WCC Scheduling

[Dave T]

Are we learning nothing? 

Melbourne v Leeds kicking off at 9.05am on the Friday.

There are literally two significant markets for this event, Australia and England and they pretty much rule out one of them by this scheduling.

No doubt they will point out that Friday night viewers will bring in more just in Oz than it would on Sky even on the Saturday, but that isnt the point - no terrestrial broadcaster would ever want this event if we treat it like this.

We have seen that the Aussies can get huge figures on a Sat or Sunday, and Sky would have got bigger figures for that.

Why do we keep making it hard to be an RL fan?

[Dave T]

A quick positive, Sky have confirmed theh will be showing all the Wigan and Hull games from Oz live on SS Arena.

[Lowdesert]

 

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/hull-fc-wigan-warriors-australia-1040691

[Gerrumonside ref]

10 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Are we learning nothing? 

Melbourne v Leeds kicking off at 9.05am on the Friday.

There are literally two significant markets for this event, Australia and England and they pretty much rule out one of them by this scheduling.

No doubt they will point out that Friday night viewers will bring in more just in Oz than it would on Sky even on the Saturday, but that isnt the point - no terrestrial broadcaster would ever want this event if we treat it like this.

We have seen that the Aussies can get huge figures on a Sat or Sunday, and Sky would have got bigger figures for that.

Why do we keep making it hard to be an RL fan?

Does seem odd as I thought the WCC was meant to be a bigger deal for Super League fans than NRL fans.

Hope Leeds stuff them by the way.

[Dave T]

Other broadcasting news though - Catalans home games confirmed as on Sky.

[Sports Prophet]

41 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Are we learning nothing? 

Melbourne v Leeds kicking off at 9.05am on the Friday.

There are literally two significant markets for this event, Australia and England and they pretty much rule out one of them by this scheduling.

No doubt they will point out that Friday night viewers will bring in more just in Oz than it would on Sky even on the Saturday, but that isnt the point - no terrestrial broadcaster would ever want this event if we treat it like this.

We have seen that the Aussies can get huge figures on a Sat or Sunday, and Sky would have got bigger figures for that.

Why do we keep making it hard to be an RL fan?

That's what happens when a fixture is scheduled and managed by those that consider the WCC an after thought.

Sad really.

[Bilko]

46 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

That's what happens when a fixture is scheduled and managed by those that consider the WCC an after thought.

Sad really.

The Smith - Thurston testimonial was scheduled first the following Friday so it ruled out Sunday really and Wigan and Hull had scheduled on the Saturday before Leeds had won the Grand Final. It would have been poorer scheduling to clash the two. 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

With the new direction SL seems to be going in, will they be in charge of scheduling this competition in the future rather than the RFL?

[Bilko]

1 hour ago, scotchy1 said:

I mean, its a Saturday and Wollongong and Melbourne are 800km as way from each other. Theres an obvious answer of a 6pm (7am) game followed by an 8pm (9am) game. 

No its not Wigan v Hull that same weekend its the challenge matches between Hull v St George and Souths v Wigan which are also being televised over there.... And here for that matter. 

[Sports Prophet]

1 hour ago, Bilko said:

The Smith - Thurston testimonial was scheduled first the following Friday so it ruled out Sunday really and Wigan and Hull had scheduled on the Saturday before Leeds had won the Grand Final. It would have been poorer scheduling to clash the two. 

Don't get me started on the Smith-Thurston testimonial.

The NRL deserve a royal ar$s whooping on their shambolic "qualifications" for testimonial fixtures.

[The Great Dane]

Roughly speaking what do you think the ratings in England would have been if it was on at a better time compared to what they will be with the current scheduling?

Even taking those numbers into account wouldn't it best for the WCC as an event and a product if it is given the best chance for it to sell it's self to the NRL clubs in Australia? For example the better it does and the more popular and profitable that it is the more likely that the NRL clubs are to take it seriously and want to host it in the future which is what the WCC desperately needs if it's going to survive, and prime time on Friday nights gets the best ratings in Aus, thus is the most valuable to sponsors, holds the most prestige, etc.

So isn't the possible growth in interest in the event in Australia (particularly among the NRL clubs) that could be the result of this WCC being as successful as possible worth the concession of holding it at a time that isn't optimal to English supporters just this once.

Besides It's not like when it's held in England that it's on at a good time for audiences in Australia either, it's one of the events major downfalls, the same downfall that has basically killed Super Rugby in this country.   

[Sports Prophet]

6 minutes ago, The Great Dane said:

Roughly speaking what do you think the ratings in England would have been if it was on at a better time compared to what they will be with the current scheduling?

Even taking those numbers into account wouldn't it best for the WCC as an event and a product if it is given the best chance for it to sell it's self to the NRL clubs in Australia? For example the better it does and the more popular and profitable that it is the more likely that the NRL clubs are to take it seriously and want to host it in the future which is what the WCC desperately needs if it's going to survive, and prime time on Friday nights gets the best ratings in Aus, thus is the most valuable to sponsors, holds the most prestige, etc.

So isn't the possible growth in interest in the event in Australia (particularly among the NRL clubs) that could be the result of this WCC being as successful as possible worth the concession of holding it at a time that isn't optimal to English supporters just this once.

Besides It's not like when it's held in England that it's on at a good time for audiences in Australia either, it's one of the events major downfalls, the same downfall that has basically killed Super Rugby in this country.   

You offer a very valid argument GD. 

My only counter is that if the WCC must persist to proceed as a pre-season exhibition match, then the least that could be done is to reserve prime Sat night slot to give it the best chance in Aus while giving the game its best chance to succeed in the UK market as well.

I still can't take the event any more serious than an exhibition until it is played a week or two post domestic season GF.

[The Great Dane]

17 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

You offer a very valid argument GD. 

My only counter is that if the WCC must persist to proceed as a pre-season exhibition match, then the least that could be done is to reserve prime Sat night slot to give it the best chance in Aus while giving the game its best chance to succeed in the UK market as well.

Don't get me wrong, of course it should be held at a time that is as good as possible for both countries where possible, I was just saying that the way that things have turned out this time aren't necessarily a bad thing.

17 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

I still can't take the event any more serious than an exhibition until it is played a week or two post domestic season GF.

I'm the same, if it continues to be held the way that it is it'll be nothing more then a trial/exhibition game, which is better then how it is seen by most down here.

You could make the game relevant and interesting overnight by holding it after the domestic seasons, a week or two after the grand finals. 

It'll probably never happen though, and if it does it'll be half arsed like everything in this sport, cause for it to be done properly the two seasons would have to line up so that the seasons finish at the same time, the organisation of WCC would have to happen before the GFs are decided, which would mean that it would have to be organised by the NRL and RFL and not the clubs, and it'd also mean that the games would almost certainly be held at neutral venues, and the host nation would have to alternate between the two countries each year, you'd also have to have contingency plans for the odd occasion that a club from NZ, France or hopefully in the future Canada win the comp in a host nations year so that it can be held in their nation, etc, etc.

But something that I can see realistically happening right now if people at the RFL/SL were realistic about what they can achive with the WCS that would be a step in the right direction toward the perfect event would be for the two games to be held each year, one in each country, the WCC and the runners up of the GFs playing against each other, with the host nations of each game swapping each year. Again it'll probably never happen though.    

 

[Old Frightful]

9 hours ago, Dave T said:

A quick positive, Sky have confirmed theh will be showing all the Wigan and Hull games from Oz live on SS Arena.

https://www.rugbyleagueontv.com/

I rather hope this is correct. 

[philipw]

9 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

Don't get me started on the Smith-Thurston testimonial.

The NRL deserve a royal ar$s whooping on their shambolic "qualifications" for testimonial fixtures.

To be fair in this case....what more relevant 'qualifications' do these two needs? 

Both future immortals

Combined 5 Dally Ms, 5 Golden Boots, 79 apps for Queensland, 95 for Australia, 29 NRL seasons (including a total of 628 games, 657 including Thurstons 29 for Canterbury), 5 NRL Premierships (6 if you include the one Thurston won at Canterbury), 3 WCC wins.....

I'm not entirely sure what more they need to do? 

[Dave T]

4 hours ago, The Great Dane said:

Roughly speaking what do you think the ratings in England would have been if it was on at a better time compared to what they will be with the current scheduling?

Even taking those numbers into account wouldn't it best for the WCC as an event and a product if it is given the best chance for it to sell it's self to the NRL clubs in Australia? For example the better it does and the more popular and profitable that it is the more likely that the NRL clubs are to take it seriously and want to host it in the future which is what the WCC desperately needs if it's going to survive, and prime time on Friday nights gets the best ratings in Aus, thus is the most valuable to sponsors, holds the most prestige, etc.

So isn't the possible growth in interest in the event in Australia (particularly among the NRL clubs) that could be the result of this WCC being as successful as possible worth the concession of holding it at a time that isn't optimal to English supporters just this once.

Besides It's not like when it's held in England that it's on at a good time for audiences in Australia either, it's one of the events major downfalls, the same downfall that has basically killed Super Rugby in this country.   

I acknowledged this argument in the opening post. It is short sighted though. Saturday would not prevent this event being grown in Oz and you would get better numbers in a 2nd market.

On your last paragraph - that is correct, it is a joke all round. The scheduling for cross-hemisphere games really needs more consideration.

[DoubleD]

17 minutes ago, philipw said:

To be fair in this case....what more relevant 'qualifications' do these two needs? 

Both future immortals

Combined 5 Dally Ms, 5 Golden Boots, 79 apps for Queensland, 95 for Australia, 29 NRL seasons (including a total of 628 games, 657 including Thurstons 29 for Canterbury), 5 NRL Premierships (6 if you include the one Thurston won at Canterbury), 3 WCC wins.....

I'm not entirely sure what more they need to do? 

Neither of them have tested themselves in the best league in the world ?

[philipw]

6 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

Neither of them have tested themselves in the best league in the world ?

Thats true....

[Sports Prophet]

48 minutes ago, philipw said:

To be fair in this case....what more relevant 'qualifications' do these two needs? 

Both future immortals

Combined 5 Dally Ms, 5 Golden Boots, 79 apps for Queensland, 95 for Australia, 29 NRL seasons (including a total of 628 games, 657 including Thurstons 29 for Canterbury), 5 NRL Premierships (6 if you include the one Thurston won at Canterbury), 3 WCC wins.....

I'm not entirely sure what more they need to do? 

10 years at one club. That is all that ever was and ever should be required.

The NRL then threw in subjective requirements like "fair player" and "good character".

If the NRL deem a player is not worthy of a testimonial because of their character or number of appearances at a tribunal, then surely they are not worthy of an NRL contract at all.

[Harry Stottle]

13 hours ago, Dave T said:

Are we learning nothing? 

Melbourne v Leeds kicking off at 9.05am on the Friday.

There are literally two significant markets for this event, Australia and England and they pretty much rule out one of them by this scheduling.

No doubt they will point out that Friday night viewers will bring in more just in Oz than it would on Sky even on the Saturday, but that isnt the point - no terrestrial broadcaster would ever want this event if we treat it like this.

We have seen that the Aussies can get huge figures on a Sat or Sunday, and Sky would have got bigger figures for that.

Why do we keep making it hard to be an RL fan?

Just as a comparitive Dave, when the WCC games have been played in this country, how have the days and times affected the Australian viewers, if at all?

[philipw]

12 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

10 years at one club. That is all that ever was and ever should be required.

Both these two easily qualify for that

12 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

The NRL then threw in subjective requirements like "fair player" and "good character".

Have you got a link to that? I have never heard that one before....to be fair, I am sure it is VERY rare for players to be granted a testimonial in the RL....much more common in the Norther Hemisphere

[Dave T]

6 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Just as a comparitive Dave, when the WCC games have been played in this country, how have the days and times affected the Australian viewers, if at all?

They have been a mixed bag. Some of them have been as good as you could work and some have been shocking. We have had a few on a Sunday evening which is a shocking slot for Aussie viewers.

Same with the last Four Nations - playing games on Sundays here isnt the best. 

We really should be playing major cross-hemisphere games on Saturdays where possible.

We have a real possibility of friendlies getting bigger figures here than the WCC.

[Sports Prophet]

21 minutes ago, philipw said:

Both these two easily qualify for that

Have you got a link to that? I have never heard that one before....to be fair, I am sure it is VERY rare for players to be granted a testimonial in the RL....much more common in the Norther Hemisphere

Yeah, I'm not begrudging Smith and Thurston. But for Gallen not to qualify is a travesty.

i don't have a link sorry. It was all the talk in the press at the time the testimonial for Smith and Thurston was mooted.

It used to be a common occurrence in Aus too. Just not common these days for a player to stay at one club for 10 years these days.

[DoubleD]

I’ve just told my colleagues I will be ‘working from home’ that day ?

[Harry Stottle]

9 minutes ago, Dave T said:

They have been a mixed bag. Some of them have been as good as you could work and some have been shocking. We have had a few on a Sunday evening which is a shocking slot for Aussie viewers.

Same with the last Four Nations - playing games on Sundays here isnt the best. 

We really should be playing major cross-hemisphere games on Saturdays where possible.

We have a real possibility of friendlies getting bigger figures here than the WCC.

I thought that was the case, seems like the local management want to use the optimum times to deliver better attendance levels, most people if not t.v. viewers will look at the attendance first and that will be the yardstick for them if the game as been a success or not i.e. if 10K in the stadium - a failure, 25K+ a success, it may not suit a lot of people, and for those who do catch the programme, it sure looks better on the screen.