Today’s $1.025 billion TV rights deal is being trumpeted as great news for the code but I believe the newly formed NRL Commission has failed its fan base.
By granting the five year deal jointly to Fox Sports and Channel Nine, the Commission has blown the chance to inject a breath of fresh air into the way the game is covered around the nation.
Both networks do a ‘solid’ job with their respective footy coverage but today’s announcement means that the innovation ship has sailed, leaving Fox and Nine in a holding pattern offering an almost identical product that has left many fans either dissatisfied or angry.
At this stage, I don’t know details of the Channel Seven and Network Ten bids but you can bet a boot full of Steedens they would have offered a fresh new approach to the way league is aired around Australia and many fans would have welcomed a different batch of expert commentator.
While Nine’s camera coverage is second to none, there is a growing sense of staleness about Nine’s commentary team which has created considerable angst from viewers.
We hear that veteran caller Ray Warren is likely to retire from the box at season’s end which may (or may not) help Nine’s coverage for 2013 and beyond. Personally, I’m not a fan of Ray Hadley calling TV league – radio is his best playground – and Peter Sterling comes across better in the role of analyst than as the primary caller.
As for Phil Gould, Fatty Vautin, Freddy Fitler, Darren Lockyer and Co, well, I’m not excited at the prospect of another five seasons on the Nine network.
Will we be subject to Brisbane games every second Friday night? I hope not. Will other clubs such as Canberra and Cronulla get more free-to-air time? I fear not.
Will Channel Nine air its games in HD? I hope so. Will Nine stop the ridiculous one hour delayed telecast on Sunday afternoons? Gee I hope we get it live.
Fox Sports have breathlessly announced they will be airing live games on Sunday night and I guess that’s a plus for viewers but probably a financial downer for the clubs concerned. It’s tough asking families to turn up at the football on a Sunday night and front for work/school the following day.
Overall, I like the Fox Sports coverage of games but I believe the Commission was remiss in not insisting that the network put on a 24-hour, dedicated rugby league channel, a la AFL.
Why isn’t the Commission calling the shots, playing hard ball when they hold all of the trump cards?
No, today’s TV rights announcement wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped for the code and its growing army of followers.
Sure, there’s more money available now for RL but the AFL got considerably more in the biscuit tin for its “product” and will doubtless gloat about it at every opportunity.
I can only say good luck to Channel Nine and Fox Sports on their successful bid. Maybe there is still some loyalty left in our favourite game?
It can only be hoped that those irksome match scheduling issues be sorted out by the Nine bosses and that the guys at Fox look long and hard at providing a dedicated channel for league enthusiasts sooner rather than later.
Global
Guest
Is SOO to be shown at the same time also?
The Link
Guest
Nope, first and last rights was a big surprise and a significant reason why the ARLC went for Fox and 9.
Stanza
Guest
Worse than the Superleague war, are you having a laugh? 1.025 billion to finally help our financially stricken clubs and help with community clubs (especially Country RL) compared to clubs going broke and the tragic circumstances of rationalisation of culling 20 clubs to 14. get off the drugs champ, that stuff is obviously making you paranoid!
Ben
Guest
Once again the AFL Board has run rings around the NRL Board. I live in Brisbane and we get 4 Live AFL games each week and at least a couple of times this year we have had 5 Lve AFL games, The NRL and ch9 looks like they will be only telecasting 1 live game in Brisbane? How cane one compare the AFL TV rights to the NRL TV rights, as the AFL are future driven expanding the game making the code truly a national sport, where the NRL are just happy receiving the money for the Tv rights, not really interested in expanding the game outside NSW. Do the old codgers In the NRL realize that it's 2012 not 1952? After today's announcement this just confirms that the AFL is the real Australian Football Code compared to the NRL being a NSW football code, that so happens to be played in Queensland, and watch by the odd viewer in the other states. I thought the new NRL commission would lead the NRL into the 21st Centuary starting with the TV rights, taking on the AFL head on, instead we are getting the same old same old. Hence nothing will change!!!! Anyway how is ch9 going to pay for these rights? My understanding is that Ch 9 is broke.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
No doubt they would like you to sign up to foxtel. But hidden agendas like this should not concern us. Its a great deal, and as QGIRL said, it pays to have money. The one thing rugby league needs above all else is money. Gee, wouldn't it be nice to have all games on FTA, live, new commentators, streaming on the net right to your tv, ect, ect. Free tablet app chucked in.... Guys. This world is not like that. Look at the deal - they are funnelling you into 3 games, yet this bothers people. Why should it? Why don't you trust them? This is just ridiculous. Its business. You PAY NOTHING for FTA. The commentators may get on your nerves, but you can tune them out in your mind. ___ There is only one barometer here. Money. The game is more than just the NRL being screened onto tv screens. To be frank, they went with the right offer. 4 live games on FTA for 800m..its not enough. So you get 1 less game, maybe only one is live (that we know of so far), but it does not compare anywhere near to the extra 200million. __ This deal is great. By rights, you should be down at the ground. Its pointless discussing with those who say its a bad deal. It really is. If there was no first and last rights cancellation, it would take the gloss off for me only a little - and I think this is what sealed the deal at the 11th hour. The NRL is just one competition in our great game. I am happy with the coverage, there is nothing really wrong with it. A few people are tired of gould and rabs would be the biggest critisism. I agree, its wearing thin. Everyone will benefit from this deal. There are SOOOOO many avenues to watch a game these days, pubs, taverns, you even get them in nightclubs...if you really don't want to miss a game, you can easily view it without having to pay a cent. Well done to the ARLC and all those involved. And so too should ch9 make as much as they can with this deal, and also do the tv in the way they see fit. Now, did I just open up my rear for ch9 and fox????? Nooooo. You are in the wrong headspace. I am simply allowing them to get value. Some people, and the comments today have been scathing from all quarters, need to wake up.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
Foxtel now have the IPTV rights to the NRL. If you have an X-Box or one of the latest Samsung Smart TVs then you'll be able to watch the NRL matches via the service that Foxtel is running with them. It'll be on their iPad app too.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
All games will be broadcast into the non-heartland states, on GEM, at the same time as Queensland, NSW, ACT and NT.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
When I was a kid there was one delayed game at 8:30pm each Friday and an hour of highlights at 6:30pm on Sunday. There was no pay TV and no internet. Now we can see at least 6 live games each weekend. The other two are delayed. We also get a live Queensland Cup game each Sunday. Things have never been better.
Pete #205
Guest
Are you really just now figuring out that they want you to sign up to Foxtel? There is so much shared ownership within media in Australia. It's one big mess.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
In today's economic climate, it pays to have money. This deal provides the ARLC with money. Lots of money. John O'Neill would sell his soul for a similar deal.
Australian Rules
Guest
Link, no other code has its fixture determined by a TV station. That, and the first and last rights, were always going to go. There's no question the ARLC has gone for cash maximisation.
Football United
Guest
pay tv pays more for the product. They, like 9, give the ARLC money, just more than FTA can afford and then the ARLC distribute as they see fit as it's now their money. Thus blaming PTV for your clubs lack of funds is simplistic and ignorant.
marco
Guest
channel 9 will stuff up the broadcasting deal , just like the Olympics coverage. Its as if they want us to subscribe to foxtel.. I don't trust these guys. Something smells about this deal.
gawa
Guest
I have seen many AFL and Union ads run during A League coverage.
von Neumann
Guest
And finally to answer the guys above that. No longer are you the game not worth a billion. don't forget the afl have worked uninhibited for years to get the coverage they have got. this is just the start. To boo and his this deal is short sighted and too sour...but look all those who do. I can understand. 70 per cent dissatisfaction....wow, but weigh that against action....a mouse click against missing a game.... People whine because they can. All i can say is thank god for the arlc, clear headed-ness, and the pay day to build the chest we need to shore up this sport. Go to the game. Your teams need you. The giant rises. All will stand in its shadow
von Neumann
Guest
I am much better when conversing. Lol I am not blind to the reality i guess. There was a reason they did this deal and not another. Money, its not bad either when you consider the reality, and that this is the best deal for the game. So for me that's it. They did it for a reason, and that was money - the game needs it bally, to be patios what its truly worth...and then not be toed by f and l agreements. plus the ratings are there, don't forget that...with origin we win the landscape fromTWO states. They are great. You won't please everyone and they know that, but if nrl were a person, it would be having a party. I cannot find it in my heart to talk bad about something so good. It did not blow my mind but that's not the point. I am simply not blind to the reality
von Neumann
Guest
All the whinging done is frankly astounding. very few have cause to whine. Mostly those who can't get fox dire to body corp. Given the nature of previous deals and all that's transpired, this is a very good one. Would seem to me that you cannot get it all at once. I am not convinced that an alternate 4 live 800m deal would have been better. 200m less...ooh that's a lot... The game needed money. in years to come you will see the value of this deal. No more f and l rights. Truly the only box they needed to tick was the money one. And that's not to say the station ch9 won't change things up in regards to commontary. I just think people expect too much. But hey you don't know what the net rights will bring. Would not mind seeing a fall back net service available to those without access to fox and any one else. No one could have predicted the whinging to this level, but crying well not solve the money woes. The game today was just saved. The exposure worry us over done. They do not have trouble with viewers...we already match afl on that. Plus a deal like afl is a losing deal..they are not happy with it...and i am satisfied with the explanation as to why we don't get a channel. The game rates...its a valuable thing to have this deal Sd and hd is not even a concern. Soon it well all be hd.
von Neumann
Guest
I can see every ones situation is different. Its really bad that the game did not have the room to move. The job however in the negotiations is overall great. Can't get everything this time round. Its very solid. At least we did not go backwards. By the deals end i am sure we will see a fresh new coverage. Public opinion will dictate it. It only gets better. The game is assured security and investment. Great no crying, celebrate that.
The Link
Guest
If the NRL went for maximum cash then it wouldn't have gone for fixed scheduling or getting News to relinquish first and last rights.
Rob C
Guest
I know how you feel. I own a unit in a complex of 7 units and have tried to get fox connected. They quoted our body corporate over $7k just to carry out the work. Yes that is right, $1k per unit. I am really anxious about the internet rights component to this deal becasue I really want to get league and have no access currently. This is disgraceful in my opinion and I am currently forced to stream off the net to get my fix.. I don't want to do this. Now that I hear that fox is able to offer IPTV in this deal through tablets I fear that the internet deal will offer nothing for those people likely myself that are currently excluded from getting access to paytv. I hold out hope especially given next year is a world cup year and I want to watch all games on offer,