BBC Superleague coverage

[Yorky]

I enjoy the commentary, pundits etc......but could they have picked a worse set of games to pick this season? 

I appreciate they probably don't get '1st pick', but have they picked a single competitive game this season? Everyone I've watched has been a one sided walk over it really isn't showing the sport in a good light.

I did wonder, with the expansion to 14 teams and an additional game every weekend would this give scope to increase the number of games shown on BBC (hopefully with some better picks!)

[The Hallucinating Goose]

I dont think its the BBCs fault that at the beginning of the season they pick a load of games that they can't know how one-sided they will be.

[Click]

Just now, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I dont think its the BBCs fault that at the beginning of the season they pick a load of games that they can't know how one-sided they will be.

When do the BBC make their picks? I honestly can't recall if they announced all the matches at the beginning of the year, or if they have been doing them in "batch" announcements.

They do seem to have made some blunders with the matches they have picked, but I guess they want to pick ones that also fit into their schedules for that weekend.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Just now, Click said:

When do the BBC make their picks? I honestly can't recall if they announced all the matches at the beginning of the year, or if they have been doing them in "batch" announcements.

They do seem to have made some blunders with the matches they have picked, but I guess they want to pick ones that also fit into their schedules for that weekend.

To be fair I don't know when they pick their games. I'll shut up.

[Click]

1 minute ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

To be fair I don't know when they pick their games. I'll shut up.

I'm sure someone will be around soon to let us know 

[Yorky]

7 minutes ago, Click said:

When do the BBC make their picks? I honestly can't recall if they announced all the matches at the beginning of the year, or if they have been doing them in "batch" announcements.

They do seem to have made some blunders with the matches they have picked, but I guess they want to pick ones that also fit into their schedules for that weekend.

Good point about picking that fits their schedule, that's probably had an influence.

I just feel that this season (to this point) has been a real missed opportunity for both the BBC and Superleague to attract a few more new fans with some entertaining games

[Archie Gordon]

Tbf to the BBC, there are a few rubbishy teams in SL at the minute. The good news is that this gets fixed for 2026.

[graveyard johnny]

48 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

To be fair I don't know when they pick their games. I'll shut up.

in january robbie paul hooks out "hook a ducks" as they go round and each one has a fixture and date attached to it - hes got to earn his money somehow

[Futtocks]

51 minutes ago, Click said:

I'm sure someone will be around soon to let us know 

Whether they know or not.

[RigbyLuger]

3 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

in january robbie paul hooks out "hook a ducks" as they go round and each one has a fixture and date attached to it - hes got to earn his money somehow

Today was a nice surprise with him not being on.

[graveyard johnny]

3 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

Today was a nice surprise with him not being on.

in a like- the mother in law cancelling coming round for sunday dinner sort of way - oh what a shame 

[Futtocks]

40 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

Today was a nice surprise with him not being on.

Doesn't he just do Challenge Cup coverage?

[graveyard johnny]

3 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Doesn't he just do Challenge Cup coverage?

you need to substitute the word "do"in that post for the word "ruin"

[yipyee]

Get the feeling that bbc wanted to show saints game to pay respect to their former collegue Ray French.

In addition Huddersfield ran Wigan close a couple of weeks ago so presume they were hoping for a similar style game. 

Presume the BBC will show every SL club and not just wigan every choice.

[Sports Prophet]

If only SL had a consistent schedule with no matches overlapping, then the secondary broadcaster might be in a position to broadcast fixtures a little more consistently.

If Sky won’t commit to paying for the 7th SL game in 2026, perhaps BBC would like a regular Saturday 5pm or 7pm KO to broadcast every week. I would have thought a good few of the teams would be grateful for regular prime time appearances on national tv.

[Adelaide Tiger]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

If only SL had a consistent schedule with no matches overlapping, then the secondary broadcaster might be in a position to broadcast fixtures a little more consistently.

If Sky won’t commit to paying for the 7th SL game in 2026, perhaps BBC would like a regular Saturday 5pm or 7pm KO to broadcast every week. I would have thought a good few of the teams would be grateful for regular prime time appearances on national tv.

A sensible post.

[daz39]

Good point, they should wait till after the games have been played and pick one that was a close game to show instead, go back 2 days then show that one!

[N2022]

5 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

If only SL had a consistent schedule with no matches overlapping, then the secondary broadcaster might be in a position to broadcast fixtures a little more consistently.

If Sky won’t commit to paying for the 7th SL game in 2026, perhaps BBC would like a regular Saturday 5pm or 7pm KO to broadcast every week. I would have thought a good few of the teams would be grateful for regular prime time appearances on national tv.

To be honest, that slot on BBC could be brilliant for the game's profile and might get some eyes in pubs, club bars and family living rooms while things are (maybe?) a bit quieter on the soccer front. Separate question of whether it would hit attendances - maybe an issue for the 7pm in dodgier weather or longer away journeys?

[RigbyLuger]

10 minutes ago, N2022 said:

To be honest, that slot on BBC could be brilliant for the game's profile and might get some eyes in pubs, club bars and family living rooms while things are (maybe?) a bit quieter on the soccer front. Separate question of whether it would hit attendances - maybe an issue for the 7pm in dodgier weather or longer away journeys?

An argument that's been had since 1951. If we want free TV coverage, we all have to be flexible,

[Amber Avenger]

There is always Premier League on 5.30-7.30 on a Saturday, so it's unlikely pubs are going to turn that off. I agree though we can't go all our life avoiding football as we'd only ever play on weekdays at 9am. 

The BBC are essentially piggybacking off coverage that is being produced by Sky for SL+ anyway at very low cost for them. Given the rumoured half a million per year cost of producing the "missing" weekly game should the league expand, there is no way the BBC will be stumping that kind of money up - I imagine the beeb's current investment for the live SL games they show is significantly less than that with no real incentive to increase it, especially as they'll continue to get the games that Sky don't want to show on the main channel. I believe Channel 4 at least had second choice pick for the years they showed SL - (ie Sky showed two games, but had first and third choice)

Edited August 18, 2025 by Amber Avenger