Televised games next season - has it been sorted yet?

[Dave T]

14 hours ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

All games on Sky (main channels until summer when Sky will launch a streaming service). After that 2 on sky main channels and 4 on sky app. 

All season 4 of the 6 are live on super league plus (excludes 2 sky games a week) 

Yes, I think Matthew Shaw confused the details in the article. Jones says Sky have 2 exclusive games per week, so that has to mean that SL+ won't show those two live. 

It is similar to English Union's model.

[Dave T]

5 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Tbf I think that shows there’s absolutely a market for an afternoon game, but make it the exception that people with younger families make long term plans to attend rather than it necessarily being the norm purely because of archaic licensing laws.

I know this will be controversial and isn’t necessarily something I buy in to in RL even though it’s been successful in The Hundred, but there may be a place for early evening weekday kick offs during the school holidays (possibly one for the Challenge Cup to avoid inconveniencing season ticket holders).

Yes, it would be an interesting test that one!

[Rugbyleaguesupporter]

Dave woods and Mark Wilson sign for Sky. 

Woods, Wilson, pyke, Arthur and possibly Dainton would be a strong line up. 

Not sure Matt Newsum strong enough to be BBC no1

[Dave T]

6 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Tbf I think that shows there’s absolutely a market for an afternoon game, but make it the exception that people with younger families make long term plans to attend rather than it necessarily being the norm purely because of archaic licensing laws.

My hypothesis here is that the scheduling uncertainty could be a relatively major issue for many fans. I think it may put people off buying season tickets (as they don't actually know whether they can attend matches), and it makes planning difficult. Again, in my family circumstances, we don't bother planning for matches even when we have a Sunday 3pm, because there is a good chance it'll shift. As a family we like to make plans (we have commitments across Warrington and Edinburgh so often travel at weekends) and I think it makes it easy to become a bit passive, or casual around RL - if you can make a game great, but if not, so be it. 

I hope that we get a good level of certainty around fixtures which means that people can plan much better and we see fewer issues. 

[Dave T]

2 minutes ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

Dave woods and Mark Wilson sign for Sky. 

Woods, Wilson, pyke, Arthur and possibly Dainton would be a strong line up. 

Not sure Matt Newsum strong enough to be BBC no1

Would these just do BBC and Sky? Aren't a lot of commentators and presenters freelancers now? Or is this an exclusive thing?

[RigbyLuger]

28 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Tbf I think that shows there’s absolutely a market for an afternoon game, but make it the exception that people with younger families make long term plans to attend rather than it necessarily being the norm purely because of archaic licensing laws.

I know this will be controversial and isn’t necessarily something I buy in to in RL even though it’s been successful in The Hundred, but there may be a place for early evening weekday kick offs during the school holidays (possibly one for the Challenge Cup to avoid inconveniencing season ticket holders).

Whenever you schedule a game, someone is going to moan because they feel everything should be on where and when suits them.

[Dave T]

13 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

Whenever you schedule a game, someone is going to moan because they feel everything should be on where and when suits them.

I think that's right, and that's my over-arching point - we can all give our own preferences, but it really is a numbers game - we find slots that bring us enough people through the gates, or watching on TV. 

What we won't find is a slot that suits everyone.

Where we do need to be careful is around overall strategies and making sure they are fit for purpose. My thinking here is that we spent years selling ourselves as a cheap family sport, and then slowly moved most games to Thursday and Friday nights which can exclude some families - and then we wonder why our average age of our fans is increasing.

We can be whatever we want to be, but our strategy is a touch muddled imho.

[Nothus]

1 hour ago, Rugbyleaguesupporter said:

Dave woods and Mark Wilson sign for Sky. 

Woods, Wilson, pyke, Arthur and possibly Dainton would be a strong line up. 

Not sure Matt Newsum strong enough to be BBC no1

I hope Kev Brown is involved somehow too. His commentary and analysis on channel 4 / viaplay has been excellent.

[Harry Stottle]

3 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Leaving aside the more than plausible argument that TV exposure does increase attendances, do you think those extra fans be anything remotely close to making up for the lost TV revenue? Honest answer, please. 

It was an hyperthetical question Matt, would I be correct in saying you would prefer Leigh's games to not clash with the football club you frequent?

[Futtocks]

2 hours ago, Dave T said:

Would these just do BBC and Sky? Aren't a lot of commentators and presenters freelancers now? Or is this an exclusive thing?

Woods has actually left the BBC, which I didn't expect.

[Futtocks]

Sky have also signed up Kyle Amor.

[Harry Stottle]

8 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Sky have also signed up Kyle Amor.

That will be good with him and Wilkin both on Saints broadcasts.

[Leyther_Matt]

55 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

It was an hyperthetical question Matt, would I be correct in saying you would prefer Leigh's games to not clash with the football club you frequent?

I’d very much prefer that, yes. Which would make Friday nights ideal. Home or away. 

[Harry Stottle]

8 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

I’d very much prefer that, yes. Which would make Friday nights ideal. Home or away. 

That's just as I expected Matt but like your football clubs fixtures weekend afternoons would be my preferred times for Leigh's away games.

Edited January 16, 2024 by Harry Stottle

[Chrispmartha]

7 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

That's just as I expected Matt but like your football clubs fixtures weekend afternoons would be my preferred times for Leigh's away games.

Not sure its the hime clubs responsibility to cater to away supporters preferences though.

Its immaterial anyway as your preference might not be the same as other peoples

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, Futtocks said:

Woods has actually left the BBC, which I didn't expect.

Crazy considering the BBC are hoping to show record levels of RL! 

[Futtocks]

2 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Crazy considering the BBC are hoping to show record levels of RL! 

Matt Newsum to step up to the main BBC commentator spot, maybe?

[Dave T]

Just now, Futtocks said:

Matt Newsum to step up to the main BBC commentator spot, maybe?

If I'm honest, I find many of them a bit identikit, I do like Dave Woods, it always surprises me when people really dislike him, I think he's pretty inoffensive. 

I'm OK with Newsum. 

It's the experts who I think add more character. 

[Futtocks]

Just now, Dave T said:

If I'm honest, I find many of them a bit identikit, I do like Dave Woods, it always surprises me when people really dislike him, I think he's pretty inoffensive. 

I'm OK with Newsum. 

It's the experts who I think add more character. 

I've always liked Woods, but when you remember both of his predecessors stayed in their post way after their prime, his choice to move on is better than him getting stale.

I wonder if Sky see Dave as the focal point of a new commentary team? Or will he just be pitched in with Baz'n'Tez and the rest? We'll have to wait and see.

[RigbyLuger]

Woods and Wilson are an improvement on every commentator Sky have, only in my opinion of course!

[HawkMan]

11 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

 

I wonder if Sky see Dave as the focal point of a new commentary team? Or will he just be pitched in with Baz'n'Tez and the rest? We'll have to wait and see.

You don't just pitch in anyone with Baz and Tel,  you have to be deemed to be the right stuff, go through rigorous training before ascending to that esteemed level of competence.

Edited January 16, 2024 by HawkMan

[Harry Stottle]

42 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

Not sure its the hime clubs responsibility to cater to away supporters preferences though.

Its immaterial anyway as your preference might not be the same as other peoples

All hyperthetical as I said Chris it is my preference just like your statement Friday's suits you best!

[phiggins]

1 hour ago, RigbyLuger said:

Woods and Wilson are an improvement on every commentator Sky have, only in my opinion of course!

Definitely. The main Sky commentator last season (Bill Arthur?) sounded like he'd rather be anywhere but at the match he was commentating on.

[Coggo]

The news re TV coverage just gets better and better. Bill Arthur is terrible and has been replaced by the best RL commentator in the land

[Chrispmartha]

52 minutes ago, Coggo said:

The news re TV coverage just gets better and better. Bill Arthur is terrible and has been replaced by the best RL commentator in the land

Not sure he’s been replaced, sky will need 3x commentary teams for when they are showing 3 games at once