Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[KOB1987]

QH, that is just for this year though. I read that the players will accept a 30% pay cut as long as it’s offered by lunchtime tomorrow, and also that there hasn’t been a threat of a collective strike from RUPA.

I just think RA have to run with it and take a punt on revenue from stadium attendances and the Bledisloes, which could be a financial bonanza being the only test rugby anywhere in the world this year. If the increase in viewership of SRAu replicates that of SRA in NZ then it will be a big step towards negotiations for next year.

 

[Quick Hands]

I thought Fox were even going to guarantee a game on FTA under the deal they were trying to strike with SRU. They were going to pay for it all.

RA got wind of this and basically offered SS a similar deal, all be it so they could sell a whole of Rugby package to a broadcaster.

So I imagine RA are now footing the bill for the FTA component.

Indeed they were, but in a moment of stupidity the SRU cast its lot in with RA.

Noting that this article appeared in the Fairfax papers not the News papers.

The five-year proposal would need to be approved by the NSW Rugby board, which works closely with the SRU. There is no timeline on when a decision may be made.
For weaker clubs with little exposure, the chance to have matches broadcast on Kayo is enticing. As part of its proposal, Fox Sports would take care of the $300,000 fee the SRU has been paying to Seven and Club Rugby TV under the existing deal. Club Rugby TV has also guaranteed the SRU $200,000 per annum in sponsorship revenue.

The offer is a major show of faith in club rugby, which has gone from strength to strength in recent years, as evidenced by excellent crowds, viewership figures and overall revenue.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...-shute-shield-match-live-20200204-p53xhf.html

 

[Dctarget]

I've got mates from Dublin backpacking their way round Italy as we speak. Why won't we see any more Six Nations? It seems like Europe + UK is almost back to normal with their sports, just minus crowds.

 

[Quick Hands]

QH, that is just for this year though. I read that the players will accept a 30% pay cut as long as it’s offered by lunchtime tomorrow, and also that there hasn’t been a threat of a collective strike from RUPA.

I just think RA have to run with it and take a punt on revenue from stadium attendances and the Bledisloes, which could be a financial bonanza being the only test rugby anywhere in the world this year. If the increase in viewership of SRAu replicates that of SRA in NZ then it will be a big step towards negotiations for next year.

Yes that amount is only for this year, but I can't imagine a set of circumstances arising which would see the previous Foxtel offer of $57 million per year coming along again. I'd imagine RA would be getting an offer somewhere between $20 and $30 million per year moving forward. This represents a significant loss of revenue for any business, but more so for one in such a fragile financial state as RA finds itself. Again, even if we go into some as yet defined TT competition with 3 sides it's difficult to see how player wages can be at their former level again for the foreseeable future. If we were to run with 4 or 5 sides then there's just no way players will see those sorts of wages again.

I doubt that the players will strike as that leaves them with nothing. What I'd suggest they will be doing is accepting the reduction through gritted teeth and looking elsewhere.

 

[KOB1987]

Whatever they get offered next year will only be a one off too, neither party will sign long term until we know what the long term looks like. This is were RA, and NZR for that matter, need to take full advantage of the next 18 months to structure something that works for them. We are about to find out how many people will watch a comp with only Aussie teams in it. For NZ it doubled, we can hope for that too. And then experiment with a TT comp next year and compare results. Neither union has anything to lose by doing this.

 

[sunnyboys]

KOB - the first thing we have learnt is that no matter how starved for live rugby an Aus fan is, they won’t tune in to watch NZ derbies.

The numbers for SRA have been the same from previous years of Super Rugby.

I actually thought those ratings would have jumped up.

So that is our first lesson so far.

We also know that kiwis love SRA - so far.

By July 6th or so we will know if Aus fans love SRAu.

 

[sunnyboys]

Could the Vic Covid spike scupper Bleds played in Oz?

We could end up with the tests being played in NZ. Will depend on how both countries approach letting in non-resident arrivals.

We might have to hope NZR goes halves with the gate takings.

 

[Dctarget]

Could the Vic Covid spike scupper Bleds played in Oz?

We could end up with the tests being played in NZ. Will depend on how both countries approach letting in non-resident arrivals.

We might have to hope NZR goes halves with the gate takings.

Put it in Brisbane & Perth.

 

[Quick Hands]

Could the Vic Covid spike scupper Bleds played in Oz?

We could end up with the tests being played in NZ. Will depend on how both countries approach letting in non-resident arrivals.

We might have to hope NZR goes halves with the gate takings.

NZ won't open the border if we have significant community transmission in Victoria (or anywhere else).

The best hope is for the situation to have settled down by the end of the winter months.

 

[The Honey Badger]

KOB - the first thing we have learnt is that no matter how starved for live rugby an Aus fan is, they won’t tune in to watch NZ derbies.

The numbers for SRA have been the same from previous years of Super Rugby.

I actually thought those ratings would have jumped up.

So that is our first lesson so far.

We also know that kiwis love SRA - so far.

By July 6th or so we will know if Aus fans love SRAu.

true, I haven't watched any of it or any League.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Put it in Brisbane & Perth.

Sydney? not much happening covid wise in NSW.

80K at Homebush ,

 

[sunnyboys]

What else I’ve come to realise about broadcast deals at the moment, is that RA wont be able to sign a new long term broadcast deal for some time - perhaps even two years.

Beyond SRAu the next short term deal they can sign will be for Aus v nz tests.

Spring tour won’t happen.

Super Rugby in 2021 could be TT or it could be SRAu - but no one knows if either of those formats will last beyond 2021. So there will be a short term deal for that. And then we are into July Internationals 2021 - the Commonwealth CMO today reckons international borders won’t open until a vax is found. They won’t be able to sign a deal for July 2021 for sometime.

We are then into Aus v NZ territory for 2021.

So I just can’t see how a broadcaster agrees to a long term deal with such uncertainty of what might be delivered.

I was gobsmacked the Reds 3 wanted to leave like they did. But with this outlook for broadcast income how can we expect/demand any player stay here? How can a player be confident 100% (or even 80%) pay levels can be delivered in the short to medium future?

The timing of all this - a major pandemic landing when our game was at its weakest - is a true disaster for the sport here.

 

[KOB1987]

^^^^ I’ve been saying the same, albeit with less detail, for quite a while now. We can’t sign a broadcast deal until it’s known what the actual comp looks like, and assuming thats going to be a TT comp, all parties need to analyse the numbers from this year to work out what it’s worth. And whatever that is is only for next year. It’s literally make or break, and everyone from the CEO down to the least valuable players have a vested interest to make the next 2 years work.

However, whilst there is uncertainty, it’s not only here there is uncertainty. I’m not as pessimistic as you, at least we have a comp going and our part of the world, at this stage, is far ahead of the north in terms of conquering the virus.

 

[Quick Hands]

What else I’ve come to realise about broadcast deals at the moment, is that RA wont be able to sign a new long term broadcast deal for some time - perhaps even two years.

Beyond SRAu the next short term deal they can sign will be for Aus v nz tests.

Spring tour won’t happen.

Super Rugby in 2021 could be TT or it could be SRAu - but no one knows if either of those formats will last beyond 2021. So there will be a short term deal for that. And then we are into July Internationals 2021 - the Commonwealth CMO today reckons international borders won’t open until a vax is found. They won’t be able to sign a deal for July 2021 for sometime.

We are then into Aus v NZ territory for 2021.

So I just can’t see how a broadcaster agrees to a long term deal with such uncertainty of what might be delivered.

I was gobsmacked the Reds 3 wanted to leave like they did. But with this outlook for broadcast income how can we expect/demand any player stay here? How can a player be confident 100% (or even 80%) pay levels can be delivered in the short to medium future?

The timing of all this - a major pandemic landing when our game was at its weakest - is a true disaster for the sport here.

The players have sensed it and as I have been saying for a few weeks now, it's highly unlikely that the middle level of pro players are going to receive anything like what they are used to. Other than the top flight Wallabies the rest will end up semi-pro regardless of what the competition looks like - traditional Super Rugby pancontinental, TT or domestic league. Which is why I think now is the time to be bold and go full domestic.

But bigger problems loom for the game, which does not yet have a competition structure for Super Rugby - or whatever takes its place - next year. Without that model, RA cannot sign a broadcast deal, which means it is impossible to make projections about player contracts and Super Rugby funding arrangements for 2021.
Whatever happens, the tight balance sheet of current broadcaster Foxtel means it is highly unlikely the code will be able to maintain its current player contracting and funding levels.

That could leave Johnson, Clarke and the RA board with a stark choice: ask all players to take a cut on the value on their contracts in 2021 or ring-fence a group of 25 to 30 Wallabies and a second group of elite juniors, pay them full freight and allow market forces to dictate what happens to Australia's middle tier.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...super-rugby-opening-week-20200626-p556ki.html

 

[Rugbynutter39]

In the current environment where broadcasters have the upper hand I don’t understand why they don’t use their muscle to push for a trans competition with an open borders policy to give a chance of a more even and interesting competition that can sustain teams for growth across key markets?

Can somebody help me out why they don’t use this muscle rather than continuing to willingly support flawed cross nation super rugby models with closed borders policy.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Another interesting thing is when covid hit I dropped Foxtel but now with super rugby back got kayo on Friday but I actually did not get any emails promoting super rugby AU and trying to entice me to come back when been clear to Foxtel only ever had Foxtel for the rugby - strange

 

[wamberal]

My sister sent me an email telling me that she had enjoyed watching Western Force playing Samoa. She stumbled over it on NITV. Lots of rugby on this wonderful little backwater.

 

[John S]

Yeah I didn't get anything promoting Rugby from Kayo when I re-started as Rugby coming back. Got some emails about the Formula 1 starting, but not rugby.

 

[wamberal]

Shute Shield starts this Saturday.


SevenTWO at 3 pm. Not only in NSW, also in Southeastern Queensland too. I wonder whether it will be live elsewhere?

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Shute Shield starts this Saturday.
SevenTWO at 3 pm. Not only in NSW, also in Southeastern Queensland too. I wonder whether it will be live elsewhere?

I use the app (via my android phone or ipad). If you turn location settings off it asks for your postcode. Use 2000, chomecast it to the tv and glory days.

Only issue is you have to listen to Cam Shepherd.