80 replies to this topic

[Wellsy4HullFC]

I would love to see Sky pull out of Super league. Maybe then, all Rugby League clubs would be treated equally. Then we would see who runs their business well. Suddenly Halifax, Dewsbury, Leigh etc would be the big noises!

I can't tell if this is tongue in cheek or not?

[Lobbygobbler]

I think that if Sky pull out then SL (even RL) will cease to exist all the clubs will turn to union where all the big money is and all the fans will embrace line-outs, rucks, mauls and eight man penalty ravaged scrums.

Now he's got the answer he wants will he begger off.

Actually I dont think crowds would decrease much if at all even if clubs went part time (with sone full timers) because matches would be closer results - what fans really want. Therefore there would still be revenues from crowds and sponsorship, just no sky money. We'd still be able to keep our stars full time but not the entire squads.

In fact crowds across the board may increase despite a drop in fitness. The main problem would be whether crowds could be maintained

[Lesmets]

Actually I dont think crowds would decrease much if at all even if clubs went part time (with sone full timers) because matches would be closer results - what fans really want. Therefore there would still be revenues from crowds and sponsorship, just no sky money. We'd still be able to keep our stars full time but not the entire squads.

In fact crowds across the board may increase despite a drop in fitness. The main problem would be whether crowds could be maintained

I know im gonna get flamed for sayin it but Would clubs like Saints or Wigan accept that or would they look to revenue that could be gained by joining Union or even the NRL though the logistics of that would be insane ,but I remember the Southern Orcas considering a bid to Super League after the NRL went with the Gold Coast , poss a European conference within the NRL

[dave the euph]

Sky dropped the championship and they seem to be doing ok

[a.n Other]

Sky dropped the championship and they seem to be doing ok

The Championship clubs didn't receive any money for the TV deal. So it made no difference when sky dropped the coverage.

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

I know im gonna get flamed for sayin it but Would clubs like Saints or Wigan accept that or would they look to revenue that could be gained by joining Union or even the NRL though the logistics of that would be insane ,but I remember the Southern Orcas considering a bid to Super League after the NRL went with the Gold Coast , poss a European conference within the NRL

If Saints or Wigan joined Union they would have very few of the fans they have now thus negating much or all of the extra funding that may come Union broadcast rights - that's assuming they could join union at a high level rather than working their way through the leagues.

My reasoning for this, simple, any fans wanting to watch union can do but in my experience most League fans are that - League fans

[longboard]

I can why Sky would offload something expensive that sinks down the ratings - say thirty fat blokes botting each other in the mud whilst Simon Barnes has an orgasm - but losing rugby league is something they've shown themselves unwilling to do. As you say, they get it cheap, it's good ratings and guaranteed good television.

If they were to drop it - I think it more likely they'd try to pay less - we know that ESPN are desperate for content right now.

Simon Barnes like RL, not RU. He is scathing about RU.

[brooza]

Seeing as we are talking International RL here and we have never had a home ground, WTF are you talking about?

I thought we were talking about the Grand Final

[guess who]

With the EPL getting massive money outta sky what would happen if Super League failed to get a TV partner willing to put major money in to keep the top teams afloat and competition viable ,and b4 anyone goes off about me putting this on a forum and I don't like RL ,it's because I love the game I bring this up as it could be a very real possibility in years to come !

The game would be finished. A lot on here would never admit it, but its true.

[Johnoco]

The game would be finished. A lot on here would never admit it, but its true.

I can't think of anyone who doesn't realise the importance of sky money. But the same is true of all pro sports. Do you remember what happened to so many football clubs when ITV digital went under? And that's football where single clubs earn more money than the whole of RL.

You may as well ask any number of obvious questions. Unless sky have hinted they are looking to offload RL, why would you ask such a question?

[gingerjon]

The game would be finished. A lot on here would never admit it, but its true.

The game at professional level would be in difficulties if another backer couldn't be found.

Sky is not the only player.

[Yakstorm]

As mentioned before, Super League rates currently on Sky, and the club part of it gets significant crowds and has a strong following in parts of the country. For those reasons alone, someone would always bid for the rights to Rugby League in the UK, if for no other reason than to gain a guaranteed ratings group.

Would they bid as much as Sky? Well that naturally depends on a lot of factors, ie. if this ever happened, who are the other competitors, strength of market tension, state of the economy and so on, so if Sky was to pull out, League might have to live with less or equal funds as to what it is getting now from TV, which would have an effect on the competition, but still the sport would still exist, and a professional competition would still exist, it just might have to re-evaluate living within it's means.

[Dave T]

I know im gonna get flamed for sayin it but Would clubs like Saints or Wigan accept that or would they look to revenue that could be gained by joining Union or even the NRL though the logistics of that would be insane ,but I remember the Southern Orcas considering a bid to Super League after the NRL went with the Gold Coast , poss a European conference within the NRL

Wigan and Saints could get more money in Union now, so why wouldn't they look into this now?

[Railway End]

Wigan and Saints could get more money in Union now, so why wouldn't they look into this now?

Surely the extra money they would get from the RFU would be offset by the dramatic fall in crowds if they were to switch codes?

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

Surely the extra money they would get from the RFU would be offset by the dramatic fall in crowds if they were to switch codes?

The likes of Wigan or Saints wouldn't get huge amounts of money from Union if they to switch unless they went straight into the premiership, which I would think would leave the RFU open to legal address from clubs that had to make way. Therefore they would have to work their way through the leagues on virtually nil support

[Blind side johnny]

I would love to see Sky pull out of Super league. Maybe then, all Rugby League clubs would be treated equally. Then we would see who runs their business well. Suddenly Halifax, Dewsbury, Leigh etc would be the big noises!

And we could open the pits again then we would have proper forrards like before.

[ParraEelsNRL]

I can why Sky would offload something expensive that sinks down the ratings - say thirty fat blokes botting each other in the mud whilst Simon Barnes has an orgasm - but losing rugby league is something they've shown themselves unwilling to do. As you say, they get it cheap, it's good ratings and guaranteed good television.

If they were to drop it - I think it more likely they'd try to pay less - we know that ESPN are desperate for content right now.

Just wanted to quote this, not because of anything you said mate, but I do love your sig

Edited by ParraEelsNRL, 07 November 2012 - 05:58 PM.

[ParraEelsNRL]

Once. And that still isn't full.

Better than 0 eh?

[Li0nhead]

I know im gonna get flamed for sayin it but Would clubs like Saints or Wigan accept that or would they look to revenue that could be gained by joining Union or even the NRL though the logistics of that would be insane ,but I remember the Southern Orcas considering a bid to Super League after the NRL went with the Gold Coast , poss a European conference within the NRL

No no you have it wrong. To get the revenue lost by Sky pulling out they would look to where the money is and switch to being teams playing in the Indian Premier League 20/20.

Edited by Li0nhead, 07 November 2012 - 08:20 PM.

[guess who]

You may as well ask any number of obvious questions. Unless sky have hinted they are looking to offload RL, why would you ask such a question?

The question was asked so debate can take place.