Slim 293
George Smith (75)
At the end of the day, it's not about what the fans want, or the individual unions want, it is basically about what the host broadcasters are prepared to pay the most for.
Fox Sports didn't want any teams cut..........
At the end of the day, it's not about what the fans want, or the individual unions want, it is basically about what the host broadcasters are prepared to pay the most for.
I understand proponents of both sides pushing the case for their teams to remain. But it's important to remember that both teams are failures across most available metrics.
Taking away grassroots development (an important part of the debate without question, but just one part), it's hard to point to any successes that either the Force or Rebels have had. Aside from the Mauritius 10s.
Both sides don't win many rugby matches, and as a result crowds have stayed away and TV channels have been changed. They are both financial basket cases, with the ARU having to sink massive amounts of cash in to both just to keep them afloat.
There is no evidence that any of this will change any time soon.
Whose fault is this? Well that's a broader question and I certainly understand that it doesn't rest solely with the teams themselves - they've been facing an uphill battle due to environmental/administration failures beyond their control.
But I think (understandably) the commentary from both Rebels and Force fans has been a bit too willing to overlook the above factors.
I don't even know what point I was trying to make now I get to the end of this post, and it probably sounds overly harsh. I suppose what I'm saying is it's easy to overplay the positives of rugby in Perth/Melbourne, when it's very much a 'least worst' scenario at this point in time.
.
I'd encourage everyone to go and have a look at the ARU Annual Report.
Not the glossy editorial stuff, but the hard financial numbers at the back.
It's amazing how much more cash we are getting from the broadcast deal, and how much of that increase we are sinking into Super Rugby.
You can see why Pulver and co want to cut a team. It's about $$$. It's the answer to all their problems. Yes they burn a big chunk of their fans, but can collectively:
a) lower travel costs (which doubled last year)
b) give existing Super teams more cash
c) increase local player salaries, fighting off European raiders
d) increase grassroots funding, fighting off local critics
Not saying this is a good or bad thing, but it gives a bit more idea about why they did what they did.
.
ok, travel is paid for by sanzaar, it has no impact on the ARU's balance
ok, travel is paid for by sanzaar, it has no impact on the ARU's balance
If it's about $$ then the ARU have been/are incompetent apart from the year JON dudded our closest Union all those years ago.I'd encourage everyone to go and have a look at the ARU Annual Report.
Not the glossy editorial stuff, but the hard financial numbers at the back.
It's amazing how much more cash we are getting from the broadcast deal, and how much of that increase we are sinking into Super Rugby.
You can see why Pulver and co want to cut a team. It's about $$$. It's the answer to all their problems. Yes they burn a big chunk of their fans, but can collectively:
a) lower travel costs (which doubled last year)
b) give existing Super teams more cash
c) increase local player salaries, fighting off European raiders
d) increase grassroots funding, fighting off local critics
Not saying this is a good or bad thing, but it gives a bit more idea about why they did what they did.
.
Decision of team to be cut now delayed which will surprise no one.
![]()
How did SANZAAR convince their broadcast partners to pay the same for much less content?
How did Pulver/SAFA convince SANZAAR that the distributions should remain the same despite supporting fewer teams?
Both of these suggest to me that Super Rugby - and especially the "lower rating games" don't bring all that much money in the door - and it's actually the TRC that's the big money spinner.
I'd encourage everyone to go and have a look at the ARU Annual Report.
Not the glossy editorial stuff, but the hard financial numbers at the back.
It's amazing how much more cash we are getting from the broadcast deal, and how much of that increase we are sinking into Super Rugby.
You can see why Pulver and co want to cut a team. It's about $$$. It's the answer to all their problems.
Decision of team to be cut now delayed which will surprise no one.
![]()
How did SANZAAR convince their broadcast partners to pay the same for much less content...........
It's nearly 20% (17%) fewer gamesIt's only 15 fewer games in an 18-week comp so not really that significant?