With the April 29 royal nuptials confirmed for 11am London time (8pm EST), the historic telecast is likely to force the rescheduling of AFL and NRL matches.
All networks are set to air the service from Westminster Abbey, with consolidated audience figures poised to make it the most-watched event in Australian TV history.
But the clash will test the commitment of Channels 9 and 7, with both slated to broadcast up to three matches on the night.
The NRL is yet to confirm which fixtures would be affected, while Seven's coverage of the game between the Sydney Swans and Carlton is also to be decided.
Seven programmer Tim Worner said digital channels could prove the answer.
"There is no way Seven News won't be covering the royal wedding and we take our commitment to AFL coverage just as seriously. There could be a job for 7TWO or 7mate here."
A Nine spokesman said: "It's a very important event and we want to cover it to the best of our ability. We have not made a decision on the NRL yet but it will be something we look at over the next couple of weeks."
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said, regardless of the telecast plans, the Swans match would still be played on the Friday night.
Royal watchers and sometime loyalists are expected to tune in to Prince William's nuptials in their multi-millions - with pundits predicting it will draw a bigger Aussie audience than his parents' 1981 wedding, which is still in the top 10 shows of all-time.
Advertising leader Harold Mitchell said the widespread, cross-channel coverage would temper TV profits, talking down premium rates to appear during the telecast.
"[But] it's a prestigious place to be for advertisers and will hold great family appeal," Mr Mitchell said yesterday.
The rise of advertising on internet platforms would also see more "frivolous" campaigns and creatives poking fun at the marriage.
Ms Middleton's decision to travel to the church in a car rather than the traditional carriage rules out the pumpkin coach moment but the couple will return to Buckingham Palace in an open carriage.
The royals are also expected to buck the system with a more relaxed evening reception party, hosted by Prince Charles, to follow the formal celebrations during the day.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/royal-wedding-kicks-the-footy/story-e6freuy9-1225983301449
Replies
When they sign a contract, they have obligations to fulfill those contracts and not change them as they please to suit the Royal Family's wedding, which quite frankly is not something that I'm personally interested in, and I can't see what all the fuss is about to be honest.
Heaven forbid if the Eels v Dragons clash for that week is confirmed as one of the games for that week on the Friday, and it gets moved and goes to GEM. Not everyone has access to that Channel.
At least if they're going to do that, put in on Go! as most will have access to that channel.
At the end of the day, William's and Kate's wedding is the same as Joe and Mary Bloggs getting married.
Hope it does move to GO though, as I don't have a HD TV or set-top box at my place.
Hopefully by April, I can convince my dad to get at the very least a set-top box, if not a HD TV, but I'm not holding my breath.
Worst comes to worst, there's the neighbours place, but they aren't exactly footy fans by any means, so that's another spanner in the works.
Then there's always the possibility of attending the game, but if it's at Kogarah, I won't be travelling that far, so we'll see what happens.
If it does get moved to Gem, and I don't have a HD TV or set-top box by that time, I might take you up on the offer.
Cheers again.
Already a VCR (Mum still wants it to watch tapes from goodness knows when), a DVD player and the Foxtel IQ Box.
We need a new TV anyways, so by the end of April, I should hopefully, be all good, and have HD somehow.
Thanks for the offer though FE.
Much appreciated.
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