Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[TOCC]

You are right, it could all amount to nothing if a significant delay is enforced..

 

[p.Tah]

Remember when Nine had the Free to Air rights for tests and then didn't show them live in the Southern/Western states because it clashed with NRL/AFL, but they couldn't show them on GEM because of the anti siphoning laws. Hopefully the ARU is clued up this time and if it can stipulate times/channels/coverage so we're not caught out again. Ultimately it'll come down to what Fox wants because they're on selling the rights

 

[Wilson]

Remember when Nine had the Free to Air rights for tests and then didn't show them live in the Southern/Western states because it clashed with NRL/AFL, but they couldn't show them on GEM because of the anti siphoning laws. Hopefully the ARU is clued up this time and if it can stipulate times/channels/coverage so we're not caught out again. Ultimately it'll come down to what Fox wants because they're on selling the rights

It's hopefully not as much of an issue with ten, given they don't have any other sport of their own to worry about.

 

[Braveheart81]

With the potential that Foxtel (with Discovery Communications) could end up buying Channel 10, it could potentially be really good for rugby.

It would reduce the barriers to re-using content between the two organisations. Potentially rugby replays could be shown on 10 using the Foxsports commentary teams which would result in significant cost savings for 10 and the ability to show more content.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Great news if it comes off.

Super Rugby is not covered by any Anti-Siphoning legislation so there will be no obstacle as to when and where Ten show the games other than what Foxtel stipulates.

The big problem they are likely to rate really poorly. This year's Aus-Arg game at the Gold Coast meant Ten had their worst ever Saturday night. How many are likely to tune in to a Force v Rebels match?

 

[Pfitzy]

With the potential that Foxtel (with Discovery Communications) could end up buying Channel 10, it could potentially be really good for rugby.

It would reduce the barriers to re-using content between the two organisations. Potentially rugby replays could be shown on 10 using the Foxsports commentary teams which would result in significant cost savings for 10 and the ability to show more content.

AND NO MATT BURKE!!!!

The big problem they are likely to rate really poorly. This year's Aus-Arg game at the Gold Coast meant Ten had their worst ever Saturday night. How many are likely to tune in to a Force v Rebels match?

Simple: make it all about the Tahs

 

[TOCC]

How many are likely to tune in to a Force v Rebels match?

Well that is the crux of the whole debate, FTA have been reluctant to bid for super rugby in the past because it's a relatively unknown quantity on FTA..

 

[Braveheart81]

Well that is the crux of the whole debate, FTA have been reluctant to bid for super rugby in the past because it's a relatively unknown quantity on FTA..

This is definitely the problem.

Rugby is just not popular enough that a regular Super Rugby game on FTA could produce the necessary prime time ratings.

Maybe the compromise will be to show it delayed starting at about 10pm or a bit later like some of the non local AFL games are shown on FTA (at least in Sydney).

 

[Strewthcobber]

Foxtel keeps the Reds' and Tah's games for themselves to preserve their market share. Ten shows replays of Rebels, Force and Brumbies against South African sides at 10:30pm on Friday night.

Ratings predictably are awful and Ten drop the games to show Bond movies which cost nothing and get twice as many viewers. FTA never even think about showing Super Rugby ever again, because of the "bad ratings"

God, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I hope Foxtel are forward thinking enough to realize that firstly, they will not lose viewers to FTA by showing a single game per week. And secondly, that the more people who watch rugby on FTA and enjoy it, the more potential subscribers they can appeal to.

Anybody who purchases Foxtel for the rugby, would not watch a delayed FTA broadcast instead, nor would they terminate their subscription for one game a week as they would only infrequently be able to watch their preferred team.

 

[RugbyReg]

acknowledging this is for 2016 correct? If we looked at next year's draw just to see what may be the Friday night game then we would have:

Rnd 1: Brumbies v Reds
Rnd 2: Rebels v Waratahs
Rnd 3: Highlanders v Reds or Force v Hurricanes (not sure which is best for time zones)
Rnd 4: Brumbies v Force
Rnd 5: Force v Rebels (late)
Rnd 6: Rebels v Lions
Rnd 7: Reds v Lions
Rnd 8: Rebels v Reds
Rnd 9: Blues v Brumbies
Rnd 10: Brumbies v Rebels (or Hurricanes v Waratahs)
Rnd 11: Brumbies v Highlanders (ANZAC rnd)
Rnd 12: Brumbies v Waratahs
Rnd 13: Rebels v Blues (or Crusaders v Reds)
Rnd 14: Reds v Rebels
Rnd 15: Reds v Sharks
Rnd 16: Brumbies v Bulls
Rnd 17: Force v Brumbies
Rnd 18: Rebels v Force

 

[Pass it to Dunning!]

acknowledging this is for 2016 correct? If we looked at next year's draw just to see what may be the Friday night game then we would have:

Rnd 1: Brumbies v Reds
Rnd 2: Rebels v Waratahs
Rnd 3: Highlanders v Reds or Force v Hurricanes (not sure which is best for time zones)
Rnd 4: Brumbies v Force
Rnd 5: Force v Rebels (late)
Rnd 6: Rebels v Lions
Rnd 7: Reds v Lions
Rnd 8: Rebels v Reds
Rnd 9: Blues v Brumbies
Rnd 10: Brumbies v Rebels (or Hurricanes v Waratahs)
Rnd 11: Brumbies v Highlanders (ANZAC rnd)
Rnd 12: Brumbies v Waratahs
Rnd 13: Rebels v Blues (or Crusaders v Reds)
Rnd 14: Reds v Rebels
Rnd 15: Reds v Sharks
Rnd 16: Brumbies v Bulls
Rnd 17: Force v Brumbies
Rnd 18: Rebels v Force

Are the Waratahs not doing any Friday night games next year? I'm sure that will be discussed at Channel Ten.

 

[RugbyReg]

without doubt, in 2016 there would be more emphasis on sharing the Friday night slot around.

 

[Crashy]

No Friday night games for the Tahs in 2015. Apparently their crowds are always smaller on a Friday night but I actually prefer heading from a boozy Friday lunch to the pub and then stagger pole-axed to the game. By 10 pm crashy is usally battle worn and ready for ni-nies to wake up fresh on Saturday morning to attack little Crashy's sport.
I would have thought 1 Friday night game 5 sat night games and 2 Sunday arvo games would have been perfect. Anyway, the crowds seem to turn up for the Sunday arvo games and if we want to measure our dicks against the other codes then an average crowd of 25 - 30k next season would be nice. ( This year was 20k not including finals or 26k including finals).

 

[Strewthcobber]

without doubt, in 2016 there would be more emphasis on sharing the Friday night slot around.

Why do you think that? Foxtel presumably have the Waratah's scheduled exactly where they want them. They'll surely get first choice of who plays when.

 

[Braveheart81]

Whoever is considered the leading Australian team ends up playing the majority of their home games on Saturday night.

The Tahs had more Friday night games when they were at their lowest ebb and have now moved back to more Saturday night games with the Reds and Brumbies having more home games on Friday nights.

The Rebels have had pretty much have all their home games on Friday nights since they started.

The Force don't really matter because their home games are generally at 9:30pm on the east coast so they don't conflict with another game and can be on a Friday or Saturday night.

 

[RugbyReg]

Why do you think that? Foxtel presumably have the Waratah's scheduled exactly where they want them. They'll surely get first choice of who plays when.

because its not just foxsports choice. There are other broadcasters involved too. But each team gets a say along the way. The Tahs I am sure (as for most teams) would like some free to air coverage for their sponsors. They'd be happy to have a couple of games on Friday night.

 

[TOCC]

Any team would jump at a FTA broadcast regardless of whatever night it is on, lower crowds are offset by greater exposure for sponsors (this is a continuing debate in the NRL).

Additionally, Foxtel wouldn't go with a draw like this years, all the teams would share the Friday night time slot. Foxtel wouldn't want to overcapitalise on the one team in that times lot as it could impact on Foxtel demand in that state..

In saying that, Ch 10 are the network purchasing the rights and they aren't going to stupidly buy into broadcasting just Force and Rebels games in that time-slot.(sorry fans but the fact is those teams rate the lowest). Ch 10 will demand that they are given access to high rating matches to justify the investment.

 

[TahDan]

Foxtel keeps the Reds' and Tah's games for themselves to preserve their market share. Ten shows replays of Rebels, Force and Brumbies against South African sides at 10:30pm on Friday night.

Ratings predictably are awful and Ten drop the games to show Bond movies which cost nothing and get twice as many viewers. FTA never even think about showing Super Rugby ever again, because of the "bad ratings"

God, I hope I'm wrong.

A just felt a shiver run through me due to just how fucking likely a stupid scenario like this actually is...

 

[TOCC]

Funding cuts for both the ABC and SBS; ABC has lost $50million/year and SBS lost $5million/year for the next 5 years. Whilst neither were never serious competitors for TV-Rights the idea of the ABC broadcasting the NRC was tossed around, these funding cuts have completely squashed that concept.


In further news, NetFlix has announced it will commence operations in Australia from March 2015, whilst NetFlix doesn't broadcast sports it will challenge the monopoly that Foxtel has largely held on new movie releases and tv-shows. This could inadvertently increase the value of live sports.