Never a truer word as been written. Show the kids the game, have people creating a buzz about it and they’ll sign up. To torture and change a well know movie quote ‘ “If you show it, they will come”.

I agree. Not only should it cover Australian Rugby but Rugby elsewhere including the second tier comps like the Championship (ENG), Russian Championship, British and Irish Cup, Pro D2, even some of the emerging nations like the Rugby Bundesliga (GER) and SIR (SPAIN).

Highlight packages are good. All the tries and some big phases are always good. I agree we need some career presenters and not just technical “experts” to present the show. There are a few rugby tragics who work professionally in media. But the essential thing is we need the rucks, lineouts, bombs, tackles and tries on the bloody box EVERY WEEKEND.
What games ? Dunno. What comp? Dunno. What channel? Dunno.

We need the rucks, lineouts, bombs, tackles and tries on the bloody box EVERY WEEKEND.

Problems:
- Licensing the content. The FTA broadcaster would have to deal with several rights holders all of whom have the own patch to defend, and some of whom with squabbles with the FTA networks.
- Credible, popular, knowledgable, calm, unbiased host. Kafer comes to mind. Few others 8-(
- Timeslot. Once a week? Twice a week? What gets pushed aside on the FTA station? How long until it gets dropped for something the cretins will watch that is cheaper, eg 2nd tier (and very cheap) cruddy US sitcoms.

Maybe this is in the too hard basket.

Otherwise I agree. But where’s the talent? I think The Roar has covered this ground before and come up short. Good analysis by ‘Tugboat’ Kafer, but otherwise – shocking.

Have you listened to the first Ruggamatrix USA episode. Djuro Sen and Bruce McLane (New York Athletic Club). I found that very informative.

1. At least one game with an Australian team on FTA live. it might be the 5th pick game, but we need to have the game on FTA. Is it any wonder that kids are going to AFL and NRL when that is what they can see all the time on TV?

2. A weekly highlights show on FTA, with them having full access to all coverage and players.

Pay TV ensures a level of revenue that we need, but the FTA is essential to keeping the fans and sport healthy at the grass roots.

it doesn’t matter if you are earning a billion dollars a year with a sport if no one can watch you. You’ll die because you have no expsoure. The Wallabies agmes aren’t enough.

At the moment there is no bidding war with the ARU between Foxtel and FTA networks to broadcast rugby. It’s to be hoped that with NewsCorp signing off on the new deal with SANZAR an opportunity will exist for FTA to get their foot in the door for the Super 15 compettion in 2011. So even with the availability of additional digital frequencies and the removal of government restrictions for multichanneling, Foxtel have exclusive rights to Super rugby, Tri Nations and domestic Wallaby tests for next year. They can sell those rights on to a FTA network but if you live outside of NSW and QLD then we’re treated like rugby lepers.

The ideal scenario for the ARU would be what happened with the bidding war for rights to broadcast the AFL. That should be the goal however rugby in this country is a long way from seeing that eventuating.

Even with One HD, 7Two and an additional channel for Nine all FTA networks are built on the same business model. Attract as many viewers as possible so you can sell advertising space at a premium price. It’s great for mass exposure for a program or sport, but equally makes it difficult if you’re regarded as a niche sport.

Rugby is both a niche and premium sport in Australia. Domestically it’s a niche product, internationally it’s a premium product for particular teams. This makes it a challenge for networks to gauge how well it rates and then project revenue. A test match between Australia and NZ will always rate well as will Australia v England. They are traditional rivalries. Australia versus anyone else and it’s really only appealing to the core supporters rather than a mass audience, unless the Wallabies are playing an entertaining brand of game and are successful. Everyone loves a winner.

In 1989 there was a late nights sports program that began showing a highlights package of ARL games from the previous weekend in NZ, they also began showing state of origin games live. It became so popular that league got it’s own Monday night show and then the memorable grand final between Canberra and Balmain was broadcast live and NZ was hooked.

That may be the ideal vehicle for the ARU and FTA to promote rugby, highlight the best parts in a Monday night package with no expert analysis so there’s more action and less talk. Build an awareness specifically tailored for a wider audience instead of preaching to the converted. The show can even incorporate social networking technology to expand it’s horizons. Leave the hardcore audience to watch The Rugby Club on Fox and aim for a more relaxed style like the AFL’s Before the Game on channel 10.

Hell maybe Zac and the guys can talk to a network about “Roar TV’ as a concept. We had Andrew Logan doing some web broadcasts via this site a while back.

Your right in terms of the next media deal but keep an eye out for my thread should be some time over the next week..

My idea, and I welcome anyone’s response, would be, as I alluded to before, to find a slot for rugby to own and work with that. The logical one, I think, is Saturday 7.30pm or thereabouts. Wallabies tests are played then, albeit sporadically, over the winter. If Super 1x matches (replaced by Tests when necessary) are played from February onwards every Saturday night on FTA the rugby habit will form. Then the ARU can start looking at negotiating for a second match on FTA.

Trying to get two matches on FTA every week for the next rights deal, however, would also risk reducing the income that is going to be derived from Pay TV in Australia as it would reduce the number of matches they can show. The risk is that FTA may not be able to (in the short term) make up this shortfall if there isn’t already the ratings base.

They could use that too. Total Tugby is a great program.

Hey, I may just do that. Hell, I have a Ruggerrat. My 9 year old brother. Could work:D

I’d imagine the business case would actually be reasonably strong….

There was definitely reports of Ten being in talks around late Sep, early Oct re. showing some or all of the S15. Initially I recall it being suggested they were looking at the local games, but then I’m sure I recall another report that said they were seriously considering giving Fox a competition for the whole shebang. I’d even take the local games on 30 or 60 minute delay if it meant being able to see them…