken, and made the call to McGuire on Friday morning.. 

The move of McGuire returning to The Footy Show will not affect his existing commitment to Fox Footy where he will continue to present Friday Night Football and commentate one game per weekend.

Additionally, personalities from Fox Footy will now make regular guest appearances on the new Footy Show, in a move designed to cross-promote both products. 

Interestingly Sam Newman made the decision to avoid todays media conference. The controversial presenter has been widely criticised for his lacklustre performance on last nights program. 

The change means McGuire Media will now be producing The Footy Show for Nine in addition to Talking Footy for Seven.

Eddie, who hosted The Footy Show from its inception in 1994 until 2005, said today:

“The AFL Footy Show and Thursday nights on Nine has been such a big part of my life. I’m so pleased and excited to be given this opportunity to return to the main game, prime-time television, and to reach everyone who loves footy as much as I do.  I have had many roles over the years but my time on The Footy Show has always been the most significant for me.

“This show is such a vital part of the passion that AFL fans enjoy. As sport and television continue to change I intend to be a part of the next wave.  Now in its 24th year, I look forward to how the program will evolve and be ready for the next 20 years.”

Rebecca Maddern, who has hosted the program for the past two seasons said;

“I look forward to working alongside Eddie McGuire who was such a huge part of The Footy Show in its early years and remains such a prominent figure in the world of AFL. He’s a consummate host and it will be a great experience to work together on such an incredible show.”

Craig Hutchison said,

“It’s been a great honour and privilege to host one of Australia’s iconic TV shows. As a businessman, I fully understand and support the opportunity to bring back Eddie. He’s the original host and the best host on Australian television.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the producers and the people I work with, and I’ll be enthusiastically supporting The Footy Show and all involved in future.”