In this third part of the NRL survey results series, we look at the broadcasting as well as the timing during the day of the NRL games.
Everything in this article was answered by only NRL followers. For starters, 57 per cent of NRL followers have subscription television so Fox Sports does have a majority market share in NRL television coverage.
How coverage has been done has been criticised in recent times especially regarding gambling promotion, updates or ‘commentary’. In a NRL broadcast, NRL followers watch or listen to four things: pre-event commentary (64%), the event (87%), mid-event analysis (59%) and post-event analysis (62%).
Only 12 per cent watch gambling promotions/updates. All of the entertainment/National Anthem/presentations options were between 30 per cent and 50 per cent so it seems they are considered important to some people. Like in the previous article, they all do not equal 100 per cent as it was multiple choice so that is the per cent of respondents who clicked that choice. Also, 82 per cent of NRL followers listen to TV commentary – that indicates TV is the preferred choice of viewing and game commentary.
Recommendations
28. Ensure television is the main method of viewing NRL.
29. NRL broadcasts should begin with pre-event commentary followed by the event (with mid-event analysis) followed by post-event analysis.
30. During a match’s TV broadcast, keep commentary.
31. Do not be too concerned regarding entertainment, the National Anthem and presentations except if it is the grand final and maybe the final regular season round.
32. Restrict gambling promotions and updates to commercial breaks.
Another big issue is the anti-siphoning list. What should free-to-air broadcasters be given first opportunity to get the rights to? Same with above, this question was multiple choice. Anyway, 51 per cent said the grand final so that is a must and 52 per cent said a minimum of three regular season games per round – another must.
Only 36 per cent supported a condition that all teams are to have an equal number of their regular season matches broadcast while more surprising, only 40 per cent said all finals series games (except grand final). A possible reason for this could be that NRL followers are not that concerned about free-to-air coverage of finals series games (except grand final) as soon as their team is eliminated.
Recommendation
33. The anti-siphoning list to include NRL in the following manner:
• The NRL grand final
• The NRL Finals Series
• Minimum three regular season NRL games per round.
High definition television coverage of NRL is something that was until a few months ago something that was desired but not provided.
Roughly 80 per cent said they expected Australian free-to-air television coverage of NRL to be in high definition in 2016 while roughly 60 per cent said they expected it to also be MPEG-4 compatible. HD MPEG-4 compatible TV coverage (50%) was also the combination that NRL followers expected Australian free-to-air television coverage to be in 2016.
Recommendation
34. Australian free-to-air NRL television coverage should be in high definition and MPEG-4 compliant as soon as possible with high definition coverage the priority.
Television coverage, in the current TV rights deals, is also the defining reason of when NRL games start but when do you, the fans, prefer to watch it at the venue and through visual media? Well, here it is:
|
Event |
Venue |
Media |
|
Regular Season |
3pm |
7pm |
|
Finals |
3pm |
7pm |
|
Grand Final |
3pm |
3pm/7pm |
As you can see, fans are divided on the televised grand final time – 3pm or 7pm – but the combined 3pm venue/media time is 18 per cent higher than the 7pm media time so a 3pm grand final is likely to be more satisfying for the fans.
Recommendations
35. In the regular season, every round should have 50 per cent of games held at 3pm with the other 50 per cent held at 7pm.
36. In the finals series, hold the qualifying/elimination finals with two games at 3pm and two games at 7pm.
37. In the finals series, hold the semi and preliminary finals with one game at 3pm per round and one game at 7pm per round.
38. The grand final should be held at 3pm.
39. With the exemption of the grand final where it would apply for both venue and media at 3pm, target capacity attendances for 3pm and high ratings/streaming views for 7pm – but a combination of both is preferred for both time slots.
Again, thank you all for your time and patience in completing the survey! I hope you found this article insightful too. In the next and final part, we look at referees, rules, your verdict on David Smith and the 2015 season – as well as what deters non-NRL followers.
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