Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[Tomikin]

I would certainly ditch Foxtel if rugby disappears off it. The value proposition has been getting worse and worse because we watch more shows on other streaming platforms and then the NFL removing Red Zone from ESPN Australia was significant.

If rugby moved elsewhere there wouldn't be a compelling reason for my household to keep Foxtel.

I only have Kayo and have fetch tv for streaming its 20 dollars a month (Im not with Optus) but I could get the Optus sports if Kayo goes and would be much happier.

I might even switch my phone and internet to Optus to try and bundle mostly as then my work would pay for it. As they do my internet and phone at the moment. Will depend on when i get the NBN. But currently only have Kayo for Rugby..

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I'm not sure if this has been asked but why would Optus be interested in Rugby? There has to be a reason beyond trying to entice the 50-55k regular viewers over to their platform. Sure, sticking one up Telstra might be a motivator but I would like to assume they'd have conducted a level of due diligence here that would involve at least a moderate degree of research not only into the market at large but the viewing interests of their customers.

Could this have presented a picture of a % of those customers have an active interest in Rugby and that acquiring the code would help convert many of their existing base to new users of the Optus Sport platform?

I know none of us are privy to their decision making. But I would like to assume they've come to the conclusion that X number of their current base show an interest in Rugby and they believe they could convert hopefully a significant % of those customers into regular Optus Sports subs in order to push it beyond the 1m mark and hopefully higher. This would then provide the foundation to push to convert eisting pre-paid customers and new subs independent of their bundled services.

 

[qwerty51]

I would hope if Optus get Super Rugby they would go after all the other rugby rights too. Six Nations, Mitre10, Currie Cup, Prem, Pro14, European Cups.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I would hope if Optus get Super Rugby they would go after all the other rugby rights too. Six Nations, Mitre10, Currie Cup, Prem, Pro14, European Cups.

I think with exception of the 6Ns all of the rights to those competitions wouldn't come at too high of a price. And even then with the 6Ns they wouldn't be restrictively expensive.

 

[Braveheart81]

Doesn't the Mitre 10 Cup form part of the SANZAAR package? If Optus signed up for the rest of that they would get that too.

I think the same applies for Currie Cup. I am pretty sure Fox Sports holds the rights in Australia still but just don't bother showing it.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'm not sure if this has been asked but why would Optus be interested in Rugby? There has to be a reason beyond trying to entice the 50-55k regular viewers over to their platform. Sure, sticking one up Telstra might be a motivator but I would like to assume they'd have conducted a level of due diligence here that would involve at least a moderate degree of research not only into the market at large but the viewing interests of their customers.

Could this have presented a picture of a % of those customers have an active interest in Rugby and that acquiring the code would help convert many of their existing base to new users of the Optus Sport platform?

I know none of us are privy to their decision making. But I would like to assume they've come to the conclusion that X number of their current base show an interest in Rugby and they believe they could convert hopefully a significant % of those customers into regular Optus Sports subs in order to push it beyond the 1m mark and hopefully higher. This would then provide the foundation to push to convert eisting pre-paid customers and new subs independent of their bundled services.

Probably the same reason everyone else pay too much for rugby given its relative popularity, rugby supporters have money and advertiser's want to pay the broadcaster over the odds to target them

(Does Optus sports have ads?)

 

[Derpus]

Oooh.

I have Optus for the EPL.

I'm one of the few who watch both. Would be stoked if this happens.

Every rugby fan i know (not that many - to be fair) follows EPL or would at least switch on the odd game.

 

[Rebels3]

Doesn't the Mitre 10 Cup form part of the SANZAAR package? If Optus signed up for the rest of that they would get that too.

I think the same applies for Currie Cup. I am pretty sure Fox Sports holds the rights in Australia still but just don't bother showing it.

Yep all SA and NZ content is part of the package. If they got all content from 6 Nations, 7s etc. it’d be amazing.

I have always believed having all games on FTA that involve Aus teams would eventually drive interest in the other games because people are exposed to it. Therefore would buy subscriptions.

One of the biggest issues with FTA is the lack of consistent time slots on a week to week basis. Having SA involved means we cannot guarantee a broadcaster 2 x time slots a week with a guaranteed game at the same time.

In a perfect world a FTA broadcaster could have a Friday 7.30 Aus game and a Saturday 7.30 Aus game, then maybe 7s broadcast on one of the supplementary channels (11, Go, etc.), during international times all ABs and Wallabies game. This would drive interest in the game and a digital partner could broadcast the remaining games in Super Rugby, + 6 Nations, etc.

 

[Silverado]

Every rugby fan i know (not that many - to be fair) follows EPL or would at least switch on the odd game.

I've got Optus Sport because it came with my internet package. Can't say I've ever used it because soccer doesn't really nterest me, but I will be if RA get a deal with them. I've got Fox too but won't keep up my subscription if rugby goes. It really doesn't offer much apart from NRL and AFL (Both of which can be watched in part on FTA) for the price they ask

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Probably the same reason everyone else pay too much for rugby given its relative popularity, rugby supporters have money and advertiser's want to pay the broadcaster over the odds to target them

(Does Optus sports have ads?)

Ask Michael. He actually uses the platform.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I would be a nix on that front Derpus. I have not got one iota of interest in EPL, FFA or any other football code anywhere in the world, outside of rugby. My other sporting interests lie particularly with Cricket, UCI cycling, MotoGP and the Dakar Rally. Between them all, I really need access to Fox and SBS. I don't see Optus offering me what I want to watch.

 

[Silverado]

I would be a nix on that front Derpus. I have not got one iota of interest in EPL, FFA or any other football code anywhere in the world, outside of rugby. My other sporting interests lie particularly with Cricket, UCI cycling, MotoGP and the Dakar Rally. Between them all, I really need access to Fox and SBS. I don't see Optus offering me what I want to watch.

It could be a snapshot into the future to have multiple platforms.now that Fox doesn't have a monopoly on major sports If Optus stays about $15 and Kayo $25, then you could cover all your sports for $40. When I first got Foxtel it was about $85

 

[Rebels3]

I would be a nix on that front Derpus. I have not got one iota of interest in EPL, FFA or any other football code anywhere in the world, outside of rugby. My other sporting interests lie particularly with Cricket, UCI cycling, MotoGP and the Dakar Rally. Between them all, I really need access to Fox and SBS. I don't see Optus offering me what I want to watch.

Fox has dumped Eurosport therefore 99% of cycling is no longer visible minus Tour de France which is on SBS. Pretty sure Dakar Rally was also offered by Eurosport.

 

[Show-n-go]

Every rugby fan i know (not that many - to be fair) follows EPL or would at least switch on the odd game.

Yea think you need to broaden your sample size

 

[Derpus]

Yea think you need to broaden your sample size

Are you telling me to get more friends?

 

[Derpus]

It could be a snapshot into the future to have multiple platforms.now that Fox doesn't have a monopoly on major sports If Optus stays about $15 and Kayo $25, then you could cover all your sports for $40. When I first got Foxtel it was about $85

Between two sporting services and about 4 regular streaming services you are at about the same price (though with an admittedly better product) as old school fox, for all content.

How long till some entrepreneurial soul offers an aggregate service and we are literally back to where we were with Fox but on the internet. Which also already exists.

 

[Show-n-go]

Are you telling me to get more friends?

Just lose the ones that like soccer

 

[Silverado]

Between two sporting services and about 4 regular streaming services you are at about the same price (though with an admittedly better product) as old school fox, for all content.

How long till some entrepreneurial soul offers an aggregate service and we are literally back to where we were with Fox but on the internet. Which also already exists.

Kayo nearly achieved having an all sport streaming service, but Fox has dropped a lot of sports and so Kayo is no longer a one stop shop and if they drop Super Rugby, I'm not really interested. I'd be happy to have Optus for Super Rugby at a cheap price and watch the Ashes, Wallaby tests, big bash and NRL on FTA.

 

[Ulrich]

It's high time a giant streaming provider signs up a competition such as Super Rugby for starters. They can pay more for the rights given they can operate in a huge number of countries. Fox / SS / Sky etc can still hold the rights for Aus / SA / NZ for the time being or they must rescind exclusivity.

I have no real interest in American Football, but if it were there on my Netflix feed and it was live I would certainly tune in and perhaps I may get into it. Rugby can grow this way I think.

I'll pretty much watch most sports.

Either that or some sort of Pay-per-View scenario. I don't necessarily want to watch the Jaguares play the Lions at around midnight.

In SA you can get 127 odd channels for ~AU$50. For 15 or so channels more and Rugby it's bloody double the price.

Out of those ~150 channels there's maybe 5 worth watching (excluding the Sports channels) and even then there's numerous repeats.

 

[Rebels3]

Rugby Pass does a decent job of providing content. Not many people know by Sky NZ own a large share in the company then on top of that the NZRU owns a share of Sky NZ. So the NZRU are already ahead of the game with services to potentially build off