Brian Carney on Sky Sports broadcast challenge and rugby league’s ‘shrinking national profile’

[The Masked Poster]

Just now, Lucy_1873 said:

Any particular reason?

I fell out of love with the game a few years back and got back on board with the last WC, which was ultimately disappointing but anyway..

I've got more back into it these days but still nowhere like I used to be, maybe as I don't really have a particular team I support, just the overall game. 

Rugby League reminds me of people I've known who were in bands and were very talented but for various reasons never kicked on into wider fame. Lots of unfilled potential is how I see it. 

[RayCee]

14 hours ago, The Masked Poster said:

I fell out of love with the game a few years back and got back on board with the last WC, which was ultimately disappointing but anyway..

I've got more back into it these days but still nowhere like I used to be, maybe as I don't really have a particular team I support, just the overall game. 

Rugby League reminds me of people I've known who were in bands and were very talented but for various reasons never kicked on into wider fame. Lots of unfilled potential is how I see it. 

The highlighted part sums me up but I'm still strongly invested in the code. I think it makes me more objective in my opinions but that could be a delusion on my part. 

I do support the NZ Warriors as you would expect, but to a large degree because of the positive effect their success can bring to the code in NZ rather than just being a team follower. I'd love to see a second club here but fear there is another option that ultimately takes precedence. 

Back on track, I'm positive about how the season in the UK is shaping up. I think IMG is a positive, getting clubs to focus beyond just success on the field. Some initiatives like Fandom can bring the game to a new audience. Winning keeps the faithful happy but spreading awareness means other avenues need to be explored. 

[Father Gascoigne]

On 07/02/2025 at 00:08, Worzel said:

There are good news stories all over the place. But Martyn Sadler's organisation seems determined to talk the game down, indeed many of the rugby league journalists more widely seem desperate to do so. As do the (generally) older members of our supporter base. 

There's a cultural problem within parts of the rugby league ecosystem, and it holds us back.

It's probably because it generates just as many if not more clicks than positive stories. I admit there is something addictive about consuming doom-mongering content on a subject. I do the same thing with film and TV. The video critiques on YouTube ripping on the industry are often more entertaining than what's on the silver screen.

Rugby league is no different to this than any other sport in my view. Negativity sells because people lap it up. 

[Worzel]

4 hours ago, Father Gascoigne said:

It's probably because it generates just as many if not more clicks than positive stories. I admit there is something addictive about consuming doom-mongering content on a subject. I do the same thing with film and TV. The video critiques on YouTube ripping on the industry are often more entertaining than what's on the silver screen.

Rugby league is no different to this than any other sport in my view. Negativity sells because people lap it up. 

Yes, that’s right, and so we’re right to call it out. Their views on the game aren’t driven by any love for the sport, any genuine desire to see progress. In fact quite the opposite. Negativity is good for them, no matter the consequences for the sport. So negativity is what they serve up. 

[Damien]

4 hours ago, Father Gascoigne said:

It's probably because it generates just as many if not more clicks than positive stories. I admit there is something addictive about consuming doom-mongering content on a subject. I do the same thing with film and TV. The video critiques on YouTube ripping on the industry are often more entertaining than what's on the silver screen.

Rugby league is no different to this than any other sport in my view. Negativity sells because people lap it up. 

When you listen to what is defended and what isn't then I don't think that is right. If it's clicks there is plenty of events and people this publication could go to town on yet strangely doesn't. Conversely everything some do is always treated as a positive.

[RigbyLuger]

3 hours ago, Damien said:

When you listen to what is defended and what isn't then I don't think that is right. If it's clicks there is plenty of events and people this publication could go to town on yet strangely doesn't. Conversely everything some do is always treated as a positive.

Everyone was strangely quiet over Wigan using Conor McGregor for publicity. That was strange with some of the targets the media seem keen on.

[Gerrumonside ref]

I watched the Super Bowl and one of the links was along the lines of, “the American Football season is finished, get yourself into the Super League season here’s Jenna with a preview.”

It was positive and even the American NFL pundit crew sounded interested - this kind of cross promotion is good for and there was a link to the Vegas event.

Hopefully we get more of this as it’s the kind of cross promotion we’d miss out on if we left a broadcaster that does other sports which pull in casual sports fans.

[Dave T]

19 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

I watched the Super Bowl and one of the links was along the lines of, “the American Football season is finished, get yourself into the Super League season here’s Jenna with a preview.”

It was positive and even the American NFL pundit crew sounded interested - this kind of cross promotion is good for and there was a link to the Vegas event.

Hopefully we get more of this as it’s the kind of cross promotion we’d miss out on if we left a broadcaster that does other sports which pull in casual sports fans.

It does feel like this has been a bit of a regular theme recently - tapping into darts, golf, tennis, NFL, Boxing Vegas etc. I know we've done it before with stars from other sports but there seems a much bolder play here. 

[Just Browny]

I can't remember whether this is 'clever marketing' or 'desperation' anymore. I guess we will find out if say, Salford and Sale do a joint marketing venture or Newcastle Thunder make Jonny Wilkinson their honorary president.

[gingerjon]

6 hours ago, Dave T said:

It does feel like this has been a bit of a regular theme recently - tapping into darts, golf, tennis, NFL, Boxing Vegas etc. I know we've done it before with stars from other sports but there seems a much bolder play here. 

I know it’s the done thing to say Sky humiliate us but … these are all approaches made possible by sharing Sky as a platform with the others.

[Just Browny]

Just now, gingerjon said:

I know it’s the done thing to say Sky humiliate us but … these are all approaches made possible by sharing Sky as a platform with the others.

This is 100% true but I don't remember Sky doing much of this until quite recently.

[gingerjon]

7 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

This is 100% true but I don't remember Sky doing much of this until quite recently.

Not in such a useful way on so many fronts.

It is almost like we have well renowned media agency involved with the sport to help things along now.