ABC Offsiders - especially rugby coverage

[wamberal]

Mate, the money we get from the television rights basically pays for the game. Sorry, we are stuck with the status quo, unless and until the IRB makes some big changes in the rules, and in their willingness to subsidise us.

If we were to forego the Fox Sports money, our playing ranks would be absolutely raped by the mungoes. Do you think the New Zealanders would be interested in playing us? Every game would be 100-0. Who would want to watch that, or televise it, either, for that matter.

 

[qwerty51]

Not related to Offsides but.. it's ANZAC day and the NRL and AFL have everyone's attention.

Why are the Blues currently not playing the Reds at Suncorp?
Why are the Rebels currently not playing the Crusaders in Christchurch?

Wake up SANZAR.

 

[Tom Ando]

The Super Rugby needs to have the majority of the games each week, say all aussie games plus on or two New Zealand and Saffa matches (possibly top of the conference teams) as the cost for the ratings they are likely to get in the earlier years might not be sustainable. Thats where Fox Sports can say it is still unrivaled and is still the best place to watch Rugby, but doesn't suffocate the supporter base that don't have the money to get Foxtel.

Read above Yeah I understand the money involved is substantial and important to the ARU, but I never said to give away Fox Sports (as you can see above). The rugby league have live games on Fox and on Channel 9. And league seem to be doing fine. I'm suggesting something similar. Fox can still have every game, but FTA can just show a little bit of Super Rugby. We are currently doing it with the Wallabies games! So I don't see the issue.

 

[Slim 293]

Read above Yeah I understand the money involved is substantial and important to the ARU, but I never said to give away Fox Sports (as you can see above). The rugby league have live games on Fox and on Channel 9. And league seem to be doing fine. I'm suggesting something similar. Fox can still have every game, but FTA can just show a little bit of Super Rugby. We are currently doing it with the Wallabies games! So I don't see the issue.

Actually, I don't believe it is the same.

Fox have the full rights for the domestic tests which they onsell to whoever (now Channel 10) for FTA broadcast..........

 

[p.Tah]

Not related to Offsides but.. it's ANZAC day and the NRL and AFL have everyone's attention.

Why are the Blues currently not playing the Reds at Suncorp?
Why are the Rebels currently not playing the Crusaders in Christchurch?

Wake up SANZAR.

This was discussed last year, but obviously nothing game of it this year.

RUGBY are looking to tap into the huge appetite for live sport on Anzac Day by staging a Super Rugby game, potentially between Australian and New Zealand franchises.

The massive crowds and TV ratings for the two annual Anzac Day clashes in other codes - Essendon and Collingwood, and the Roosters v the Dragons - raised the question why rugby hasn't got one as well?

Inquiries to the ARU yesterday revealed an Anzac Day game is on the agenda and has already been discussed at high levels.

In terms of teams and location, an ARU spokesman said "all options are on the table" but given the Waratahs can't access Allianz Stadium, eyes are looking north to currently event-less Brisbane.

The Reds playing the Crusaders would be a sure-fire full-house at Suncorp Stadium, and FoxSports are keen as mustard to televise it.

Both teams would potentially require their bye in the preceding round to allow them to play midweek. SANZAR are currently putting the schedule together for 2013 and given its complexities, would need to make special dispensation to get the event up and running.

QRU boss Jim Carmichael yesterday declared his enthusiasm: "As we saw from our rival codes, an Anzac Day fixture certainly has merit. The Reds potentially hosting a New Zealand team to honour the trans-Tasman spirit on Anzac Day is certainly something Queensland Rugby would be keen to explore with the ARU."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/r...y-anzac-day-game/story-fn8ouw0e-1226339237334

 

[Tom Ando]

Actually, I don't believe it is the same.

Fox have the full rights for the domestic tests which they onsell to whoever (now Channel 10) for FTA broadcast....

They only started that at the beginning of RWC in NZ. For the last 20 years (mainly channel 7 with Gordon Bray) did their own broadcast. Bring it back.

 

[Slim 293]

They need to provide the money.........

 

[Braveheart81]

. Fox can still have every game, but FTA can just show a little bit of Super Rugby. We are currently doing it with the Wallabies games! So I don't see the issue.

Foxsports is never going to give up the 7:30pm Aussie game on a Friday or Saturday night which are the only games FTA would be interested in.

Foxsports would dilute their product too much if one or both of their best games for the Aussie market each week was also shown on FTA.

FTA isn't going to have any interest in showing a 5:30pm NZ game each week or a South African game in the middle of the night.

 

[Tom Ando]

Foxsports is never going to give up the 7:30pm Aussie game on a Friday or Saturday night which are the only games FTA would be interested in.

Foxsports would dilute their product too much if one or both of their best games for the Aussie market each week was also shown on FTA.

FTA isn't going to have any interest in showing a 5:30pm NZ game each week or a South African game in the middle of the night.

I don't think you can be so quick to jump to that conclusion. Channel 10 have been showing the EOYT for years now, games which are played in the NH at 3am. Someone like SBS or ABC might be willing to show that game. Especially the 5.30 New Zealand game! I can understand the Saffa game but I'm sure people wouldn't mind it if it that game was delayed till the next morning, as most people just record the game on Foxtel and watch it the next morning anyway with their breakfast so i don't think the proposition is that far out of reach. What do you propose? Besides sitting on your hands and waiting and hoping someone might jump out and surprise the ARU with a deal?

 

[Slim 293]

Tom Ando, the FTA channels CANNOT broadcast a 5:30pm NZ game.......... what else is at that time?

 

[Braveheart81]

I can understand the Saffa game but I'm sure people wouldn't mind it if it that game was delayed till the next morning, as most people just record the game on Foxtel and watch it the next morning anyway with their breakfast so i don't think the proposition is that far out of reach.

Mate, I hate to break it to you but a FTA network showing a South African Super Rugby match on Sunday mornings that often won't involve an Australian team will be watched by about 10 people.

Anyone that is that keen to watch the match and doesn't have Foxtel will watch it on Youtube.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

There are more than 10 displaced Saffers (Chicken Runners as per PaarlBok) in S'nIves and the Eastern Suburbs, but I understand where you are coming from.

The Shopping Network pays good money for the 4am - 6am slot on FTA.

 

[Tom Ando]

Mate, I hate to break it to you but a FTA network showing a South African Super Rugby match on Sunday mornings that often won't involve an Australian team will be watched by about 10 people.

Anyone that is that keen to watch the match and doesn't have Foxtel will watch it on Youtube.

Sorry I should be a bit clearer. The saffa games with Aussie teams involved. Does that change the line or argument? haha I totally understand that they wouldnt want to show two saffa teams in south africa haha I wouldn't expect them to waste the money.

 

[Badger]

Not related to Offsides but.. it's ANZAC day and the NRL and AFL have everyone's attention.
Wake up SANZAR.

From CEO Greg Peters on Twitter in response to similar sentiments from Greg Growden.

Greg Peters ‏@GPRUGBYCEO 24 Apr
@GregGrowden ANZAC day fixt can't happ when not wkend due to 6 day min turnaround and travel comp across 3 coun - not just Trans Tas comp

Fox can still have every game, but FTA can just show a little bit of Super Rugby. We are currently doing it with the Wallabies games! So I don't see the issue.

The Wallabies games are on FTA due to the anti-siphoning laws. Fox would love to have the Wallabies matches to themselves since sport is one of the key attractions of subscription TV. If the laws weren't there, it wouldn't surprise me if Fox priced the FTA rights so that no one would bid for them.

IIRR, SANZAR negotiates the broadcast contract rights for Super Rugby not the member unions. The pot of money is then shared amongst the three unions. I doubt they would allow the Australian rights to be discounted or given away as media companies from other territories would want a similar deal. So even if the ARU would consider this, the South Africans and the Kiwis would kill it off quick smart as it would affect their bottom line as well.

 

[qwerty51]

You can still try to be flexible, for instance the Rebels had a bye so playing on Thursday wouldn't be a problem for them, if a Kiwi team played on a Friday the week before that would've been a 6 day turnaround. Need to do better.

 

[p.Tah]

On holiday with the family this week and without Foxtel. I watched the NRL and AFL on FTA TV today just because it is on and I wanted to watch sport.
It's only during these times that I realise how little rugby coverage there is on FTA TV in Australia. I've always been a bit dismissive and said that those who want to watch rugby have to get Pay TV because the Broadcast revenue is too good.

I will always be a fan of rugby, but I can see that without access to Foxtel the professional side of the game would slowly drop off my radar. I now realise that this is what has happened to some of my mates. They are passionate rugby supporters and use to attend many Super rugby matches, but they only attend the occasional one now. They don't have Foxtel and they lead busy lives with work and family. They don't have the time to seek out information about the games. Their knowledge and interest in Super Rugby has waned because of this.

It is so imperative that Super Rugby is on FTA in some format. There is a big rugby community out there but I believe they are not fully engaged with Super Rugby simply because they don't have access to games.

Only 25% of households have Pay TV in Australia. Some can't afford it, some don't want it, but that's 75% of Australian households who can't easily access Super Rugby through TV. Yes, we need the broadcast revenue that Pay TV provides, but for the good of the game there has to be a balance.

 

[Tom Ando]

On holiday with the family this week and without Foxtel. I watched the NRL and AFL on FTA TV today just because it is on and I wanted to watch sport.
It's only during these times that I realise how little rugby coverage there is on FTA TV in Australia. I've always been a bit dismissive and said that those who want to watch rugby have to get Pay TV because the Broadcast revenue is too good.

I will always be a fan of rugby, but I can see that without access to Foxtel the professional side of the game would slowly drop off my radar. I now realise that this is what has happened to some of my mates. They are passionate rugby supporters and use to attend many Super rugby matches, but they only attend the occasional one now. They don't have Foxtel and they lead busy lives with work and family. They don't have the time to seek out information about the games. Their knowledge and interest in Super Rugby has waned because of this.

It is so imperative that Super Rugby is on FTA in some format. There is a big rugby community out there but I believe they are not fully engaged with Super Rugby simply because they don't have access to games.

Only 25% of households have Pay TV in Australia. Some can't afford it, some don't want it, but that's 75% of Australian households who can't easily access Super Rugby through TV. Yes, we need the broadcast revenue that Pay TV provides, but for the good of the game there has to be a balance.

This ^ !!!!

 

[Badger]

Only 25% of households have Pay TV in Australia. Some can't afford it, some don't want it, but that's 75% of Australian households who can't easily access Super Rugby through TV. Yes, we need the broadcast revenue that Pay TV provides, but for the good of the game there has to be a balance.

I'm one of the 75% that have no interest in getting Pay TV, but I actively seek out rugby media. I would love it if there was a streaming package like the NBA has. However, for the casual or unintiated, it's a case of out of sight out of mind.

Could a delayed broadcast work? The Australian Saturday night game is usually on at 7:40pm live so show it on FTA at 8:30pm. The match would have competition from the AFL on FTA only. The Saturday night NRL game isn't on FTA so the delayed broadcast may get a bigger audience than on Friday night with Nein's double header. This might be palatable to Fox as don't they have a similar agreement with the FFA for Socceroos matches in Australia?

Whatever happened to Warren Livingston's proposed comp? This was all going to be on Ten etc etc. All gone a bit quiet on that front.

 

[Slim 293]

So..........

Brumbies want own Anzac Day clash

The ACT Brumbies want rugby union to become an Anzac Day tradition in Canberra and will lobby Super Rugby officials for a set fixture against a regular New Zealand team from next season.​

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Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/brumbies-want-own-anzac-day-clash-20130425-2ihti.html#ixzz2RU7mGqnE​

 

[qwerty51]

I reckon the Reds should get it with no NRL or AFL being played in QLD. You'd think only 1 Aus team could be factored into the draw.