Tonight’s JJ Giltinan showdown between the Storm and Sharks has been tragically secreted on cable television. It will be seen by nobody bar the wealthy elite and those huddled near shop windows.
Ironically, it’s all the fault of television.
Despite financially underpinning the game and delivering it to the public with great convenience, has anyone noticed how television is to blame for a number of footy’s more crappier aspects?
The title fight for the minor premiership between Melbourne and Cronulla is the latest example of this vital stakeholder’s propensity to impinge on the game and stuff it for the rest of us non-paying shareholders.
If it wasn’t for television’s favouritism forcing the NRL to reclaim power via fixed scheduling, the game of the millennium would’ve been legislated in parliament to be shown as compulsory viewing to trillions on free-to-air, most likely with Warren Boland at the helm on the public broadcaster.
But instead of being transmitted with subtitles across multiple time zones to far-off lands like Jupiter and Adelaide, all at no cost to the viewer, the match will instead be hosted by Matt Shirvington – and it’s all thanks to the intrusion of television.
Don’t get me wrong – if you like turnover, television is pretty handy to have around. So before we start laying in the slipper, here’s a quick disclaimer:
Telly is tops.
But while it may be a friend, confidante and babysitter to many, to rugby league, it is an invaluable, irreplaceable sugar daddy. It smothers itself all over the sport at its own behest, usually at the most inappropriate times.
Here’s a few times it’s cumbersome influence has prolifically vandalised the very game it so freely funds, promotes and nurtures.
First of all, television introduced the replay. A great idea at the time, before it lead to us going hyper-scrupulous, which then lead to the monstrosity of video review technology.
In whichever form you see it – the Bunker, the video referee box, the three-piece box feed – this has been an innovation which, at best, has enjoyed a casual relationship with accuracy.
Worse still, it’s encroachment is responsible for introducing innovations like diving, feigning for penalties and time wasting, while it’s addiction to slow motion has made obstruction and double-movement mistakes more unoriginal than rapping grannies.
Before television, the only way you could replay footage was with sketch artists using flip books. This method was popular in Glebe and Newtown when dreamcatcher sales were slow, and it worked. And best of all, the game was fine.
But now the regular face-palming bungles of modern technology are simply part of the furniture, and it’s all due to the encroachment of television.
However, let’s not stop there. What about the crowded schedule? The representative schedule? The players scheduled to whinge about the schedule? I bet you would love an extra day game or two as well, because we all love vitamin D and an early night.
Sorry kiddo, not while there’s television. Also, if you’re planning a party for this year’s grand final, ask everyone to arrive around January 2017. Television won’t be kicking the match off anytime before then.
But for of all television’s meddling, the piece de resistance is this: the bloody thing introduced us to commentators.
You can blame television for unceremoniously dumping upon us the world’s first ever plague of parrots that come carrying their own agendas.
Thanks a lot, television, for giving us Gorden Tallis’s opinion on Queensland in the middle of a Cronulla game. We are also forever indebted to you for allowing Paul Vautin to give us his opinion on the Sea Eagles, and Nathan Fien’s opinion on anything.
And don’t forget; television also reduces crowd numbers. Appalling.
Sure, nobody’s denying we owe television a fair bit. Not only has it raised our children, it’s generous lining of league’s pockets has bankrolled the game and put the Gidleys and the Morrises alongside the Leylands and the Daddos.
But when I think about the feral pests it has introduced to the league habitat, I can’t help but hark for the good old days of following the game.
You know what I’m talking about; where the only option was Frank Hyde or spending thrippence to dangerously hang from the SCG rafters, when Darcy Lawler could freely fix games without fear of surveillance.
Arguably, the game was better off.
So is summary, television may be the lifeblood of the game, but it is the root of many evils.
Let’s hope it is reduced in the next broadcast deal.
Sue
Guest
What rights do they need? All NRL games this season on Fox are live, ad free and best of all, without the inane commentary of Gus & co. It's like a breath of fresh air. How ironic is it that the four teams that have the double chance in 2016 Finals are those that Channel 9 rarely broadcast. Nothing will change while the NRL allow 'free to air' games to be based on TV ratings in Sydney and Brisbane instead of the promotion and development of the game. Holding the broadcast rights seems to also include running the NRL.
pete bloor
Guest
Outside of not knowing if fox has the rights to the replays (which would mean 9 would get 0 advertising revenue) you have to remember that Fox sports doesn't really have competing content but 9 has to run a channel which appeals to a broader customer base. Plus rerunning dilutes the value of the original, how much not sure but there are plenty of risks/opportunity costs that need to be quantified
pete bloor
Guest
Well given surely fox would also say "hey you know how we can't advertise during games 9 has the rights to...." so I'd imagine 9 would get zippy zappy
Craigo
Guest
Great news about the Record Foxtel ratings of all time for the Storm V Sharks
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Media week reports TV ratings for subscription TV:- Saturday night Storm v Good Guys 486,000 Record NRL subscription Tv rating since day 1 No 1 subscription Tv rater this year In the top 10 of all time subs Tv ratings. No wonder ch 9 is crying in their slops.
Norad
Guest
Follow the trail. Now 2GB news has had all this week in its sports bulletins a token ALF story about the Giants or Swans training or feeling good. All more than a week out from the actual game! Not even Origin gets that from 2GB! Plus the sports news is 99.9% about sport that has happened. Not sport to be played more than a week ahead. Seems like advertisements imo.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Spot on Jimmy.Rugby league is not wholly about the NRL,but the tens of thousands of kids and youth who play the game,their parents ,volunteers,officials who vote their time,energy and money for enjoyment. Getting decent monies on a TV deal the bulk of which emanates mainly from Fox, indirectly assists grassroots in many ways.Without the grassroots we are nothing. My Pay Tv contribution provides me live NRL enjoyment,and I'm hardly in the Harry Trigaboff income bracket. Avarice permeates our society, when we try to maximise the money we get for sale of our homes,for the dividends on shares,interest on bank accounts,winnings from Lotto and all forms of gambling,paying exorbitant amounts to see headline acts.Free enterprise affords us the ability or not to pay. Rugby league as are all pro sports at a pro level are out to maximise income.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The brand is growing Republican ,their membership is up,sponsorship ditto and junior growth is happening each year.The brand awareness is at an all time high and they are making decent inroads into the Northern region of Melbourne. No need to put a time scale on it,as this has been achieved with relatively limited funding and resources.However from 2018 ,the ARLC will increase grassroots funding in Oz by $100m pa. And I might add most of the time ,with very little media exposure in that city,except when semis come around.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
No, Geoff is spot on. The NRL drew up the entire draw in 2015 during the broadcast negotiations. The only changes made to the final 6 rounds revolved around eliminating a few short turnarounds. Otherwise Ch9 and Fox had already selected everything in 2015. A poor decision in hindsight. And one that was kept secret from all the clubs.
Rob
Guest
Bloody oath. The game every Rugby League fan North of the Tweed had dreamed about. Just get sick of some Sydney supporters issues like traffic and stadium location. A large percentage of the Cowboys live several hours from Townsville but we love the game and accept our cross.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Which is fine but wouldn't investing in the product be better for profits in the long run rather than just milking one or two brands?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
As long as it takes perhaps?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Always find the use of 'elite' as an insult a bit strange truth be told; if you have brain cancer, you want an elite surgeon to take it out one would assume.
Andrea
Guest
Yep. But both teams have had very limited FTA games this season. A bit of a s..t if you are a fan of either team. Channel 9 just doesn't want to show them. They'd rather put reruns on than another block buster of a Rugby League game.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Would replays command less advertising dollar than the shows they would replace?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
+17,000
Marco
Guest
Have you seen the NRL ratings on FTA in Melbourne. I just looked it up and it's pretty bad.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
"Also, if you’re planning a party for this year’s grand final, ask everyone to arrive around January 2017." LOL
1st&10
Guest
Listening to Rocky Balboa commentate would be clearer and more concise than the grunting of Fittler, Lockyer and Johns. Those three have the combined IQ of a rattle . Rabs has been passed it for years now -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Jimmmy
Guest
But was it worth it Rob? That was the best sporting moment of my life. I was lucky , only had to drive down from the Goldie but I would have paid almost anything to be there.