According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Rugby is set to enjoy a financial boost thanks to a new TV deal that CEO Bill Pulver hopes will be inked within two months.
Pulver acknowledged the serious financial challenges faced by the ARU, and said that the insolvency was a possibility before cost-saving measures were implemented.
“Look, 12 to 18 months ago, that [insolvency] was a very real possibility.
“I’m pleased to say all of the initiatives we have implemented over the past 18 months mean I am now very comfortable we are going to get through 2015. So that’s a really good outcome in the face of a very challenging environment.”
Pulver said he was confident that the new deal, which retains Foxtel as a live broadcaster of all Super Rugby and Wallabies matches, would see Australia into a better financial position.
Under the new deal, Network Ten would show all Wallabies matches live, as well as a replay of one Super Rugby game each week. It would be the first time in over a decade Super Rugby has shown entire matches on free-to-air television in a decade.
“Australian rugby will be in a much better shape from 2016 through to 2020. We’ve been through a broadcast negotiation that has typically been very tense.
“We’ve resolved the negotiations around who gets what share and that’s been a very co-operative negotiation.
“I think it’s been a very fair outcome for all unions. The final stage is to finalise the agreements, which I’m hopeful will be done within 60 days.”
Much like Football Federation Australia’s much talked about plan for the future of the game, Pulver said it was essential that plans and funds were put in place to secure the code’s future.
“We will put together a future fund to make sure if you get to any bumps in the road you are properly prepared.
“We will have money to cover the losses of the ARU, we want to fund Super Rugby properly so it’s stable and then, most importantly, look at what investment monies we have for the development of the game.”
William
Guest
nope its not finalised
Andrew
Guest
Has this deal been done now
Al
Guest
Does this include Japanese and Argentine broadcast rights or will they be sold seperate?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah, single city competitions with no revenue and TV interest are the future of professional sport. The problem is revenue. How will this ever improve it by elevating the clubs that have sent themselves broke merely competing with themselves? Change the record. You sound like an absolute f***wit when you write these comments.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
NZ want their teams regularly playing SA teams. The NZRU believes this best prepares them for test rugby. It's a fair point.
pjm
Roar Rookie
You actually don't.
RobC
Roar Guru
Hugh's articles worth a read http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/exclusive-aru-speaks-ggr-changes-grassroots-funding-part-1/ http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/exclusive-aru-speaks-ggr-changes-grassroots-funding-part-2/
pjm
Roar Rookie
Because they listened to the 'expansion at all costs' crowd.
pjm
Roar Rookie
No one who goes to G&GR is interested in the truth.
MAJB
Guest
Stray, thanks for clearing that up. it is a good point about the development about the codes. Rugby's failure to leave the boundaries of the private schools was the downfall of the local competition, whereas AFL had no such social boundaries. As for my round of golf I shall say nothing more about it except my handicap may increase to double digits. Train, anything is better than nothing and hopefully viewer demand will cause an increase in the number of broadcast games.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
And I, MAJB, am just in from winning today's Par comp at my club, with + 4. Hope you hit them well, too. My point is that, in around the same amount of time, Aussie Rules' original comp has evolved from its parochial origins to be the nation's richest and first truly national football comp, whereas Union's original comp has remained stuck on the ARU's teat.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So it's Pulver's fault the code, which was in a decade decline before he started, remains in a poor state?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's better than what it was. It's the same as what the A-League get for more local content. Not sure it's a bad deal.
MAJB
Guest
Well Stray, Just back from of a most enjoyable game of golf, at Royal Sydney. Just because a grade competition is over one hundred doesn’t mean that it is not relevant, so what’s your point? It wasn’t till 1946 to Eastwood joined the first grade comp. Also, what has the establishment of the VFA got to do with Rugby? Train, one of the blokes I was playing with was a former company secretary with McPhersons. His view of the ARU’s TV rights “and they think that is a good deal?”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Roy, Don't let the State, Sub-unions and clubs fool you that this is ARU mandated. The ARU has set a standard fee, at the least by the state, and possibly nationwide. Any deviations in fees come from the state union, sub-union or club, not the ARU.
William
Guest
FOX Sports and TEN for V8 Supercars, where as A League may be no longer on SBS after this season's A League. Actually FFA don't like SBS as they feel they are dragging down the sport. When they look at BBL ratings, they rather go to a commercial network
Squirrel
Guest
Rugby is booming in every other country but Oz. On ya Pulver give yourself another bonus
Westie
Guest
Further back than the 50's. League only exists because of aru mismanagement.
Squirrel
Guest
With qld so crap, there is no tribalism in rugby. Rugby will die bar the ab tests. If only club rugby was invested in.
Roy
Guest
TWAS, where did you get Negative from?? If you reread Steve's comment, you will see it is far from negative.