With the regular NRL season now over, the ladder is complete and we have our minor premiers, top eight and wooden spooners.
However, while the dominant teams have justified their seasons’ toil with their spot on the premiership ladder, their on-field success has had little to no bearing on the kind of television coverage they received.
Going through the season regular, televised games were given points – four for a Friday night game, three for the Sunday afternoon free-to-air (FTA) game, two for the Monday night game, and one for the Saturday and Sunday Foxtel games.
With this point scoring system, many teams’ positions on the televised table are starkly different to where they finished on the NRL table (the number listed before the team names):
3. Brisbane Broncos: 78
5. St George Illawarra: 64
10. South Sydney Rabbitohs: 62
4. Wests Tigers : 62
14. Parramatta Eels: 58
9. Canterbury Bulldogs: 56
2. Manly Sea Eagles: 56
16. Gold Coast Titans: 52
12. Penrith Panthers: 49
11. Sydney Roosters: 47
1. Melbourne Storm: 44
7. North Queensland Cowboys: 42
8. Newcastle Knights: 43
13. Cronulla Sharks: 39
6. NZ Warriors: 33
15. Canberra Raiders: 33
(A full breakdown of the season’s FTA and Foxtel coverage can be provided as a Word or Excel document upon request.)
The average score is 51.125, of which four teams that made the semi-finals (including the minor premiers) are below, while four of the bottom eight teams – including the wooden spooners – are above.
Channel 9 have always maintained they pick the FTA games based on what they think will win them the highest ratings, with 9’s head of sport Steve Crawley saying in 2009, “The bottom line is that everything television does is directed by ratings. We wouldn’t pick them if we didn’t think they’d rate.”
While showing teams, such as Brisbane, who are known to have a broad supporter base sounds like a good basis for selecting who plays the FTA games, the reality is that of the 700,000 plus people who tune in to Friday night footy, many will not be fans of the teams playing but rather simply fans – people who are keen to watch a good game or two.
With this in mind, the disparity shown on the above table more or less negates Channel 9’s argument completely. When the best team in the competition plays over half their games on Foxtel’s Saturday or Sunday afternoon slots, Channel 9 surely cannot say they pick the ratings winners on the basis of football merit.
Though Souths missed the top eight (again) finishing the season 10th, they had a dream season for being on the box, playing nine Friday night games and four Sunday FTA games. That’s a season of consistent FTA coverage for a team, which found consistent form in its final six weeks.
Parramatta and the Gold Coast each played eight games on a Friday – that’s two more games than either of them won the entire season.
Parramatta also played three FTA Sunday afternoon games for a total of 11 games shown on FTA. Six of these 11 games were shown between rounds 12 and 25, a period in which the Eels won a grand total of one match.
The argument for Gold Coast receiving so many Friday night games is the two Friday night game system favours Queensland sides. The proof of this is the Broncos, who were the runaway winners on the televised ladder and played 16 of their games – two thirds of the season – on Friday night.
However, the two Friday games are supposed to be for the benefit of Queensland – not just South East Queensland. The vast geographic majority of the state would see themselves as being aligned with the Cowboys who were well below the televised average, playing five Friday games and just six FTA games all season.
This is a team who have had an astonishing season, missing the top four by a single point led by the peerless Jonathon Thurston, the rejuvenated Matt Bowen and the game’s best prop in Matt Scott.
Perhaps no team could feel as hard-done-by however, as the Knights. Though their season was certainly one of peaks and troughs, they have made the top eight on points differential after playing some fantastic attacking footy including being the only team all season to score 50 points in a game.
And what was their televised schedule like? Seven FTA games and the only one of those that was on a Friday night was the last game of their regular season. This is a club which may not have the broadest supporter base in terms of ticketed members but had an average home game attendance of 19,126 – third in the league only to Brisbane (33,209) and the Bulldogs (19,528).
(Obviously the Storm and Warriors would have plenty to complain about too but games are televised differently in to Victoria and New Zealand, which is an entirely different article.)
So exactly what basis Channel 9 uses to determine what will make a rugby league game attractive to viewers, it’s clearly not a team’s form.
However, the real problem with the current system for televising games lies in the massive disparity it creates between the haves and have-nots of the game.
The salary cap is in place to ensure an equal spread of talent but one need only look at Brisbane’s playing roster to realise there are other ways of attracting players than simply with money.
Having fantastic facilities, great coaching, support and training staff and great corporate connections which can help set a player up for life after footy are all ways a club can coax a player to stay with or join a club when the upfront contract is less than other clubs are offering.
One of the biggest chips clubs have when seeking to attract corporate dollars – i.e. how clubs manage to pay for all these extras that interest a player – is how much television exposure a company will receive by putting their logo on a club’s jerseys.
A club like Brisbane has massive advantages over just about every single club in the NRL by virtue of being the only team in Australia’s third biggest city based on gross population and Australia’s biggest city based on Rugby League fan population.
But when Broncos management sit down to re-negotiate terms with major sponsor NRMA insurance, one of the first things they will mention is the fantastic FTA exposure NRMA get 16 Friday nights – and two Sunday afternoons – of the year.
Meanwhile, down in Canberra, a similar meeting will occur between Raiders management and major sponsor CFMEU. One of the first things CFMEU will bring up is the fact that their logo was seen on FTA television twice all year. Twice. The Raiders received two Friday night games and no Sunday afternoon FTA games at all.
Though Canberra’s season was a shambles to say the very least, it wouldn’t help them for next season if their major sponsor decides to re-negotiate terms based on the fact that most people will see the advertising on a Raiders replica jersey in Rebel Sport before they see Josh Dugan wearing it on the box.
The NRL argues the need for a salary cap on the basis that “it assists in ‘spreading the playing talent’ so that a few better resourced clubs cannot simply out-bid not so well resourced teams for all of the best players.”
If the NRL are serious about keeping an even competition, they need to ensure a few better resourced clubs cannot simply out-bid not so well resourced teams for all of the best corporate sponsorships.
If your company was offered to be shown on free-to-air television 18 times or twice a year, which club are you going to advertise with or, more importantly, how much would you pay them respectively?
The season needs to be set in advance, with all clubs sharing equal FTA and Foxtel games – at least on average over two seasons.
Channel 9 might argue ‘if it ain’t broke’, based on their television ratings, but when teams that finish the season 10th, 14th and 16th overall receive far more FTA television games than the teams that come first, sixth and seventh, it’s clear the season needs to be fixed.
D
Guest
Hi Jeff Yes Perth do get coverage of rugby league games, but it is very late at night. Friday nights for example, it comes on at 11:25pm, after CSI Miami. Then on Sunday, we get the matches at about 11:55pm. We do not even get the League Footy Show until 11pm on a Thursday night. So much for trying to show children a game of league. And the NRL wonder's why Perth WA are not making enough noise to support the WA Reds for the expansion in 2013. Channel 9 is a joke, here in Perth. I know that WA is AFL country, but Channel 9 lost the rights to show it. Yet they do not want to put the league on to compensate the male psychie to watch some sport!! As the games are alsolate on TV, the kids cannot watch a game, and so are forced to live with growing up watching AFL crap!! C'mon Channel 9, get your act together, especially now as it is the final weeks of the season!!
Boomshanka
Guest
The Broncos vs Storm game was shown on Nine on a Friday night a couple of years and had 203k watching in Melbourne. The following year the ANZAC test match was shown head to head against the AFL and had over 250k watching in Melbourne. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out why Channel Nines executives, Eddie McGuire and Jeff Browne want to protect their beloved Collingwood against alternative codes. Interestingly in today's Herald Sun, Russell Gould referenced the following quote that I'm sure would be of interest to the ACCC with respect to the trade practices act and the lessening of competition. "It's believed a provision of the deal allows for a later showing of any NRL game if it's up against an AFL match." http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/channel-nine-to-show-melbourne-storm-live-on-tv/story-e6frfgbo-1226132452498
Boomshanka
Guest
Spoke too soon. Conroy has just updated this anti siphoning list to allow for the AFL finals series to be played into Sydney on Sevens secondary channel. No changes were requested by Nine nor was any allowance for the NRL finals to be seen in Melbourne at a reasonable time.
Gaz
Guest
Had a thought that it may their way to have Melbourne supporters go to the game to increase the numbers perhaps?
Renegade
Guest
As someone has stated earlier, it's clearly a grey area in the contract that has caused this....i'm sure Gallop will have this tightened up in the next one. I wouldn't get my hopes up, if you actually think the commision is going to come in and take rugby league to the top of the world - i very highly doubt that.....they can only build on the success that the current administration has achieved.
Boomshanka
Guest
The latest revision of the anti siphoning list can be found here: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011C00651 The AFL Finals series is protected under the anti siphoning legislation yet Channel Seven have scheduled this Friday night’s game (Geelong vs Hawthorn) onto their multi-channel Seven Mate for Sydney. This is against the regulations and in breach of the anti siphoning laws, so either it’s a programming mistake or another backroom deal has been struck with the Minister (who is the only person who can approve changes to the list). No doubt the revised list will only become public after the event – so to speak. Why O Why can’t the minister act on behalf of sports fans which he purports to support. No doubt we’ll see him at the AFL grand final for the third year in a row in a few weeks (as a guest of Channel Eddie) following zero action from him with respect to Channel Nine Hoarding! Also time the NRL and Channel Nine sought the same dispensation that it appears every other major sport has asked for and received (AFL, Union, V8's Netball).
Bill Baxter
Guest
Victorian viewers do not get Friday night LIVE at any stage of the season. Once again I say that if we are talking about the NATIONAL Rugby League, all viewers should be treated equally. Channel 9 in spite of being a Storm Platinum sponsor is not showing any of the finals in other states before midnight. This is even worse than in previous seasons. I have often questioned Melbourne Storm as to why they have a sponsor who does not support, promote or expose the game of Rugby League in Victoria. Never a response!!!!.
"Obviously the Storm and Warriors would have plenty to complain about too but games are televised differently in to Victoria and New Zealand, which is an entirely different article." Brilliant that this "entirely different article" ended up being written on this page (albeit by 10+ authors).
clipper
Guest
Nine also has the rights for the US open, I think, and they don't show that either, but if more people watch the umptenth repeat of the Big Bang Theory, what can you do. The real issue is if they don't allow Fox to show it.
Boomshanka
Guest
Interesting to note that Tasmania and Regional Victoria will see the NRL finals series live (at least this weekend). This can only ad to those impressive figures you mention. Together with the pent up demand for coverage in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth the future looks good.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The FTA ratings from state of the game report just issued. 2011 Rd 26:Broncos v Manly game is the highest rating Sunday game this year on FTA at 1.07m 2011 Rd 24 storm v Dragons games is teh second highest ever rating regular season match with a national rating of 1.44m 2011 rd 25 Storm v Sea Eagles is the 3rd highest ever rating for a regular season match with a national rating of 1.41m Oh that's right,the national figures include those "non entity"regional viewers,that the naysayers do their level best to dismiss. Whilst ch9 has been getting the Friday pick(and sometimes it is notthe real PICK),it is interesting to note NRL increased its dominance on Fox sports with higher ratings across all timeslots(repeat all timeslots) MNF average ratings 17% higher Saturday Night Live games are 26% higher.Yet the saturday games are down the pecking order. A good basis upon which to commence TV contractual negotiations.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Jaceman. Gyngell's strategy is to make money to ensure his financial backers(CVC) are happy and to administer the shebang,he cannot be hands on with every program. He cannot decree it FHS.He is working within the framework of the Tv contract,and even that in sydney at times leaves a lot to be desired.If that was the case he would decree that the NRL be on before midnight in Melbourne ,regardless. One more time, Packer owned the show,Gyngell is an employee albeit in a high position.If Gyngell were able to ensure the pre midnight for the NRL in Melbourne,Gallop would have enured he had his ear.Gallop has admitted the control rests with ch9 Melbourne.He has also stated, he advised ch9 of his concerns.This has been discussed on NRL on Fox and on radio.He also went on ,noting it is in teh hands of the ch9 Mbne people,nothing to do with Gyngell. It is(my understanding) in the contract to start showing the NRL in melbourne before midnight latest.Else WTH would the subject have been brought up with Gallop on occasions. The last TV deal mentioned the pre midnight timing.That has not changed.So you can argue Gallop is at fault with the totaity of the TV deal(and I concur).And on ecan also argue ch9 uses a touch of flexiblility when it comes to contractual deals,as the Mbne timing suggest. Of course I brought up SA and Wa with the affiliates comments,simply to show the next deal ,must be inclusive of all states.And ch10 has no such problem. To suggest as you do ch9 Mbne has no control over the matter,is pure fantasy.Else why have program directors. And why not show the start before midnight.You suggesting it is controlled partly from sydney. One also suggests using the State of the Game report just out by the NRL that ch9 takes a good geek(as Roy and HG would say) at the tv ratings for Fox,nine,WIN and NBN Networks which have increased across all networks. Average FTA ratings are 1.3% higher (despite Eels,Dogs out of the equation)
Brett McKay
Guest
there was an article in a paper recently - and I haven't been able to find it online, sorry - that explains all this quite well. It had an accompanying graphic that highlighted how despite their form going downhill rapidly late in the season, the Dragons still maintained the highest Friday night ratings. The graphic listed the ten hightest-rating Friday games, and of those ten, the Dragons played four or five of them. What was interesting was that despite both teams being in the bottom half at the time, both Parramatta-Canterbury games this season, both played on a Friday night, featured in the list consecutively. This answers the question of how Nine picks their games. It has nothing to do supporting the stronger clubs, it's all about the best rating games of the round. The Dragons and Parramatta could be running 15th & 16th, and they would rate higher than Cronulla-Canberra, even if they were 1st and 2nd. And this is the way it will be until the NRL set the draw as does the AFL. While ever TV sets the draw, nothing will change..
Jaceman
Guest
Bought to you by James Murdoch and John Hartigan
Gaz
Guest
Renegade It remains Gallops greatest disaster, I would like to know what he agreed to with Channel nine and the Storm because it beggers belief they continue to get away with blue murder. Not sure where Mr McGuire fits into all of this but he has more turns than a spinning top and it reeks of some underhanded deal. The Storm is now a team for all the code to be proud of and in particular the way they have bounced back and rebuilt. So Melbourne Storm fans, you may have to be patient till Gallop and his cronies are sent packing once and for all and for all of your fellow supporters, that appear to be growing by the day, you must feel so let down by the current administration, including the biased judiciary, that have a lot to answer for this year. It will be an enormous day for Rugby League when Gallop, McCallum and their two bit colleagues are shown the door by the incoming commission and on the way out they should be duly charged and fined for bring the game into disrepute…..
Jaceman
Guest
Nine buried soccer when they got as did Seven I think - they buried AFL when Nine had it (at least on friday nights) - Gallop should ahve learnt from those past warehousing mistakes...
Jaceman
Guest
Gyngell controls the strategy - if he wanted to show it in Melb he would decree it - if it was in the contract surely Gallop would be doing something about it.. This continual bleating about Nine when obviously its the NRLs problem - you even admit it in the last para that he has learnt his lesson in the last deal - or should have - I never mentioned SA or WA - they are WIN affiliates as you say but the CVC owners have a direct say thru Gyngell on Melb programming - perhaps you should approach CVC or Gyngell - if he says ask the Melb programmers then I will believe you but until then stop blaming melbourne Nine - its a convenient excuse for Sydney HO strategizing.......
Boomshanka
Guest
Jaceman I doubt Gallop only has to pick up the phone to Gyngell "to get something going". Remember Nine paid for the rights, pay for the production costs and then with three channels chose to play repeats of tired old sitcoms. Remember there is 24hrs of programming (8 hrs x 3 channels) before they feel the Storm game is worthy of being shown. They are also doing the same to the Rugby Union (and ESL) in Melbourne, yet actively promote codes they (apparently) have no vested interest in. I understand that Melbourne runs on Aussie rules and have no problem with that, hence the odd show or reference is understandable. What isn't understandable is burying the sports, at a cost to them, that they paid money for.
Johnno
Guest
NRL should be 100% percent on foxtel if news wishes. Change the anti siphoning laws so more money for the game and we don't continue to lose our star to the english super league and french rugby, and japanese rugby. Pay tv pay more for the rights so more money for the players. The players are are greedy most of the time and are only playing pro sport for the money nothing wrong with that, and will abandon local sport and national teams for big pay days overseas in the euro leagues. Change the anti siphoning laws and lets news control the game , wake up NRL and supports foetal and news more.
Mals
Guest
Fair enough DB swannie I wasn't aware of that fact. I guess it also gives the locals who don't have Foxtel incentive to go to the ground.