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My oh my, how the AFL must be rubbing their hands together at the ineptitude of the current NRL TV rights deal. Fancy allowing the TV networks to choose when the top three games each week will be played.
At a time when the NRL should be doing everything to attract revenue and build match-day attendances to prove its dominance on the east coast of Australia, the game is powerless to dictate when and where their games should be played.
What an ideal start to the season it would’ve been to have the Tigers vs Bulldogs kick off the first Sunday game of 2011 in front of 40,000+ fans at ANZ Stadium.
Instead, due to Fox Sports having the rights to the third choice game, it was played on a Monday night in front of 26,000 whilst the first free-to-air Sunday match in 2011 was between the Knights and Panthers in front of only 12,000 people.
The poor old Sharks would have budgeted for an attendance close to 20,000 for their local derby match against the Dragons next weekend, which should be played on a Sunday afternoon.
But no, our friends at Fox Sports have the rights to the third-best game of the week and are playing it on a Monday night.
Similar to the poor old Rabbitohs who have just discovered their round six fixture against the Dragons (a game worthy of 20-25,000+) will be played on a Monday night in front of an attendance more than likely under 15,000. (the Monday night match between the Rabbits and Roosters three years ago attracted 10,000 – miserable).
Monday night football is draining the game of much-needed revenue including corporate hospitality sales (who drinks on a Monday night?), ticket sales which drives hospitality and merchandise sales and so on.
The AFL have far and away the best administration in the game and it is no coincidence that they have stayed well away from Monday night football. If it worked you can bet your dollars they would have implemented it years ago.
Grow some balls NRL and ensure that you dictate when and where your games are played in the next TV rights deal.
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