NRL reportedly finalises broadcast deal with Fox and Nine

The problem is there is just not the support outside NSW, QLD, and to a lesser extent ACT. Having a look at the stats from the government, there are about 3 NRL registrations to 10 AFL registrations. There are only about 25K registrations (15 years old & over) outside NSW, QLD & ACT out of around 170K registrations. Compare that to AFL which has 120K registrations alone out of 530K (15 yrs +). Not saying it is the be-all and end-all, but it most likely would have something to do with it. People are more likely (I assume) to watch a game they play than they don't.

You can use many words to describe the Storm, but fail isn't one of them.

Interestingly I did some more digging and in 2019 the Storm were second for viewership on Channel 9 behind the Broncos. Therefore I take back my original statement about it being a small market and will join in with your frustration.

Yep 90,000 plus for games sounds like a fail. lol

"Victoria for NRL is a terribly small market," Fully agree with you there Dogs however for the NRL, its the closest thing we have had to a growth market in the last decade. Melbourne has grown from nowhere to the 4th highest in memberships and its gates aren't too shabby either particularly when you think it never gets any away fans to speak of. Dollar for dollar, investing in Victoria will net you more new fans than investing in NSW ever will.

Hit the nail on the head there mate. Victoria for NRL is a terribly small market, and it doesn't pay to please a small market. If the Storm were not so successful I highly doubt you would see more than 1-2 games per year.

League only gets good coverage in 2 states, NSW and QLD. South Australia and Western Australia get far less coverage than Victoria.

100%agree Walter. My blood has boiled, have torn my hair out, screamed & sworn, contacted Ch9 all to no avail. We still lose coverage at the last whistle, no matter how important the game. Apparently, Victorian viewers are not important to them.

Reminds me of hearing a pre-race interview with a old horse trainer. He was asked of the winning chances of his steed in an upcoming G1. He advised with refreshing clarity " Hope their cheque clears" It won. We feasted.

Gotta admit, I don’t watch AFL , so I can’t compare. But I will agree about the immediate chopping off at the end of the game, and going to something else. I’ve never thought about it a lot , as I generally just go do something else after the game is over . But occasionally I would like to see some follow up commentary. The TV isn’t something I spend much time in front of .

Regrettable as the virus scenario has been, hopefully this will be an opportunity to bring the cost of the broadcast rights and consequently players' wages down to a more acceptable and realistic level. The current model is out of control with all manner of ludicrous salaries for very nominal returns, and people still grumbling that all games should be FTA, as though it's an affront to their entitlement to not do so. Where do they imagine the money for all the overpaid, over-rated players' salaries comes from ? And the old "We can't afford pay tv" line doesn't stack up either : Kayo is $25 a month, around 80 cents a day....less than the cost of one cigarette, or one stubby. When things fire up again I would urge folk to hook up and get the coffers rolling again if there's to be any chance of ongoing returns from the broadcasters. Otherwise the game will have to go down a gear : no bad thing if there is to be any control of the financial figures involved.

Whack ! A well-deserved clip Walter. Just as has happened here in Perth since forever, we had the added bonus of Origin and Friday night games broadcast on delay for years as well. Right with you there, buddy. :thumbup:

umm didnt he do the deal with 9, and thats why Rupert intentionally paid massive overs for AFL?

It’s ok. Union got a $14 million loan. RL might be a fraction ahead at $2 billion. ????

True, all deals are being, or have been, negotiated downwards. Some sports won't have a deal at all. If the NRL discount ends up being at around 20%, I don' think that's a bad outcome. It will be the same for the AFL (that's an $85 mill per annum hair cut). It will probably be more for the A-League.

Yeah Ten/CBS is the great unknown. Are they going to bid, or are they just happy being the perennial third commercial fta network?

I don't think he has enough time to trumpet. Fox was struggling financially before Covid. They have to let go of staff. And they will be worse off after Covid. I wouldn't be surprised if Fox also renegotiates with the AFL for a lesser price or on a par. The days of getting big money tv deals are over for now.

Yeah rugby league is really struggling. $$$$ ????

"Waleed Ali and Peter Hellia in the commentary box ?" And where is your proof that Ali and Hellier will be in the comm box? Does Tracy Grimshaw commentate with Rabs on Nine? Nine's coverage has been stale. The presentation of the coverage is still stuck in the 90's/ 2000's. The coverage hasn't evolved that much at all. Up until five years ago, there was still delayed telecasts. And with regards to commentators, the fact that Nine has struggled to replace Warren who is closer to 80, and still have him as their main voice of their coverage, says it all really.

"Do you really think 7 or 10 are going to offer anything substantially better ?" No proof just the experience of seeing AFL on Ch7 where they seem to do a much better job than Ch9 plus if I remember rightly the AFL has had better deals from Ch7 than the NRL ever got from Ch9. Who would commentate on NRL on CH7 if it ever came to pass is unlikely to be associated with the channel today. I must admit, I am biased. I live in Victoria and will never forgive CH9 for the appalling job they have done in screening the game into my state over the years. Promotion of RL by our partners CH9 you know the Home of Rugby League - absolutely Zip. Some mundane cooking programme gets more promotion in a single day than the NRL has had in this state in the last 10 years. Grand Final 2009, Ch9 reluctantly broadcasts the game into Victoria. The ref blows the final whistle on a Storm win and within 30 seconds the match is replaced by a repeat of Everybody Loves Raymond - No commentry, no presentation of the shield, no parade with the trophy just an ELR repeat. So forgive if I seem biased in wanting our game off this dreadful channel. With Partners like these, who needs enemies ?