NRL must reward interstate viewers with new TV deal

But wasn't that always the case with the 4 Nations/WC always played at the end of the year? To me it just looks like we've lost the Anzac test & the NRL is putting a positive spin on it with all the "priority window" stuff. That's a shame because I felt NZ had finally turned a corner after claiming the number 1 ranking & 3 straight wins, so we would've seen some epic transtasman tests in the upcoming years. All in all I think the NRL have done a good job in securing the deal, but I would've kept the midseason test.

The teams in remote locations rarely get good coverage, not entirely surprising given 1 ch9 commentator is afraid of flying and the others aren't any good!

I'm really looking forward to this aspect of the deal - last year watching Samoa vs NZ (and I support neither!) held more appeal for me than the ANZAC test. The timing at the end of the year just means all the best players are available. Plus we will get to see more teams we don't usually get to see play (seeing NZ every year in April, often not at full strength gets a bit boring). I am loving the idea of Pacific tests during the Origin period too.

I read it as the deal with 9 was a brilliant strategy,not a " brilliant " structure. We know GoGWS everything done in sport,was done first by your mob. Except the $925m was an original FTA best.Except there will be an end of season International; window.Except there will be SOO played on a Sunday night.Except the NRL brought forward the negotiations by 12 months.Except they removed Monday nights meaning an extra weekend game. Except a window has been left open for expansion according to Smith,allowing for negotiations down teh line if need be. For many of the fans and players, they may well consider it brilliant. Of course it's not brilliant in your eyes, it involves rugby league. And the $925m is only the starting point.Weep when the final Pay ,digital,Nz deals are done. Usually you predict the amount the code will receive ,now Smith got in early and undermined the opportunity.

They have done a bettter deal so far in terms of redressing very poor FTA access that existed under previous deals. I'm not sure how 'brilliant' it is though - if Foxtel does come in with live broadcast of all games, simulcasting with Ch9 on four games, then in structure it will look very much like the AFL's existing deal. It's hardly an original or 'brilliant' structure.

Agree with you there about top ratings for terrible shows.

More a pre-emptive strike, methinks

You're right to be cynical Kaks, I just have my optimistic pants on today.

GEM has been a god send for us League lovers in the West as, previously, Friday night games started at 0100 or worse. Now it's 5.30 and 7.30, fantastic. Hopefully the four live games WILL get shown on GEM or Go and continue the good work that has emerged over the last few years.

Excuse my cynicism Epi, but I'll believe it when i see it

The Raiders have been dealt very harshly. Not just because they always miss out on FTA, but they always end up playing at night in the middle of winter when temperatures are freezing. No wonder they have the lowest attendance in the comp. I guess since the NRL has a bit more power over scheduling this time round we will see a few more non-glamour sides getting a run. I think these sides will still dominate, but nowhere near what they used to.

We could get start to get technical about it. Are they broadcasting in interlaced or progressive(hint it is always interlaced) which is actually half the resolution of the stated resolution of SD. Compare watching that to a progressive 1080p HD film on blu-ray and it is something like 12 times better resolution for the blu-ray. TV stations do an woeful job of how they broadcast images. Ask any director, especially the TV ad directors about how their work is broadcast and watch their face crunch up in frustration to what the TV stations do to their images.

Just because it is shown on GEM does not mean it is broadcast as a HD signal. You would be surprised how poor a SD signal can look on a big HD TV.

I think Nine have gone out of their way to spoil the experience for everyone for years. When are they going to overhaul their antiquated commentary team? Haven't bothered watching Nines broadcasts for a while now. Fox have intelligent commentary and great camera work so hopefully they will still be showing the same amount of games as they do now. I can't go back to Nine.

Except Channel 9 will probably opt out of showing those teams, unless a glamour Sydney team is involved. It really grinds my gears, but teams like the Raiders have been dealt very harshly by Channel 9.

All the whispers say that this would be the case and Smith said at the announcement this was still a possibility. The deal with Fox isn't done yet though and they've come out badly from this FTA agreement. You wouldn't think they could afford to lose RL (they'd lose half their subscriber base) but who knows how they'll react?

If Foxtel want to pay to broadcast all games - they will. If that does happen , Nine will get a reduction in their costs which Fox will need to cover. It's truly a brilliant strategy by the NRL - they've absolutely nailed it.

I thought Fox were going to broadcast all NRL games (as happens currently with the AFL)? Are you sure Nine have exclusive rights to those four games?

Not all games are on FOX though. Nine have exclusivity for four games a week, the State of Origin and Final Series. They will not share that live feed with any other party hence fans are not better off, as we will continue with sub standard definition, poor commentary filled with ads and no alternative feed. Rugby League, or any other sport for that matter) is a poor spectacle through a Nine window.

With half of all games on FTA, plus all games on Fox, then surely the fan is already much better off - regardless of where they live.