TV Deal to conclude end of June

[del capo]

10 hours ago, yipyee said:

Heard rumours of a group stage in the challenge cup and this sort of confirms it. 

Would make sense to have qualifiers from lower divisions then 4 groups of 4 which would add 6 games and could have group winners to semis but most probably top 2 for quarters. 

Presume these games would be sold separately to BBC and another broadcaster.

The Challenge Cup Final is still on the A list for free to air, so earlier rounds  presumably will have the same coverage as now (a mix of BBC and at present Sky ). Could Channel 4 ( under financial pressures ) enter the  fray ?

[Wellsy4HullFC]

"DAZN has promised to broadcast every game, something that doesn't currently happen on Sky."

https://twitter.com/JaimeJames90/status/1675205829572669440?t=H63vWGw2zyhZaAA-NtFC1g&s=19

[DI Keith Fowler]

40 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

"DAZN has promised to broadcast every game, something that doesn't currently happen on Sky."

https://twitter.com/JaimeJames90/status/1675205829572669440?t=H63vWGw2zyhZaAA-NtFC1g&s=19

Instant suspicion of someone who pays for twitter aside, he just looks like a DAZN fanboy (such is the modern world) repeating what he's read elsewhere. 

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

I'm sceptical, but: 

2 to 3 games a week on Sky 

1 on channel 4 

2 to 3 a week on DAZN 

If so, presume DAZN would get worldwide rights (excluding Australia possibly) to all matches

[HawkMan]

Moving from Sky, a popular multi faceted broadcaster, not just sports , but general programming,  to a niche by comparison one, doesn't on the face of it seem a good idea.

If RL decamped from Sky how many subscribers who don't just subscribe for RL but for different sports, mainly football,  and also watch Sky's drama and film channels,  would ditch Sky? I'd say just the RL diehards, a move to DAZN would greatly lessen the opportunities for the casual fan to watch. If DAZN took just a game a round okay,  but if they took it all, bad news, unless they offered much more than Sky which enabled the game to secure its future, but at the probable cost of any chance of greatly widening its appeal.

Edited July 5, 2023 by HawkMan

[Hull Kingston Bronco]

Just now, HawkMan said:

Moving from Sky, a popular multi faceted broadcaster, not just sports , but general programming,  to a niche, by comparison one, doesn't on the face of it seem a good idea.

If RL decamped from Sky how many subscribers who don't just subscribe for RL but for different sports, mainly football,  and also watch Sky's drama and film channels,  would ditch Sky? I'd say just the RL diehards, a move to DAZN would greatly lessen the opportunities for the casual fan to watch. If DAZN took just a game a round okay,  but if they took it all, bad news, unless they offered much more than Sky which enabled the game to secure its future, but at the probable cost of any chance of greatly widening its appeal.

I'd be pretty certain they're looking at a bundle of broadcasters.

Having one non-subscription, one subscription digital and one subscription streaming looks like the best model if they can pull it off. Sky's reduced level of financial investment no longer supports exclusivity anyway, I'm sure they understand that trade-off. 

[David Shepherd]

1 hour ago, HawkMan said:

Moving from Sky, a popular multi faceted broadcaster, not just sports , but general programming,  to a niche by comparison one, doesn't on the face of it seem a good idea.

If RL decamped from Sky how many subscribers who don't just subscribe for RL but for different sports, mainly football,  and also watch Sky's drama and film channels,  would ditch Sky? I'd say just the RL diehards, a move to DAZN would greatly lessen the opportunities for the casual fan to watch. If DAZN took just a game a round okay,  but if they took it all, bad news, unless they offered much more than Sky which enabled the game to secure its future, but at the probable cost of any chance of greatly widening its appeal.

I'd ditch Sky Sports, but I doubt I'd ever leave Sky completely.

[Toby Chopra]

2 minutes ago, David Shepherd said:

I'd ditch Sky Sports, but I doubt I'd ever leave Sky completely.

Depends on who gets which matches. If Sky still have first and third choice, plus the other sports I watch, then I'd probably stick with them+Channel 4, and skip DAZN's 4th/5th choices. I think most would do this.

But if DAZN opens up a cheaper option for those who can't/won't pay for Sky, then it could be a Win-Win for all.

Most important thing is keeping 8 games a year on C4 INCLUDING a Grand Final simulcast.

[Dave T]

From a personal level I'd love us to be moving to a place with more choice for customers. One of the things that has become a thing for me in recent years are that the night time games are a challenge. I enjoy watching a couple of games per week, but taking up the whole evening on Thursday and Friday once our daughter is in bed does rather mean that I watch far far fewer matches than I used to. 

I enjoy a Saturday 5pm game, the c4 afternoon games work, and the BBC weekend games do too. I think the way we have pigeon-holed ourselves into that Thursday and Friday slot does rather mean that we have limited our audience to an extent imo. I think more coverage, across more slots giving more choice to customers and potential customers is the way to go.

If we compare to football coverage, we can be watching top stuff almost every night of the week at some parts of the season, plus all day at weekends.

Edited July 5, 2023 by Dave T

[David Shepherd]

1 hour ago, Toby Chopra said:

Depends on who gets which matches. If Sky still have first and third choice, plus the other sports I watch, then I'd probably stick with them+Channel 4, and skip DAZN's 4th/5th choices. I think most would do this.

But if DAZN opens up a cheaper option for those who can't/won't pay for Sky, then it could be a Win-Win for all.

Most important thing is keeping 8 games a year on C4 INCLUDING a Grand Final simulcast.

Oh, I'd never ditch Sky while they showed RL.  I mean if they didn't have RL. I also watch cricket but rarely have the time to indulge so it would be a waste of money for me.

I'd like to see one game from each round on C4 in a regular Saturday afternoon time slot.  If we can get every game covered by a mixture of C4/Sky/DAZN then that's perfect. Also let DAZN have worldwide rights for all games.

Ideal schedule would be:

Thursday Night - Friday Night - Saturday lunch - Saturday night - Sunday Morning (so that champ games are not clashing with SL on TV) and Monday night.

Move the weekly Champ TV game to Tue or Wed

[Man of Kent]

12 hours ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

I'm sceptical, but: 

2 to 3 games a week on Sky 

1 on channel 4 

2 to 3 a week on DAZN 

If so, presume DAZN would get worldwide rights (excluding Australia possibly) to all matches

If that was the option, I would keep Sky and gladly subscribe to DAZN (for what seems to be £9.99 a month or £99.99 a year). 

[Tommygilf]

We need to be careful about walking away from Sky, but certainly if they are going to low ball us, their exclusivity needs to be challenged. I also think this will help us get every match broadcast somewhere, which we have been well behind on.

My practical assumption would be that of the 6 Super League games a week, we end up with something like this:

Thursday Evening Sky

Friday Evening Sky

Saturday Lunchtime ch4

(Saturday Evening Catalans home games Sky)

Sunday triple header DAZN or a n other. 12.30, 3, 5.30 kick offs.

For what its worth I also think we're missing a trick not playing a televised game at 3pm on a Saturday whilst the football blackout is still in place.

[RigbyLuger]

19 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

 For what its worth I also think we're missing a trick not playing a televised game at 3pm on a Saturday whilst the football blackout is still in place.

People would moan that they have to choose between supporting their club and going to watch football/watch a dodgy feed in a pub. But you're spot on.

[David Shepherd]

27 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

We need to be careful about walking away from Sky, but certainly if they are going to low ball us, their exclusivity needs to be challenged. I also think this will help us get every match broadcast somewhere, which we have been well behind on.

My practical assumption would be that of the 6 Super League games a week, we end up with something like this:

Thursday Evening Sky

Friday Evening Sky

Saturday Lunchtime ch4

(Saturday Evening Catalans home games Sky)

Sunday triple header DAZN or a n other. 12.30, 3, 5.30 kick offs.

For what its worth I also think we're missing a trick not playing a televised game at 3pm on a Saturday whilst the football blackout is still in place.

I'd avoid mid-afternoon on Sundays.  You'll have probably 15-20,000 people that like rugby league missing from your potential TV audience. 

Edited July 5, 2023 by David Shepherd

[Tommygilf]

9 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

People would moan that they have to choose between supporting their club and going to watch football/watch a dodgy feed in a pub. But you're spot on.

For the general public, most of whom won't be watching a football match, it seems ideal!

Let the moaners moan. Plenty of matches don't kick off then anyway, but Saturday 3pm is the only time football cannot be shown 

[Tommygilf]

6 minutes ago, David Shepherd said:

I'd avoid mid-afternoon on Sundays.  You'll have probably 15-20,000 people that like rugby league missing from your potential TV audience. 

I can see the logic, its just where does the other game go. And likewise, some Super League clubs will want some 3pm Sunday matches through the season.

[JM2010]

What figures have been mentioned for the value of the deals?

[David Shepherd]

1 hour ago, Tommygilf said:

I can see the logic, its just where does the other game go. And likewise, some Super League clubs will want some 3pm Sunday matches through the season.

Monday night?

Edited July 5, 2023 by David Shepherd

[David Shepherd]

Having never really heard of DAZN before, had a little look at them. They're really quite big, 20m global subscribers and growing. Could be a game changer if we can get on there a couple of times a week.  We could also give them the rights to all TV games outside the UK/ROI for free as a sweetener.

Edited July 5, 2023 by David Shepherd

[Tommygilf]

34 minutes ago, David Shepherd said:

Monday night?

It never seemed to really click in Super League imo. I can see that being "the slot" for Championship though, as part of a DAZN style package for example.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

How to market DAZN if the sign up rugby league.

 

"DAZN, home of Rugby League and Hardcore Porn"

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

Is having every match televised  important? 

 

[Tommygilf]

7 minutes ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

Is having every match televised  important? 

 

I think so yeah, especially for a smaller sport that struggles for coverage.

[Man of Kent]

2 minutes ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

Is having every match televised  important? 

If it can enhance overall TV revenue by selling packages to multiple broadcasters, it's very important.

[idrewthehaggis]

2 hours ago, David Shepherd said:

Having never really heard of DAZN before, had a little look at them. 

And so did I. For people like me who has had to bite their lips because of a Murdoch owned Sky, I am going to struggle with "Da Zone." 

1 hour ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

How to market DAZN if the sign up rugby league.

"DAZN, home of Rugby League and Hardcore Porn"

"DA ZoNe, home of Rugby League and Hardcore neo con conspiracy  politics"