As a Brisbane born and raised Broncos fan, something about the NRL television coverage frustrates me. I also follow other sports, and my hometown teams the Lions and the Roar.
While Channel Nine’s coverage of the Broncos means I get to see my team live most weekends, if I were to move interstate – even 200 kilometres south, ust across the New South Wales border – this would be impossible.
Even if I was to fork out the $720 per year for Foxtel (plus another $120 to upgrade to HD), I would be unable to see the Broncos live most weeks.
At the moment, I have no problem seeing any of my other hometown teams live on the box. Even in the league states, the Reds, the Roar and the Lions all get their fair share of live matches, whether on cable TV or on free-to-air.
The NRL is exceedingly popular on television in Australia, however those in league states without cable television see only one live match per week. And in standard definition. God forbid I move to Melbourne, where despite the advent of digital channels I would be unable to see a match before midnight.
Having only one live NRL game on free-to-air in the NRL states is a disgrace. This is where the AFL has the TV schedule spot on. Four games on free-to-air Australia wide, three games live and on on delay in the AFL states and four games live in NSW, Queensland and the ACT. This includes all local team matches live.
For those that can afford Foxtel, every game is live and in HD, so you are guaranteed to see your team live regardless of where you live.
However, with the new television deal being discussed, debated and formulated, there is scope for change. Through careful consideration and some wishful thinking, I have developed a proposal for having all NRL games shown live on free-to-air across Australia. This is without having two games on at the same time.
There is still two Friday night games but both are live and at decent times, after all a lot of people have don’t really want to stay up until 11.30pm (and that’s in the NRL states) to watch a game ruined by ads. I was annoyed when my team had the 9.30pm telecast game against the Bunnies last season, must be annoying for people who regularly have their team play on that timeslot. Also people who live in non NRL states can watch Friday night football live on Gem. Also with an 6.50pm AEST start, Friday night matches will start at a decent time in NZ.
Saturday afternoon (family friendly time) and leads into the news in the eastern states, followed by a live Saturday night double header after the news in the NRL states and on Gem in the non-NRL states.
There would be a Sunday afternoon live double header and the second game will lead into the news in the NRL states. Monday night football should be replaced with Sunday night football. This may be just me but I personally think the round should be over and you should be able to check the table on a Monday morning without a little asterisk saying that two teams are yet to play. This is just my preference. Also, it creates a triple header on Sunday to enjoy.
I discuss next year, and then 2014 and 2015. This considers the digital switchover (before 2014) and the likelihood of an extra game in 2015 following NRL expansion. The extra game should be on the Thursday night and lead in onto The Footy Show (which should start earlier anyway). Footy Show can be moved to 8.35pm and shown live on Gem in the non-NRL states.
2013 normal round (before digital switchover):
Game 1:
Friday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Victoria and Tasmania and replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Live from 6pm on Gem in South Australia and Northern Territory and replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in Western Australia and replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Game 2:
Friday Night 8.40pm start AEST
Live from 8.35pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 8.35pm on Gem in Vic and Tas and replayed at 1.35am on Ch 9.
Live from 8.05pm on Gem in SA and NT and replayed at 1.35am on Ch 9.
Live from 6.35pm on Gem in WA and replayed at 1.35am on Ch 9.
Game 3:
Saturday Afternoon 4.05pm start AEST
Live from 4pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 4pm on Gem in Vic and Tas and replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Live from 3.30pm on Gem in SA and NT and replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Live from 2pm on Gem in WA and replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Game 4:
Saturday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas and replayed at 1.30am on Ch 9.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT and replayed at 1.30am on Ch 9.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA and replayed at 1.30am on Ch 9.
Game 5:
Saturday Night 8.40pm start AEST
Live from 8.35pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 8.35pm on Gem in Vic and Tas and replayed at 3.35am on Ch 9.
Live from 8.05pm on Gem in SA and NT and replayed at 3.35am on Ch 9.
Live from 6.35pm on Gem in WA and replayed at 3.35am on Ch 9.
Game 6:
Sunday Afternoon 2.15pm start AEST
Live from 2pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 2pm on Gem in Vic and Tas and replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Live from 1.30pm on Gem in SA and NT replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Live from 12pm on Gem in WA replayed at 11.30pm on Ch 9.
Game 7:
Sunday Afternoon 4.05pm start AEST
Live from 4pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 4pm on Gem in Vic and Tas and replayed at 1.30am on Ch 9.
Live from 3.30pm on Gem in SA and NT and replayed at 1.30am on Ch 9.
Live from 2pm on Gem in WA and replayed at 1.30am on Ch 9.
Game 8:
Sunday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 and Gem in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas and replayed at 3.30am on Ch 9.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT and replayed at 3.30am on Ch 9.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA and replayed at 3.30am on Ch 9.
2014 normal round (after digital switchover – hopefully by then main channel will be HD as well as at least one multichannel):
Game 1:
Friday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA.
Game 2:
Friday Night 8.40pm start AEST
Live from 8.35pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 8.35pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 8.05pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 6.35pm on Gem in WA.
Game 3:
Saturday Afternoon 4.05pm start AEST
Live from 4pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 4pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 3.30pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 2pm on Gem in WA.
Game 4:
Saturday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA.
Game 5:
Saturday Night 8.40pm start AEST
Live from 8.35pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT
Live from 8.35pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 8.05pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 6.35pm on Gem in WA.
Game 6:
Sunday Afternoon 2.15pm start AEST
Live from 2pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 2pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 1.30pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 12pm on Gem in WA.
Game 7:
Sunday Afternoon 4.05pm start AEST
Live from 4pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 4pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 3.30pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 2pm on Gem in WA.
Game 8:
Sunday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA.
2015 and beyond normal round (two new teams and one extra game per week):
Game 1:
Thursday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA.
Game 2:
Friday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA.
Game 3:
Friday Night 8.40pm start AEST
Live from 8.35pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 8.35pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 8.05pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 6.35pm on Gem in WA.
Game 4:
Saturday Afternoon 4.05pm start AEST
Live from 4pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 4pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 3.30pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 2pm on Gem in WA.
Game 5:
Saturday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA.
Game 6:
Saturday Night 8.40pm start AEST
Live from 8.35pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT
Live from 8.35pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 8.05pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 6.35pm on Gem in WA.
Game 7:
Sunday Afternoon 2.15pm start AEST
Live from 2pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 2pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 1.30pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 12pm on Gem in WA.
Game 8:
Sunday Afternoon 4.05pm start AEST
Live from 4pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT.
Live from 4pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 3.30pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 2pm on Gem in WA.
Game 9:
Sunday Night 6.50pm start AEST
Live from 6.30pm on Ch 9 in Queensland, New South Wales and ACT
Live from 6.30pm on Gem in Vic and Tas.
Live from 6pm on Gem in SA and NT.
Live from 4.30pm on Gem in WA.
William
Guest
I reckon Gem should do FNF, NINE do Saturday Footy, TEN do Sunday and MNF while SEVEN does State of Origin with it been LIVE on 7mate with SEVEN doing the replay about 10pm
Jaceman
Guest
Monday night can be simulcast on Ten with Fox for better betting ops and Fox can keep Saturday NRL monopoly to keep subs up...BTW the AFL has the same commentators on Seven and Fox so you wouldnt miss out on Vautin etc except for the finals maybe.....
Chop
Guest
I love Monday Night Football, I love it even more because it's on FOX, the coverage is significantly better and in it's HD. It's regularly up in the highest rated Pay TV shows and I don't think FOX would be keen to give it up. I'd like to see FOX have access to all 8 games like the AFL deal, that way I will never have to listen to Fittler, Lewis, Vautin, Ikin ever again and this year it got even worse with Hadley and Lockyer.
JonD
Guest
I disagre with some of the comments here. I think Monday night football is a winner. It provides great ratings and revenue for the game. Yeh the crowds are down but they don't have to be. With good marketing and organisation they could pick the crowds up. (and lets be honest - crowds across the NRL aren't that large that Monday night makes that much of a difference) I think Monday night football should go to FTA. There could be real potential for that to be a real winner. I think a good Monday night football game could be a ratings winner second only to the Friday night football game.
Ned
Guest
I don't want to see ads DURING the game, FTA will insist on ads. I think the AFL have it right in all games live on PayTV in HD and ad free. What happens on FTA is only important in NSW and QLD given that elsewhere(as you show) they can put the NRL live on their secondary channel. Screw anyone who hasn't gone digital.
Blazza
Guest
I dont think there needs to be 2 friday night games. The 2nd game is wasted. Have the telecast start with a 30 min pre game and end with a 30 min post game, which is 3 hours. I would have . if both a FTA and Fox get rights. Friday night 7:30pm FTA Saturday arvo 2pm FTA Saturday evening 5:30pm FOX Saturday night 7:30 FOX Sunday arvo 2 pm FOX Sunday arvo 4pm FTA Sunday night 7pm FTA Monday night 7pm FOX
turbodewd
Guest
I totally agree that MNF should be ditched for Sunday nite. MNF is a crowd killer and it ruins NRL cred when u play in front of empty venues. In addition, the on field performance correlates to the crowd - big crowd is far more likely to generate a good game on the field.
me, I like football
Guest
I still remember the government at the time, though not exactly sure when (early 2000's ???)announcing that the analog signal would be shut-off in 2008.
jamesb
Guest
Saturday arvo should be brought back in when NZ gets their second team. That way majority of Saturday arvo games will be from NZ starting from 4pm, than leads to 6pm and 8pm games. A truly Super Saturday! have 4 games on Sunday, 1pm, 2 games at 3pm and another at 5:30pm. The 2 games at 3pm, you could have one game on FTA, the other on pay, or have 2 games on FTA, one on main channel, the other on digital.
NF
Guest
Saturday afternoon I'm not sold on I don't mind MNF due to the coverage that Fox provides on it sure attendance wise it's not the best but it getting better over time but it is a ratings winner, Saturday arvo might not be a big of a hit.
Football United
Guest
I wish this digital switchover was over years ago in aus. We could have the friday games kick off simultaneously with a red button feature so you could choose which game to watch, with the replays afterwards so you watch the main game live and still watch the other after that.