21 replies to this topic

[nec]

What are thoughts on this? I am ambivalent as I thought that the rfl may have got a better deal from the BBC if sky joined the bidding

[Futtocks]

What are thoughts on this? I am ambivalent as I thought that the rfl may have got a better deal from the BBC if sky joined the bidding

The RFL might have got more money, but the sport would have lost a major chunk of national FTA coverage. So it is sort of bad, sort of good.

We seem to be doing better by the BBC these days; I posted somewhere else (a while back) on this subject that they are showing more Rugby League these days than they have in ages, if ever.

• Challenge Cup - several rounds and the final - live
• Superleague Show - okay, the national broadcast is at insulting o'clock, but it is shown and can be recorded or watched via iPlayer
• Playoffs & Grand Final - highlights
• Internationals - 1 live match per year, plus highlights of the others
• World Club Challenge - highlights

[Padge]

The RFL might have got more money, but the sport would have lost a major chunk of national FTA coverage. So it is sort of bad, sort of good.

We seem to be doing better by the BBC these days; I posted somewhere else (a while back) on this subject that they are showing more Rugby League these days than they have in ages, if ever.

• Challenge Cup - several rounds and the final - live
• Superleague Show - okay, the national broadcast is at insulting o'clock, but it is shown and can be recorded or watched via iPlayer
• Playoffs & Grand Final - highlights
• Internationals - 1 live match per year, plus highlights of the others
• World Club Challenge - highlights

There seems to have been coverage creep going on, little by little the RFL have been managing to get Sky to relax their exclusivity clauses without cutting what they are paying. In real terms is that more valuable to the RFL than a price hike and stilll being exclusive to Sky?

[Futtocks]

There seems to have been coverage creep going on

forgot another thing - the continuing presence of George Riley on the airwaves.

little by little the RFL have been managing to get Sky to relax their exclusivity clauses without cutting what they are paying. In real terms is that more valuable to the RFL than a price hike and stilll being exclusive to Sky?

I'd argue that it is probably helping Sky too. If more people are able to see Rugby League, more people will become sufficiently interested to take out a Sky Sports subscription.

[Padge]

I'd argue that it is probably helping Sky too. If more people are able to see Rugby League, more people will become sufficiently interested to take out a Sky Sports subscription.

That is also very true, but this was never Sky's position in the past. Their big sales pitch was always Live & Exclusive with emphasis on exclusive. They even tried to stop news organisations from using clips for news programs and still do retain very tight control on that element.

Maybe when the EU moved in to break up the exclusive football deals they saw that it really wasn't detrimental or even advantageous.

[EastLondonMike]

Internationals - 1 live match per year, plus highlights of the others

wondering when thats gonna happen this year, and did the bbc show any highlights of the france game?.. the small print in the contract no doubt says "will be shown when we feel like it"

[Futtocks]

wondering when thats gonna happen this year, and did the bbc show any highlights of the france game?.. the small print in the contract no doubt says "will be shown when we feel like it"

In the case of the France match, I believe it was relegated to The Superleague Show.

As for the last 4N, they showed the highlights in the weekend afternoons, which is when most sofa spuds would expect to see BBC sports coverage. So no problem there.

Edited by Futtocks, 21 July 2010 - 02:38 PM.

[no13benny]

On Friday last week the BBC news 24 at about 1130 had Wigan v Warrington second on the sports bulletin after cricket, with clips from Sky including eddies commentary and a report over the top. The reporter led with: Wigans Dw stadium resembled the colliseum as the gladiators of the two top sides in Sl entered.

I was amazed, naturally.

[Amber Avenger]

Safe by default of course. The decision isn't final, just indefinitely postponed

[marklaspalmas]

Ive never quite got my head around the need for this FTA list.

AFAICS it's the government protecting certain events for the fans of a sport from the wishes & decisions of the governing body of that sport?

Kind of barmy, don't you think?

Im as happy as the next cynic to give the RFL the thorough kicking it regularly deserves, but Im also prepared to accept they do do what's best for the sport in terms of selling rights, and carefully balancing the value of pubclity & audience figures on FTA against the cold hard cash of SKY.

Once a match/game/sport is on FTA how do you get a fair price from a broadcaster who knows you can't take it to SKY?

[thirteenthman]

It could be argued that if ratings for the Challenge Cup on the BBC carry on the downward trend they've been showing these past few years, the BBC might not be too concerned if they lost the rights to it anyway. Rugby League's awareness in the country at large is probably the lowest it's ever been, and that's saying something. The casual fans passing interest in the sport is nowhere near what is was in the early 90s. It'll take more than showing a couple of 4 Nations matches on BBC1 to change that.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

If the BBC's funding is cut I know which sport I'd put my money on to be cancelled.

[RP London]

If the BBC's funding is cut I know which sport I'd put my money on to be cancelled.

the funding that is being cut is the funding that has been ringfenced for the move to Saford and the Digital switchover.. as such once done they will look at it and say.. right you dont need that cash.. it wont affect anything if we take it off you as that is purely what the cash was for..

so apparently it would not change anything in the service offered..

apparently.

[no13benny]

Apart from the fact they will be operating out of a city with a new rugby league stadium (and hopefully stronger side as a result), close to where the Grand Final is held. Can only be good for the game.

[brooza]

wondering when thats gonna happen this year, and did the bbc show any highlights of the france game?.. the small print in the contract no doubt says "will be shown when we feel like it"

It's already been stated that they'll be showing one of England's 4 Nations matches, but no word yet on which one (I don't think)

Most likely the one that's on at 5am

[Futtocks]

It's already been stated that they'll be showing one of England's 4 Nations matches, but no word yet on which one (I don't think)

Most likely the one that's on at 5am

Since Sky get first choice, the BBC match will probably be the one against PNG. Which I wouldn't mind, actually.

[brooza]

Since Sky get first choice, the BBC match will probably be the one against PNG. Which I wouldn't mind, actually.

That's the one I was hoping for on the BBC, but not too fussed now. Gonna get Sky Sports for the month for the 4N

[HappyDave]

Seeing as the beeb had 2 Live matches of the Gillette 4 Nations last year are you sure they'll only show 1 game from Aus this year? And what sort of GMT will the G4N be this winter? 8am? 9am? 10am? 11am?

Edited by HappyDave, 23 July 2010 - 12:15 AM.

[Futtocks]

Seeing as the beeb had 2 Live matches of the Gillette 4 Nations last year are you sure they'll only show 1 game from Aus this year? And what sort of GMT will the G4N be this winter? 8am? 9am? 10am? 11am?

The agreement is that the BBC get one match.

Last year, there was a second BBC match, as Sky chose not to show it (France v NZ or Aus, can't remember which) and the Beeb picked up the option.

Given the time difference, I don't know if they will take a second match if offered this time, as it would disrupt their TV schedule.

[brooza]

Seeing as the beeb had 2 Live matches of the Gillette 4 Nations last year are you sure they'll only show 1 game from Aus this year? And what sort of GMT will the G4N be this winter? 8am? 9am? 10am? 11am?

Sat 23 Oct - New Zealand v England - KO 8pm (UK - 8am) - Scheduled for Sky Sports
Sun 31 Oct - Australia v England - KO 8pm (UK - 9am) - Scheduled for Sky Sports
Sat 6 Nov - England v Papua New Guinea - KO 6pm (UK - 5am) - Scheduled for Sky Sports

That last one's gonna be a ######, 5am the morning after bonfire night

Edited by brooza, 23 July 2010 - 10:30 AM.