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Once upon a time, there was a TV channel in Australia that dominated the ratings. For 29 years straight, it was the most pressed number on the Australian remote, attracting a large viewership every day.
All of a sudden, however, this stopped when in 2007 Nine got knocked off by the long-time apprentice, Channel Seven, and it’s been like that ever since.
Why? Because Channel Nine is under the impression that its constituents are either blind, stupid, or just love replays of ‘The Karate Kid’.
Nine’s new broadcast deal with the NRL stipulates that there will be one live game per week on a Friday night, with two other games on delay. Saturday night? Sunday afternoon? Forget about it kids.
God forbid if you are a Broncos fan that works on a Friday evening because you’ll probably never see the team again, with Channel Nine boss David Gyngell saying, “you play when we say”.
This will only hurt the fans of the NRL, with Channel Nine’s lust for ratings only serving to destroy the good values that sport is built on. Gyngell finished smugly, to say, “The Broncos? Why wouldn’t they be on every Friday night in Brisbane? We just bought the game.”
League fans can be assured that while the $1.025 billion dollar deal is of no doubt benefit to all teams involved, the life it will suck out of the league could perhaps leave the league with a short term gain but long term loss.
To exemplify this, take a look at the masters themselves – the ARU. Deciding to schedule a midweek test in Newcastle against Scotland, two days after the previous games of Super Rugby and three before another Test match against Wales, the ARU thought they would be laughing all the way to the bank.
In pouring rain the Wallabies lost 9–6, and the damage to the brand has far outweighed the income from the TV ratings and the 30,000 people who paid for tickets.
But ladies and gents, the tyranny doesn’t end here. On the topic of Rugby, Nine bought the rights too, although that’s news to readers from Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide who, for the main, haven’t seen a game on Channel Nine before bed-time.
Nine gave Australian rugby fans outside of NSW and Queensland the indignity of being shown after ‘The Karate Kid’ last weekend. And the 2010 version at that.
I’m sure that all readers here can agree in saying regardless of whether you like or dislike rugby – if you call it Rugby Yawnion or Thugby – that when a broadcaster buys the rights to display it on television, it should give the national team the dignity and respect it deserves, and put it live around Australia.
Its Olympic coverage was also appalling, with nationwide criticism causing some eventual change in the coverage.
It seems Nine believe the viewer is stupid – they blast endlessly repetitive advertisements, place games on delay. Look no further than a nightly episode of Nine news to see and believe how stupid they think the viewer is. Aside from ten minutes of cross promotion, typically you will see a trivial story about something no one cares about – camels in Brisbane city for example.
Yet Nine, It is clear to see from your dropping ratings, the viewer is not stupid. They have changed the channel. Yet you continue to treat those tuned in with complete and utter contempt.
The federal government hasn’t helped here either (don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a political dig), and perhaps the biggest thing that doesn’t make sense is their anti-siphoning rules, where essentially they can’t put the game live on a second channel because not everyone has a digital TV. Instead they delay it so no one can watch it. Only a government could come up with something so logically unsound.
Broadcasters can apply for an exemption however, and this has been done in the past. Nine claim however that it is too late to get one for this weekend. There are two issues with this. Firstly, how on Earth can it take so long to get an exemption? Why can’t Nine get on the phone to Canberra and ask right now? Secondly, why didn’t Nine apply for an exemption when the Rugby Championship schedule was released 12 months ago?
What an absolute disgrace. Nine is treating viewers with complete contempt. Rugby fans of both codes, Mungoes and RahRah’s alike, I would encourage you to jump onto Nine’s Facebook page and demand that the Bledisloe cup be broadcast live, as well as express your disgust at their treatment of the NRL. It’s incredible to think Nine is getting away with such acts.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.