Channel 9 new broadcaster in SANZAR TV deal
By Adrian Warren, 22 Apr 2010
- Tagged:
- free to air coverage, John ONeill, Rugby Union, SANZAR, Super Rugby, Super Rugby 2011, wallabies
115 Have your say
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have thrashed out a lucrative new broadcast rights agreement for Test and Super Rugby worth US$437 million dollars.
The agreement which covers, the five-year period from 2011-2015 represents a 35 per cent increase on the current five year agreement, with the Australian Rugby Union getting a 30 per cent increase in its share.
South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby (SANZAR) reached agreement with pay television operators Fox Sports (Australia), Supersport (South Africa) and Sky Sports (New Zealand).
The Nine Network has been confirmed as the new free-to-air rights holder in Australia and will simulcast the Wallabies’ June Test and Tri-Nations matches in addition to broadcasting a weekly one-hour highlights program of Super Rugby.
Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill described the deal as a good outcome which would help under pin an expanded Super 15 tournament which includes fifth Australian franchise the Melbourne Rebels from next year.
Under the new conference format, the amount of Australian local derby matches will rise from six to 20.
“The conference model and the increase in local derbies and the increase in local content really gives us a far better chance of competing for the hearts and minds of fans, sports fans, rugby fans, generally,” O’Neill told reporters on Thursday.
Fox Sports chief executive David Malone acknowledged the addition of the Melbourne team added to the attractiveness of the SANZAR package.
“The expanded Super Rugby competition will provide tremendous for fans, with a subsequential increase in the number of matches played in Australian time zones,” Malone said.
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- Explore:
- free to air coverage, John ONeill, Rugby Union, SANZAR, Super Rugby, Super Rugby 2011, wallabies
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:12am
Brett McKay said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:12am | Report comment
I’ll be interested to see where Nine puts the S15 show into it’s schedule, anything too late at night will kill it off before it even starts. Great to have Super rugby back on FTA though, obviously…
April 22nd 2010 @ 1:57pm
sheek said | April 22nd 2010 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
Brett,
The brutal truth is that rugby has to earn the right to prime time slots on free to air TV. Over the past 4-5 years a lot of Australian rugby at all levels has been crap, & there’s no avoiding that.
The sooner we accept this, the sooner we can move on.
Both Phil Waugh & Chris Hickie were proponents of the old adage of a 3-0 win being better than a 30-33 loss. Poor crowds over recent seasons has made them realise they need the fans more than they ever did before. After all, lack of fans affects their bottom line.
In Australia, with 4 footy codes to choose from, fans aren’t going to watch crap.
April 22nd 2010 @ 2:03pm
Brett McKay said | April 22nd 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
completely agree Sheek, there still has to be “highlights” each week to make the show work. Pete says it below though, being only 60 minutes (43 plus ads?) means that the focus will be on the cracking tries, and the big hits, and the 45m rolling mauls, etc. It’ll be as good a start back on FTA as you could hope for.
April 22nd 2010 @ 2:11pm
JF said | April 22nd 2010 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
“The sooner we accept this, the sooner we can move on.”
How many articles about “The problems with Australian Rugby” do we have to write / read? Rugby fans are the first to accept the criticisms of their game, I don’t think acceptance of problems is an issue.
April 22nd 2010 @ 2:27pm
Working Class Rugger said | April 22nd 2010 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
JF
I would dare say Rugby fans are by far the games toughest critics. Well, that’s been my experience since I started here.
April 22nd 2010 @ 2:40pm
JF said | April 22nd 2010 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Yes they definitely are, just look at the recent articles about football and diving – football fans were not interested in accepting that there are any problems, it was everyone else who had the problem. I am just glad we can stop self deprecating for a bit and get on with talking about how good some of the rugby has been this year. Even the poms are getting in on it http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/apr/21/wasps-bath-wembley-rugby-union
April 22nd 2010 @ 3:03pm
sheek said | April 22nd 2010 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
well, I made the comment because I’m inclined to think the opposite – in my experiences there have been too many apologists for rugby’s mostly self-inflicted tribulations. Even on this site.
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:33am
Fuchal said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:33am | Report comment
And yet still no games broadcast free to air in Australia.
D
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:43am
Hoy said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:43am | Report comment
So disappointing. They should show at least one Australian game each week on FTA.
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:46am
John Hunt said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Foxtel didnt want the FTA showing Live Super 14 thats why Channel Ten pulled out.
Will it mean liVe Tests in SA, VIC WA???? Nine has nothing to lose in those states as AFL on TEN rules the roost
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:54am
Brett McKay said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:54am | Report comment
that was my understanding too John. News’ position was that with a FTA presence to dilute their exclusivity, the rights would be worth significantly less than if they could tie it up as an exclusive package…
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:46am
soapit said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:46am | Report comment
even a one hour show is enough to get me excited.
but why wouldnt aru be willing to take a hit with getting less from fta than fox if it meant expanding the game long term. short sighted.
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:52am
Brett McKay said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Soapit, I guess with 6-figure losses being announced by the ARU, NSWRU, and QRU in recent weeks, the bottom line dictated once again…
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:54am
Mike G said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:54am | Report comment
I get where you’re coming from S, but I have to say I’m with JON on this one…Take the 30% increase in funding now to ensure future financial stability (whilst also giving FTA customers a taste of S15), then in 5 years time go for a LOT more increase in exposure on FTA, sounds prudent to me…Unless another solicitor from the Marlins wants to come in and spend it all???
April 22nd 2010 @ 12:13pm
soapit said | April 22nd 2010 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
yeah maybe is the right decision now when the coffers are low.
but was the wrong decision back 10 years ago when things were looking rosy and they grabbed as much cash as they could and took s14 off fta. i still cant believe someone thought that would be a good idea.
if they don’t screw up the game again (after seemingly fixing things this year) they might have a product with a good fanbase that would be able to attract interest from fta by then
anyway, looking forward to setting my media centre to record this one and yes, please no andrew voss, or any of ur channel 9 morons. get some rugby specialists in. no ray warren either. dont reckon voss would be interested anyway to be honest.
April 22nd 2010 @ 1:29pm
Pete said | April 22nd 2010 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
I think this is a brilliant deal. Nice one SANZA! (seriously)
With respect to FTA we can’t just have one game of Rugby on FTA we need at least 3 or 4 (and Fox were never going to do that for the money we received).
All sports throw up great games and poor ones. Say we have one FTA match per week now. What happens if the FTA games last week was the Brumbies game and not the Reds? Even I would have given up on the game if that was my only insight into Super Rugby. For non Rugby people who tuned into that game, they would have all their misconceptions about Rugby confirmed. This is supposed to be the Real Madrid of Rugby?! Those who follow Super Rugby this year know that most games have been the antithesis of this Brumbies match.
A weekly package just contains all the best bits.. all the tries, the big hits etc… it’ll be brilliant. I’m not sure how they are going to cram all this into 1 hour! If Ch 9 have the nous to use this show to promote the game and boost their Bledisloe and RWC ratings, this show could be a great advertisement for the game.
April 22nd 2010 @ 1:37pm
Mike G said | April 22nd 2010 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
Agreed Pete, but as said above, I’m also a little worried about the timeslot that ch 9 will give this highlights package
April 22nd 2010 @ 3:50pm
Janny said | April 22nd 2010 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
Mike G : “Take the 30% increase in funding now to ensure future financial stability , then in 5 years time go for a LOT more increase in exposure on FTA, sounds prudent to me.”
Sound wishful think to me. I bet that ARu was think the same 5 years ago.
Fact is the 30% ‘increase’ is reflection to 30% more content. In 5 years time what will SANZAR have to offer? Very little. Dont tell me that NEWS are licking their lips about Japan and Argentina.
Fact is that union in this country is nothing more than a ninch sport, even its its only to union savvy markets in NSW/QLD.
Its ratings in NSW/QLD makes the despicable swannies tv ratings look like Superbowl figures.
April 22nd 2010 @ 11:51am
The Link said | April 22nd 2010 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Realistically this was the best bet for S14 on FTA. Plant the seed, see what grows, then in 4 years move to full game coverage if the business case stacks up re ratings.
April 22nd 2010 @ 12:05pm
Working Class Rugger said | April 22nd 2010 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Guys from what I have read of this it still doesn’t include the rights for the next Lions tour or rights for Asia,the Americas and Continental Europe. Not that I’m expecting it to jump dramatically but its not the end to the TV rights negotiation just yet. This covers the SANZAR nations and the UK marketplace.
As for the Highlights show. Who knows. Hopefully they’ll bring in Rugby people for this (not Gorden Bray) and hopefully it will be on at a reasonable time. If the Wallabies rate well this year its not outside the realms of possiblity that Fox might on sell delayed coverage in the future.
April 22nd 2010 @ 12:22pm
Brett McKay said | April 22nd 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
WCR, I believe Nine is looking at Sat nights for Rugby, but I’m not sure where the S15 show would fit in either. Sat 6:30pm maybe??
April 22nd 2010 @ 12:34pm
soapit said | April 22nd 2010 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
if its a 1 hour highlights show best to have it at the end of the weekend when all the games are played.
stick it on go! at 6:30 on monday. should at least outrate the flintstones.
April 22nd 2010 @ 3:42pm
Andrew said | April 22nd 2010 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
It would have to be on a Sunday. All the matches have been completed by then, you don;t want last weeks highlights, nor would you want a highlights show on at 6:30pm, as this is the audience you also want to go to the game.
Maybe before the Rugby League say 3pm on Sunday? I am sure you would have plenty of crossover.
April 22nd 2010 @ 12:09pm
rugbyfuture said | April 22nd 2010 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Im still dissapointed the renewal is in 2015, if anything the best thing would be post 2016 olympics with rugby’s first year back in the tournament…
April 22nd 2010 @ 12:14pm
Skip said | April 22nd 2010 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
I read in the aru press release JON said “and beneath Super Rugby we have Premier Rugby in Sydney and Brisbane being telecast by the national broadcaster”
Is QLD finaly getting premier rugby shown??
April 22nd 2010 @ 1:45pm
reds fan said | April 22nd 2010 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
Skip, I just sent an email to the ARU media unit quoting that line. I’m pretty sure its just a slip of tongue by Jon O.
April 22nd 2010 @ 12:17pm
soapit said | April 22nd 2010 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
s14 has been markedly more interesting this year (from my point of view) and will get more interesting with the new format from next year so i assume they’re thinking the crowds will come back. trends continue if you dont change anything but they have made significant changes so it gives them a chance of breaking the trend.