The biggest talking point that will come from the NRL this year is the upcoming television rights deal, that will shape the code’s future the next five years and beyond.
Currently, Channel Nine and Fox are in an exclusive three month window of negotiations which will expire in May.
From there channels Seven and Ten will officially enter the bidding war for the NRL TV rights. Channel Seven would love to drive the price up for their bitter rivals, but would also want to purchase the rights to State of Origin and perhaps Monday Night Football to fit in around their weekend AFL coverage.
Out of the three free-to-air networks Channel Seven is in the superior financial position, where Nine is in debt to the extent that they need to sell assets like Ticketek. Channel Ten is not exactly flush with funds, but isn’t in as perilous a financial state as Nine at the moment.
Ten for so long have been rated the third free-to-air commericial network, and is in a phase of cost cutting (like getting rid of OneHD) but also seeking and investigating a wise investment (NRL).
There has been talk that Channel Ten would want all of the NRL games to be on FTA. I think that’s highly unlikely, but who knows.
Channel Ten does have one advantage over the other two networks. Ten have their news at 5pm, while Nine and Seven have theirs at 6pm.
Which means if Ten were to get the rights to Sunday football, they would have a live game at 3pm, rather the delayed game at 4pm with Nine at the moment.
For Ten, it fits perfectly for their lead-in to the 5pm news, but Ten can also stage a live 5.30pm Sunday night game, which would lead in to their normal Sunday evening programming from 7.30pm.
In New South Wales and Queensland, the match would be on the main channel, while in the southern states, it would be on One. They could also give The Project a rest, since it already screens Monday to Friday.
At Nine, their problem is not only their 6pm news, but their traditional Sunday flagship 60 Minutes, which is always on at 7.30pm.
If Nine wants a Sunday night game, it has to start at 6.30pm after the News. But Nine would have to move or abandon 60 Minutes which I doubt will never happen.
Early Sunday evening games have the potential to attract a good TV audience. As for crowds, it wouldn’t affect it the majority of them.
If a Perth franchise came in, you could have seven or eight matches live from Perth to the east coast. In the first month in March with daylight savings in place, Queensland teams could host three or four matches at 4.30pm Queensland time (one hour behind)
Also you have five different public holidays on Mondays which would help teams stage home Sunday evening matches thanks to the day off the next day.
March 12: Victorian Labour Day (Storm)
April 9: Easter Monday (Sydney teams)
May 7: Queensland Labour Day ( Queensland Teams)
June 4: New Zealand Queen’s Birthday (Warriors)
June 11: Queen’s Birthday (Sydney teams)
WA have various Monday public holidays like Labour Day March 5th and Foundation Day June 4th. Those days could be used for Perth to host Monday night games.
As far as scheduling matches is concerned, the early Sunday game could be moved from 2pm to 1pm, and than you have the 3pm and 5:30pm matches to follow.
So whichever network gets the “possible” double header on FTA on a Sunday, it could give them a nice platform for not only their normal Sunday evening programmes, but for the week ahead.
Channel Nine may well get the Sunday football, along with the Friday night games, however, this time Nine does face stiff competition. Whether Nine has the finances and scheduling to appease the NRL remains to be seen.
By the middle of this year, the TV deal will be signed, sealed and delivered. Whatever the outcome, it will be talked about for days, weeks and months to follow.
Queensland's Game is Rugby League
Guest
Jaceman, Auditors said the Titans' football department and property arms are intertwined. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-23/titans-face-wind-up-proceedings/3909010?section=qld That does not mean the football department is losing money.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Having an expansion in 2015 thereby creating another slot,could indeed provide FTA another opportunity.I understand the NRL sees lack of FTA coverage on saturday,a big drawback when trying to promote the code to new areas,and existing fans in heartland city & country areas.Trouble is, it is not prime time ratings period . The first item on the agenda is to get the Titan's debacle sorted out,once and for all.It is pretty hard to negoatiate Tv deals,when a club's viability ATM is allegedly up in the air.
jamesb
Guest
"I would hazrad a guess that a combine 9/10 bid is on the table but it would be hard to split up the 3 FTA games – they would all want early friday night and maybe Sunday arvo but the late Friday night game would be an orphan" Why would League only want 3 FTA games, where perhaps they should push for 4 or 5 The way it is now, you have a live Friday 7:30pm game, followed by a delayed Broncos game late at 9:30pm. Than there's no FTA on Saturday, but on Sunday theres a 4pm delayed game. Also you have inconsistent coverage in the southern states To say that it is underwhelming coverage is an understatement to say the least.
Jaceman
Guest
QGirl, Would you like to revise your comments after this mornings news articles on the depth of Titans debt...
Jaceman
Guest
I would hazrad a guess that a combine 9/10 bid is on the table but it would be hard to split up the 3 FTA games - they would all want early friday night and maybe Sunday arvo but the late Friday night game would be an orphan. Similar in the AFL that 7 got the gems in the Friday/Sunday arvo games (when there is no suburban Aussie Rules on) and 10 got the also rans of sat arvo/Sat night (when most adult suburban AFL games are on) and there are few Tv sets on.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well about bleeding time I say.Whether it is being under the influence of the ARLC or someone has got a new spring in their step,but ch9 appears to be responding to D Gallop in ways unseen or unheard of since the formation of the NRL . The thing that amazes me ,it could have been done with the last tv contract.Oh that's right ,no other real competitors. Play hardball David and do not give the suckers(insert ch9 ) an even break. If there is real justice in this world ch10 will get the lion's share of the FTA with 9 the crumbs and Foxtel get whatever..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Maximus I stated oval ball not round ball fan.A hell of a difference,please read what I actually described.
Jaceman
Guest
The SMH is reporting that the 4PM NRL Sunday arvo game will be shown at 2PM in Perth this year (WIN 9 affiliate station). I guess the NRL is driving a hard baragin with Nine at the negotiating table. No mention of progress in melbourne though...Bruce Gordon the owner of WIN is also on the Ten Board which makes their role in this interesting
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Some reports have it at 10% each.Damn confusing.
Maximus
Guest
Funny CC below thinks he is a round ball wonk- Melbourne heart and Chelsea I believe..
Maximus
Guest
Murdoch and packer have 9% each....
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Yes, Boomshanka, in addition to all of Conroy's altogether too numerous personal faults, he is also a complete egomaniac.
Boomshanka
Guest
Should read 'is illegal' (as the current wording of the law stands). Amazing to think after 16 months delay and over 65 drafts, Conroy sees himself as the sole decider of what's in or out. No doubt more trips to the MCG as a guest of broadcasters and a football code.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
He is not a rl supporter ,but a supporter of the other oval ball code. At least he has something going for him: his parents origins.Nothing else i could give him credit for.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
He has parents? Are you sure?
Jaceman
Guest
The ESL just doesnt rate in Australia and Nine doesnt want a competitor against the local games. When do you think they would show ESL? 2PM on Sundays was just a foil to Foxtel to get them to do a deal. To suggest they are clearing the decks for the local TV deal is laughable...
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
"The Titans dramas are damaging any other SEQ bid." The Titans' football department made a profit last year. They're set to make another profit this year. It's their property arm that's causing them to lose money. Once they offset the property arm they'll join the Broncos as the only clubs in the competition that make a profit. None of the football departments of the Sydney clubs make a profit. They rely on pokies revenue from their Leagues clubs. Adding another Sydney-based team into the competition will make it harder for them. But don't let facts get in the way of your pipe dream... John Quayle is the dinosaur that caused the Super League war. His refusal to accept evolution cost the ARL millions of dollars and gave the AFL a free kick in Sydney. If the game continues to listen to him then it's stuffed.
Jaceman
Guest
His family come from the famous RL town of Whitehaven
Jaceman
Guest
All you say is true but for the sake of balance: Another NSW side would seem unreasonable to most National unbiased observers but it is a growth region and RL "heartland" so the demise of a NSW team would seem to be the way in. The Broncos having Brisbane to themselves is unsustainable. I'm not sure how much a new Perth team would add to the FTA TV rights as discussed elsewhere because their time slot for games would be unfavourable for FTA TV games. News would back a Perth team as Pay TV subs are low there, unlike the rest of Aus they have no newspaper presence and could build on that there just to keep a another team out of Brisbane.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Cannot stand the Communications Minister, absolutely cannot stand him. Should be run out of Canberra on a rail, tar and feathers optional, just get him out.