Rugby league’s match broadcast radio rights are up for grabs and I have my fingers crossed the Australian Rugby League Commission is treating discussions with a wide open mind.
Rights holders 2GB and Triple M are the strong tip to retain their respective gigs, with Triple M attempting to increase its coverage to four games per week.
But there is an intriguing new horse on the scene – a tandem effort proposed by 2UE and 2SM – which has the potential to bring the code to thousands of extra listeners with their far-reaching networks.
I understand the 2UE-2SM bid would involve callers Andrew Voss and Graeme Hughes and their pledge is to provide a more serious league coverage, as a change from GB’s Continuous Call, which often borders on vaudeville.
On this site in August, I expressed my personal disappointment that the ARLC missed the opportunity to inject a breath of fresh air when it stuck by Channel 9 and Fox Sports for its billion dollar TV deal. Channels Ten and Seven launched a serious bid to secure the TV rights but the Commission palmed it off.
I see the radio rights issue as something similar, a terrific chance for a new broom to sweep through and freshen up the way rugby league is presented to its non-TV audience.
Again speaking personally, I have grown weary of Ray Hadley and his team talking about anything but league on their weekend shows. Their ‘alternative’ coverage might be a good rater, but if I want to know what’s happening in the game, or hear some proper discussion on its many issues, I tune in to David Morrow and Co on the ABC.
Not many in-jokes or advertorials there, and certainly no boring, repetitive ditties about Mama’s got her boobs out again, or the tiresome Fui Fui Moi Moi song.
I would like to hear what UE and SM come up with as a double-barrelled coverage, if only for the reason that we might get to hear something a little different at any hour, or in any game. Same old, same old does not work for me.
Voss and Hughes are accomplished league callers and I am sure their respective networks would build a strong back-up team and ultimately provide a striking new radio presentation for league-starved listeners.
If the ARLC isn’t keen on dumping the long-time broadcaster 2GB, I also see no problem in cutting a deal to allow Triple M as well as 2UE-2SM to cover the NRL premiership and representative games along with 2GB.
A ‘more the merrier’ approach could be of enormous benefit for all parties concerned.
If the Commission turns its back on these latest radio bidders, who could blame them if they used their sports resources to cover AFL or the A-League as an alternative?
CJW72
Guest
Couldn't agree with you more. Hadleys commentary and clear biase always induces a little bile to the back of the throat..
Johnno
Guest
I always liked Karen Tighe , for many reasons, she was always good on on grandstand.
Lynn
Guest
Debbie Spillane is a terrible presenter and her knowledge of rugby league is poor which surprises me considering she was once in the thick of it. Grandstand was so much better when they would simply continue with Thirsty, Wok and Hammo after games. I want to hear Morrow, Wok and Hammo interview the movers and shakers in the game, not Debbie. Still, it's better than the 2GB trash. At least they talk league on Sundays. 2UE would provide the ideal option.
Liam
Guest
Wish that more commentators were from the Ray Warren/Dennis Commetti school, problem with radio at the moment is that David Morrow, Andrew Moore and Ray Hadley all sound like Darrell Eastlake when a break is made and listening to a commentator you can not understand is painful.
Nostradamus
Guest
Warren Ryan sounds like a tired old man who has lost his zest for the game. Morrow is zestful but aims his analysis at high schoolkids..2GB has zest but aims at primary school kids , a level just below beau Ryan...
tommy
Guest
Agree with Red Rooster. The ABC Grandstand Rugby League team is the best rugby league commentary (if not sports commentary) in Australia in my opinion. I can't believe that people would listen to commerical radio with rubbish commentators & adds to boot. I agree with Lynn though that Deb Spillane is just awful & Daniel Anderson is painful ti listen to. What don't David Morrow, Warren Ryan & Craig just keep going after the game?
Steggz
Guest
I like the AFL in the afternoon, especially as 5.5 hours of league coverage before the first game would not be good. Warren Ryan, while still an amazingly astute observer, is just losing his edge on the radio. Deb Spillane and Daniel Anderson do a decent job.
Lynn
Guest
ABC Grandstand is not as good as it used to be either. There seems to be less of Warren Ryan and David Morrow and more Debbie Spillane. Plus the their coverage on a Saturday is very inconsistent and the afternoon is all VFL.
Red Rooster
Guest
Lynn just listen to the ABC callers and you will have less stress and be better informed. They are the best!
Red Rooster
Guest
The ABC have the best team. Warren Ryan has the best football brain in the whole media.
Lynn
Guest
That Weekend Detention rubbish is very similar to the Continuous Call Team. They even have a segment called 'League Today between 5 and 6 pm after the game call and barely a word of league is spoken. It's back to the same old self-indulgent garbage when what should be happening is a review of the games of the day. Even during game calls they drift off to other rubbish.
Dom F
Guest
Don't confuse the continuos call team's show Weekend Detention with their coverage of league. They are actually two separate programs. They just happen to run one after the other. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
I turn off any broadcast where Ray Hadley is the caller, whatever the sport. I have no interest in having a horrendously politically biased shock jock being the voice of my sporting entertainment. When Channel 9 stooped to the depths of having Hadley call the All Blacks v Wallabies World Cup semi final, sports braodcasting hit a new all time low.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
AFL onlookers at games appear to be better informed - a high percentage tune in via their phones in stereo on Triple M. Most folks prefer not to cart around an additional radio. Binoculars are also becoming a thing of the past with big screens at all grounds. People generally like to travel light, especially when hitting a pub after the game.
Steggz
Guest
Not so sure. I still have an AM/FM radio I take, and I dare say that most people who really want to listen to the game will have one as well. Pretty cheap too. The next move will be to digital. All the stations are there, it's just a matter of making portable radios cheap enough to become mainstream.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Take care of the platform first - and then you can fuss over the content. Each and every game needs to be broadcast in stereo on FM radio. The new millennium began more than a decade ago. Get with the times mono AM scratchy cacklers. Mobile phones with built in FM radios are what punters prefer to take with them to the ground when they tune in to a simulcast.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Nine desperately needs big sport to stay afloat. That is why they targetted the London Games, Vancouver and the League. Advertising dollars generated from these 'majors' is critical to their future. Bidding for these events was imperative to get some big bucks in the kitty. Will the dollars arrive in time and in enough numbers? Time will provide the answer.
yewonk
Guest
tk they talk very little about rugby league during there show when their contract actually requires them have a certain amount each week
Nostradamus
Guest
Singo wants near exclusive coverage so as to sell his associated talk format to regional NSW/Qld stations. Last time he lost the rights he put the AFL on to snub his nose at the NRL which 2UE hasnt done and so they may fear a repeat if they open it up to others. How many listeners do they get to saturday arvo drivel with no games??
Jason Cave
Guest
Tim, Do you think Channel 9 made a major mistake in bidding and then getting the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games, if they had known about the financial troubles Nine would be facing at the moment?