How the NRL weekend should really look

dont forget to tape the super league on sunday and monday nights oikee! im sure you can squeeze in a couple more games of footy!

Not to mention "been doin' it all day ref!" after the games first penalty and "get 'em onside"

If those FTA Networks are arguing its "not a national code" and "therefore not in the national interest to be shown", then why do they continue to seek the protection the anti siphoning offers? The whole notion that sport in Australia is somehow nationalistically followed is a contradiction in terms when one considers how state based our alleged viewing preferences are. Maybe cricket could claim such a status but then even the Ashes were lost to Australia by Channel Nine when they cut to their 6pm News.

I believe it's in the AFL contract to show their games in QLD / NSW on FTA, so in the next TV deal NRL will have the chance to put in the same conditions. Even though RL is the second rated code in Australia, the TV companies can argue that it is not a national code (i.e. does not have teams in the majority of states), and therefore not in the national interest to be shown on FTA at a reasonable hour.

Perhaps the contract that channel 9 signs if they were to get the AFL rights will force them to show the games live. They wouldn't show AFL games live into Syd and Bris on their main channel anyway and doubt they would even go for the Saturday games as Saturday tends to be a ratings black-hole. hence no Saturday FTA games for NRL at all

It's the old mutual , we'll hoard the competition and you give us continued access to players, representatives and let us show our top rating Footy Show into Melbourne. Examples include last years series return of Seven's "Packed to the Rafters" (delayed in Melbourne only) so Nine could show the EJ Whitten rules game against no competition. Also, last years Good Friday NRL game (Storm vs Dragons) was similarly hoarded so a telethon could be run in Melbourne on Channel Seven. It's about the potential splitting of the advertising dollar. ie Lets have one demograhic watching one channel and maximise the return. In other industries its called collusion and cartel type behavior. In Melbourne sport, its the norm.

Mr McGuire is on record as saying Channel Nine will show AFL games live if they win the next TV rights. Would love to see him explain getting AFL into NSW & QLD live with the shocking ratings that game gets up north, against years of hoarding outside of those to states on the justification that rugby league doesn't rate. AFL on a one hour delay is a big difference from the five hour delay which is the norm for Rugby League fans in Melbourne. Last weeks Penrith vs Knight game wasn't even shown at all on FTA outside NSW & QLD. Not even in the early hours?

Agree - two games is great on a Friday. I am much more likely to be out on a Saturday night and not watch the footy. And Sunday night footy has never worked for the same reasons as Monday night footy - so not sure if thats a great plan. But agree that there needs to be more thought put into scheduling.

will OneHd still be around?

Because Fox is paying for those games, they aren't given for nothing.

Why give the games that Nine doesn't want to show to FoxSports? What about those of us who don't want, can't afford, or otherwise can't get Fox? Give the extra games to OneHD instead... I believe that OneHD is available to Fox subscribers as well as via Free-to-air TV....

RedB according to boomshanka, Mr McGuire is the reason why Ch7 don't show the AFL live on Friday nights. maybe we should call MMM's morning show

It's a conspiracy I tells ya

My Schedule would be something like Friday Night 7:00pm Live Sydney Game (Ch9) Friday Night 9:00pm Qld Game Delayed (Ch9) 7:00pm live Saturday Afternoon 4:00pm Live (Warriors game)-perhaps Ch 9 game Saturday Night 6:00pm Live (Fox) Saturday Night 8:00pm Live (Fox) Sunday 2:00pm Live (Fox) Sunday 4:00pm delay (Ch9) 3:00pm live If its expanded, the extra game will be played 6:00pm sunday night Live (Fox) perth game Monday Night 7:00pm Live (Fox) note: all games start on tv at the top of the hour 7 live games, 2 delay 4 fta, 5 ptv

Agree with the Rhythm of the game however I would have to chalenge 1 point. The reason there is always crowd noise at an AFL games is: 1. They have a crowd 2. There is always something happening 3. AFL supporters seem to be more passionate - hence the crowd 4. They have a crowd

This is what I think the schedule should be: Friday Night 6:35pm AEST KO Live on Channel 9. (Could be a Sydney based team, Warriors or Raiders home game or a Broncos away one) Friday Night 8:35pm AEST KO Live on Channel 9. (Could be a Broncos, Titans, Cowboys or Storm home game) Saturday Afternoon AEST 4:35pm KO Live on Fox Sports. (Could be game between two Sydney clubs or a Warriors home game) Saturday Night 6:35pm AEST KO Live on Fox Sports. Saturday Night 8:35pm AEST KO Live on Fox Sports. Sunday Afternoon AEST 2:05pm KO Live on Channel 9. Sunday Afternoon AEST 4:05pm KO Live on Channel 9. Monday Night 6:35pm AEST KO Live on Fox Sports. And when there is two new teams the new timeslot could be Sunday Night 6:35pm AEST KO.

How can it be in channel 9's best interest to prevent NRL from being spread as far as possible? they own it! Do you not think the board would have a greater interest in satisfying sharehoders, than satisfying Eddie McGuire?

Where I am most junior sports are played Sat mornings, leaves plenty of time to get back, (dropping in to Bunnings on the way back), fix what the kids broke during the week, lunch, read the paper, then get ready for the afternoon footy. (True that's mostly on TV, sitting in a queue to get into the carpark is stretching the patience). Sunday sleep in, finish the home repairs, watch the arvo footy, catch up with the wife that evening. Actually I'd prefer to drop channel 9 completely. Put all games on Foxtel: Fri 7:30, Sat 4:30, 7:30, Sun 3:30 - 2 games each slot) - use viewers choice to switch. Stretching games to 8 separate times would be like a marathon 15-16 hour (with half time) viewing session every weekend - by mondy would have a gut full. With 2 games together, if one is boring is no time lost. If both are boring (hopefull not often) can read the newspaper, wash the car, pull weeds in the garden or if last games of the day go down to the boardwalk for a spot of fishing.

Nothing wrong with a good chant. Yes it can get lame if the action is poor. I prefer the OOH's and Arh's, the boo's and off off off. Get into the rythme of the game. Their is nothing worse than trying to watch any game on t/v with a constant no action noise, so singing while you are going backwards. That is lame. You can test this thoery if you have Foxsports. When they have 3 different codes on the 3 sport channel's, turn over to each code, no serious, test this yourself, so if it is AFL, the noise is constant, even if nothing is happening, soccer, they could be passing backwards on in their own Quarter yet their singing, now if you turn to league and nothing much is happening , you know straight away, and if they are running to score, the noise goes through the roof. This is the Rythme of the game. It is easier on your ears and league commentators are so much more interesting to listen to now when not much is happening, they build you up for the big one. It might seem like you are not doing much at the game, but trust me, on tele it works very well, perfect. Right now i can hear the roar from the crowd at the Bunnies game from the week-end, music to my ears. Their it is again, the noise went down, then up again, now resided, must have got tackled. Rugby league is like a Orchestra, highs lows and inbetweens. I want to hear that little kid yell out ,"come on Roosters" before the roar of the crowd overtakes his voice, and i want to hear that Wolf whistle on t/v before the kick-off. It is never constant. If it was i would never watch it.

Oikee Trouble is Channel Nine have the rights to the RWC Wallabies games. Remember this is an outfit that threw the Third State of Origin last year and the Rugby League Four Nations Final to after midnight "because of a lack of interest".