TV Deal to conclude end of June

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

TV deal will conclude by end of month. 

Things may change but inference from reports/ R Jones interview on 5 live is high- teens/ £20m from Sky. Reduction as 4 or 5 less match rounds. 

RFL seem hopeful that other broadcasters will pay more-and hint that RFL will stream more. 

I don't Viaplay will be looking to pay much more- so increase may come from BBC/ C4. I'd be surprised if they fill the gap though- unless it's 1 game a week FTA 

I'm cautious on streaming- in football we've seen that streaming doesn't raise much. 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Rugbyleaguesupporter
More text

[The Future is League]

1 minute ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

TV deal will conclude by end of month. 

Things may change but inference from reports/ R Jones interview on 5 live is high- teens/ £20m from Sky. Reduction as 4 or 5 less match rounds. 

RFL seem hopeful that other broadcasters will pay more-and hint that RFL will stream more. 

I'm cautious on streaming- in football we've seen that streaming doesn't raise much. 

Is there a link to this?

[Toby Chopra]

2 minutes ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

TV deal will conclude by end of month. 

Things may change but inference from reports/ R Jones interview on 5 live is high- teens/ £20m from Sky. Reduction as 4 or 5 less match rounds. 

RFL seem hopeful that other broadcasters will pay more-and hint that RFL will stream more. 

I'm cautious on streaming- in football we've seen that streaming doesn't raise much. 

Did he say anything about what will replace the reduced match rounds? We can't cut SL matches until there's a solid plan in place to replace them with something else that generates revenue.

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

20.38 here: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fsgq0y

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

4 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:

Did he say anything about what will replace the reduced match rounds? We can't cut SL matches until there's a solid plan in place to replace them with something else that generates revenue.

Looks like expanded challenge cup

That's in other part of interview. Talked up Halifax v saints- so I'd expect 2 cup games to be part of season pass 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Rugbyleaguesupporter

[Guest]

£4m to £5m per season from other sources seems achievable to me with some quality thinking in place. 

Is the cut down to Leigh? Asking for a friend. 

I've mentioned for a while moving to 14 sides and here are the consequences of the SL chairman sticking with 12 out of self interest and the SL split disaster. Shame on them. Get 2 sides back up. 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Leonard

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

Reduction hinted at in article here at end- Rugby union not in great place with BT/ TNT 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-12170243/Premiership-Rugby-facing-BT-Sport-rebate-demands-London-Irish-suspension.html

@Leonardvery tough to get more than £2m from streaming- that probably requires in excess of 10k streams a week for 3 lowest profile fixtures (and clubs fearful of impact on attendances) 

Cup will be Feb to May so some spare weeks for teams and not much SL until after April Cup SF 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Rugbyleaguesupporter

[Dave T]

16 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:

Did he say anything about what will replace the reduced match rounds? We can't cut SL matches until there's a solid plan in place to replace them with something else that generates revenue.

Indeed, it would appear odd to lose £5-7m per annum, and then reduce the comp by 4 or 5 weeks. 

It does suggest group cup games to replace them to me at least. 

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

Reduction hinted at in article here at end- Rugby union not in great place with BT/ TNT 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-12170243/Premiership-Rugby-facing-BT-Sport-rebate-demands-London-Irish-suspension.html

@Leonardvery tough to get more than £2m from streaming- that probably requires in excess of 10k streams a week for 3 lowest profile fixtures (and clubs fearful of impact on attendances) 

Cup will be Feb to May so some spare weeks for teams and not much SL until after April Cup SF 

They already film every game, so look at an online season ticket. Say £100 to watch every non televised game. 

There are avenues even before squeezing money out of Ch4 and BBC. 

I'd also look at TNT sport. Sky seem to be taking the Michael year on year. 

Not saying it is easy but it can be mitigated. 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Leonard

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Will every game be televised?

[Barley Mow]

6 minutes ago, Dave T said:

...It does suggest group cup games to replace them to me at least. 

I don't know how they could for next year.

Even if they are able to accommodate the possibility of one or two community clubs or L1 teams qualifying for the groups and the impact on their league fixtures, the championship is going to be a problem.

You can get rid of loop fixtures in SL and have free weeks, but the only loop fixture in the championship is summer bash. Getting rid of that only frees up one week for championship teams.

They've already announced how many teams will be promoted and relegated this season so next year's championship is confirmed as 14 teams. So unless championship clubs aren't to play each other twice in the league next year, I can't see how they manage the logistics at short notice.

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

@Leonardyes- I think Season ticket would be best model for streaming. Match by match take up will be low  

TNT I don't think are interested in SL 

@Henson Park Old Firmall TBC- hinted that they may but we shall see  

Edited June 8, 2023 by Rugbyleaguesupporter

[Harry Stottle]

16 minutes ago, Leonard said:

Is the cut down to Leigh? Asking for a friend. 

Seems like you keep the "Birds of a feather company"

Why should it be down to Leigh? A team with the possibility of being in the best three performing teams in the country come this weekend, if the person at Sky who did the schedules prior to the season kicking off had swooped some fixtures about instead of repeating the same teams every other week, the style of football Leigh are playing would get more viewers, unless they had a one eyed attitude, seemingly like your friend. 

[Guest]

19 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Seems like you keep the "Birds of a feather company"

Why should it be down to Leigh? A team with the possibility of being in the best three performing teams in the country come this weekend, if the person at Sky who did the schedules prior to the season kicking off had swooped some fixtures about instead of repeating the same teams every other week, the style of football Leigh are playing would get more viewers, unless they had a one eyed attitude, seemingly like your friend. 

He shoots he scores.

Have a good day.

[Guest]

58 minutes ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

Looks like expanded challenge cup

That's in other part of interview. Talked up Halifax v saints- so I'd expect 2 cup games to be part of season pass 

Seems odd to replace loop fixtures or to ignore a 14 team comp for what will essentially be meaningless cup games with SL sides putting out weakened teams to fill the gap.

Is this what IMG are being paid to come up with? 

Whilst making something of the CC is one thing - the RL could have just posted a thread on this forum and come up with better ideas for a lot less money.

[Damien]

I think loop fixtures will go because I think fan feedback will have been fairly unanimous against them. I will be really disappointed if they are replaced by the group stage Challenge Cup idea with a 12 team SL rather than just expanding SL to 14 teams. For me 14 teams is the perfect SL number, with 2 French teams as part of that.

[Barley Mow]

5 minutes ago, Damien said:

I think loop fixtures will go because I think fan feedback will have been fairly unanimous against them. I will be really disappointed if they are replaced by the group stage Challenge Cup idea with a 12 team SL rather than just expanding SL to 14 teams. For me 14 teams is the perfect SL number, with 2 French teams as part of that.

I agree with that (other than specifying which countries clubs should be based in), but unfortunately it doesn't match up with negotiating the SL TV deal on the basis of 4 or 5 less rounds, as set out in the OP.

Edited June 8, 2023 by Barley Mow

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

I think loop fixtures will go because I think fan feedback will have been fairly unanimous against them. I will be really disappointed if they are replaced by the group stage Challenge Cup idea with a 12 team SL rather than just expanding SL to 14 teams. For me 14 teams is the perfect SL number, with 2 French teams as part of that.

It's the clear answer. The SL clubs voted against it because they wanted 1/12th of the pie and not 1/14th.

Pure greed.

Now they have 1/12th of a lot less.

Well done all round.

[Damien]

10 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

I agree with that (other than specifying which countries clubs should be based in), but unfortunately it doesn't match up with negotiating the SL TV deal on the basis of 4 or 5 less rounds, as set out in the OP.

But it isn't for 4 or 5 less games overall, its just shuffling fixtures about to get rid of loop fixtures by adding the Challenge Cup group stage.

There was 27 regular games last season. A 14 team SL playing home and away is 26 games. Its barely any different and frees up a weekend for another international game or even SL sides entering the Challenge Cup a round earlier. That would be my preferred way to get rid of loop fixtures.

[rlno1]

1 hour ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

Looks like expanded challenge cup

That's in other part of interview. Talked up Halifax v saints- so I'd expect 2 cup games to be part of season pass 

Surely having a champions league style Challenge Cup will just have all the big boys making the final. Getting a one off upset is what makes the Cup great.

[Tommygilf]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

But it isn't for 4 or 5 less games overall, its just shuffling fixtures about to get rid of loop fixtures by adding the Challenge Cup group stage.

There was 27 regular games last season. A 14 team SL playing home and away is 26 games. Its barely any different and frees up a weekend for another international game or even SL sides entering the Challenge Cup a round earlier. That would be my preferred way to get rid of loop fixtures.

So this is the Super League tv deal going down but the Cup TV deal going up?

Tbh, if the beeb stay on board with the cup I don't mind a group stage as it will allow them to show, regularly, what effectively are super league games.

[Tommygilf]

2 minutes ago, rlno1 said:

Surely having a champions league style Challenge Cup will just have all the big boys making the final. Getting a one off upset is what makes the Cup great.

All the "big boys" make the final anyway?

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, rlno1 said:

Surely having a champions league style Challenge Cup will just have all the big boys making the final. Getting a one off upset is what makes the Cup great.

Off the back of suggestions of a 9s tournament - a league format CC (imagine the fume when there are meaningless games in that for the final round and sides play the academy players) suggests to me that IMG are fundamentally bonkers.

[Padge]

Prey do tell where the 60 or so SL quality players will come from to create 2 new SL sides. There a practice problems with expansion. Wh wants to watch two championship standard teams struggle through the season. Cas & Wakey are currently a good advert for cutting down to 10.

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

So this is the Super League tv deal going down but the Cup TV deal going up?

Tbh, if the beeb stay on board with the cup I don't mind a group stage as it will allow them to show, regularly, what effectively are super league games.

A minimum £6 million plus TV reduction on top of the previous reduction would be a hell of an expensive way to achieve that. I can't see any terrestrial broadcaster, or broadcasters, coming close to making that up.