106 replies to this topic

[Gav Wilson]

I've read that the challenge cup has a sponsor and the announcement is imminent - fantastic

However, the news I received last night really ticked me off. As far as I understand, we are still to announce sponsorship deals for the WC2013, the SL and the Championships - what I don't understand is the Sky sponsorship for SL. Excuse my ignorance, but is that two separate deals i.e. the RFL will get a sponsor for SL and Sky will have their own for TV advertising. Call me thick for not knowing, I've heard worse

Anyway, I was told that (allegedly-get that in just in case) Sky have been offering a BOGOF with SL - sponsor their union coverage and the RL comes free. I can comes to terms with the fact that the economic climate makes it tougher than ever. I can come to terms with having to package us with other deals...but the bit that sticks in my craw is bandying us about free and with union

Thats just for Sky coverage that, its nothing to do with the RFL & they don't get a penny from it.

Iron Bru, William Hill, Stan James and SkyBet have all done it in the last few seasons.

[John Rhino]

I've read that the challenge cup has a sponsor and the announcement is imminent - fantastic

However, the news I received last night really ticked me off. As far as I understand, we are still to announce sponsorship deals for the WC2013, the SL and the Championships - what I don't understand is the Sky sponsorship for SL. Excuse my ignorance, but is that two separate deals i.e. the RFL will get a sponsor for SL and Sky will have their own for TV advertising. Call me thick for not knowing, I've heard worse

Anyway, I was told that (allegedly-get that in just in case) Sky have been offering a BOGOF with SL - sponsor their union coverage and the RL comes free. I can comes to terms with the fact that the economic climate makes it tougher than ever. I can come to terms with having to package us with other deals...but the bit that sticks in my craw is bandying us about free and with union

I agree, it stinks, especially as our viewing figures are far greater.

However, the only saving grace is the viewer will not notice the difference (and we may be linked to someting a bit more prestigious than betting or fizzy sugarwater)

[Gav Wilson]

I agree, it stinks, especially as our viewing figures are far greater.

However, the only saving grace is the viewer will not notice the difference (and we may be linked to someting a bit more prestigious than betting or fizzy sugarwater)

Why does it stink? It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.

[Futtocks]

Why does it stink? It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.

It says something about the screwed-up way this country perceives sport - we could end up getting substantially more money by being bundled in with a sport that gets far fewer viewers.

[Grinner]

It says something about the screwed-up way this country perceives sport - we could end up getting substantially more money by being bundled in with a sport that gets far fewer viewers.

"We" won't get any more money, this is only about the sponsorship of Sky's programmes, so all the money simply goes to them. Which is a bit bizzare in some way, I mean last year you could easily belive that Irn Bru was the superleage sponsor if you only watched it on telly.

[AndyCapp]

You need to remember that the alternative to the Stobart deal was a derisory one-off payment from a betting company. There wasn't much of a choice to make, and fans would have been dissatisfied with either.

Personally, I believe the Stobart deal was the better of the two overall, but that doesn't make it great.

Rugby League isn't chasing the vast amounts that Football, F1, Golf, Tennis etc. would be looking for - let's hope the guy trying to make the deals has used his contacts and gets something decent. And that whoever does offer sponsorship never visits this website and reads the inevitable negativity. Ever.

Not being negative Futtocks.
I realise its hard to get a good Sponsor when the previous year you sold the rights for pretty well nothing tangible, just something "in kind" that being some moving Trailer billboards up and down the Motorway.
Surely there is a Company that does plenty of business in the heartland of the game as well as Nationally that wants to raise their profile but can not pay the mega bucks for Football but can and will pay a fair deal for a game like Rugby League.
Is the state of affairs that bad in the UK with the GFC?

[cookey]

I've always thought that one of the big four supermarkets would be a good fit for Super League,especially with Asda and Morrisons being northern based.

Incidentally,the more Sky get from a sponsor,the more they are able/likely to pay for the television rights.

[RP London]

there could always be a bonus if the company taking both union and league (if this option does actually exist) has some way of identifying where the extra income comes from, that this company sees League as a better fit for their product when the numbers are worked through at the end of the seasons.. could be a change in perception and like it or not perception is hugeul important.

[Futtocks]

We could always ask Rory McIllroy to sponsor RL.

[Amber Avenger]

I've always thought that one of the big four supermarkets would be a good fit for Super League,especially with Asda and Morrisons being northern based.

Incidentally,the more Sky get from a sponsor,the more they are able/likely to pay for the television rights.

Hmm, I'd stay away from the Bradford forums if Morrisons were ever announced as Super League title sponsors.

I'm sure I heard something about Co-op expanding their sponsorship to be title sponsors of SL as well as the Championships. Obviously nothing has come of that yet though

Edited by Amber Avenger, 15 January 2013 - 10:28 AM.

[Yakstorm]

Just playing devil's advocate, and I will put it out there that I'm not based in the UK, so naturally there maybe other factors that are at play here, but from what I remember seeing from the Stobart truck designs, the most obvious 'call to action' was for people to watch Super League on Sky Sports. Now Super League recorded a massive increase in TV viewing on Sky last year, which was significantly larger than any 'natural' growth, and considering no other KPI's grew by numbers anything near to the TV figures (Sponsorship, Membership, Crowds, Merchandise), it does raise the question, what caused such a major major spike?

Now I understand Monday Night coverage contributed a bit to that number, but even the other (more traditional) broadcast spots enjoyed significant growth this year. Could the Stobart subliminal messaging actually played a bigger part than we're giving them credit for?

[foozler]

Hmm, I'd stay away from the Bradford forums if Morrisons were ever announced as Super League title sponsors.

I'm sure I heard something about Co-op expanding their sponsorship to be title sponsors of SL as well as the Championships. Obviously nothing has come of that yet though

Well Co-Op would be a logical company to approach for expanded sponsorship. Already involved in the sport, a household name across the nation, based in the north, with a range of activities including a financial services arm which is expanding significantly its retail banking division.

[foozler]

Just playing devil's advocate, and I will put it out there that I'm not based in the UK, so naturally there maybe other factors that are at play here, but from what I remember seeing from the Stobart truck designs, the most obvious 'call to action' was for people to watch Super League on Sky Sports. Now Super League recorded a massive increase in TV viewing on Sky last year, which was significantly larger than any 'natural' growth, and considering no other KPI's grew by numbers anything near to the TV figures (Sponsorship, Membership, Crowds, Merchandise), it does raise the question, what caused such a major major spike?

Now I understand Monday Night coverage contributed a bit to that number, but even the other (more traditional) broadcast spots enjoyed significant growth this year. Could the Stobart subliminal messaging actually played a bigger part than we're giving them credit for?

I often thought that as and when I saw a SL branded Stobart truck, it was more like an advert for Sky Sports than anything else. Anyone know whether the images will remain on the trucks until they are withdrawn from service (ie will the sport continue to get free on the road advertising0 or are Stobart going to relivery them in their own colours?

[Futtocks]

Well Co-Op would be a logical company to approach for expanded sponsorship. Already involved in the sport, a household name across the nation, based in the north, with a range of activities including a financial services arm which is expanding significantly its retail banking division.

And ethically sound, too.

[bramleyrhino]

Well Co-Op would be a logical company to approach for expanded sponsorship. Already involved in the sport, a household name across the nation, based in the north, with a range of activities including a financial services arm which is expanding significantly its retail banking division.

Rumour has it that they might be the new sponsor of Super League.

[John Rhino]

Rumour has it that they might be the new sponsor of Super League.

Hope so, I already give up part of my "divvi" to commnunity sports because some of it goes to Rugby

[John Rhino]

Why does it stink? It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.

Because a sponsor is willing to sponsor union on Sky but not a sport with a bigger viewing audience i.e. they want it for free.

As I also pointed out it makes absolutely no difference to the money we as a sport get or to the viewer who will never notice.

I just wish sponsors were falling over themselves to sponsor it on Sky; it would make our bargaining position so very much stronger.

[Manx RL]

I've read that the challenge cup has a sponsor and the announcement is imminent - fantastic

However, the news I received last night really ticked me off. As far as I understand, we are still to announce sponsorship deals for the WC2013, the SL and the Championships - what I don't understand is the Sky sponsorship for SL. Excuse my ignorance, but is that two separate deals i.e. the RFL will get a sponsor for SL and Sky will have their own for TV advertising. Call me thick for not knowing, I've heard worse

Anyway, I was told that (allegedly-get that in just in case) Sky have been offering a BOGOF with SL - sponsor their union coverage and the RL comes free. I can comes to terms with the fact that the economic climate makes it tougher than ever. I can come to terms with having to package us with other deals...but the bit that sticks in my craw is bandying us about free and with union

Sky have been struggling to find a sponsor for F1 since Santander pulled out after 1 year.

[my missus]

sky's f1 channel will be next to go, no viewers.

[jannerboyuk]

Sky have been struggling to find a sponsor for F1 since Santander pulled out after 1 year.

thats a surprise just shows how tough times are