Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[Mr Wobbly]

The ABC is better than any other single channel or source.




One reason that people (like me) stick to conventional television (via Foxtel) is because we have sunk a fair bit of money into equipment, including in our case, some expensive speakers. We have a comfortable set-up that works, and gives us everything we need. Why change? We only watch three or sometimes a bit more hours a day, and a lot of that is the ABC. Suits us, and probably suits a lot of other older (and in some cases, pretty affluent) viewers. No doubt things will change over time.

None of the money you have spent on equipment would be wasted by changing though. I run my tellie (and turntable and CD player) through a NAD amp into a decent pair of Mission speakers, works great.

I had Foxtel from when it came out until about a year ago. Now, Netflix, Stan, Kayo, and Prime combined cost me about half what I used to pay to Foxtel and it's way better. Way better. You do need an antenna to watch FTA though. All the newer TVs have these apps + FTA built in to a single menu so it's simple to use.

There are a couple of shows I miss (Westworld, Mr Robot) but worth the trade off, IMHO

Of course, if you like overpaying for religious channels, horse racing, shopping, and celebrity nonsense then keep enjoying Foxtel

 

[Slim 293]

fuck me, im genuinely curious what you watch on there?

i could think of nothing worse than sitting down and having to watch ABC or SBS consistently

While I hardly watch any FTA TV, they’re the only two channels I would watch when I do.........

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

None of the money you have spent on equipment would be wasted by changing though. I run my tellie (and turntable and CD player) through a NAD amp into a decent pair of Mission speakers, works great.

I had Foxtel from when it came out until about a year ago. Now, Netflix, Stan, Kayo, and Prime combined cost me about half what I used to pay to Foxtel and it's way better. Way better. You do need an antenna to watch FTA though. All the newer TVs have these apps + FTA built in to a single menu so it's simple to use.

There are a couple of shows I miss (Westworld, Mr Robot) but worth the trade off, IMHO

Of course, if you like overpaying for religious channels, horse racing, shopping, and celebrity nonsense then keep enjoying Foxtel

Similar to me: NAD amp, Technics turntable, home made speakers and a new Samsung TV with the Kayo app, Youtube, Netflix etc. Works brilliantly. I hardly ever watch FTA unless it's the news. Everything else is streamed.

I've got Netflix and Kayo and it's really everything I need. I've been happy to pay for sport for many years but didn't want to pay for a bunch of Foxtel shit I don't need. Kayo is perfect for that and I'm really enjoying having it.

 

[Show-n-go]

While I hardly watch any FTA TV, they’re the only two channels I would watch when I do...

yea look tbh that doesn't surprise me

 

[wamberal]

Of course, if you like overpaying for religious channels, horse racing, shopping, and celebrity nonsense then keep enjoying Foxtel

BBC First has some great stuff. Fox Classics is okay, they show some old stuff that we record. Sky News UK, CNN, and the Fox movie channels are all useful to us. There might be a lot of dross, but there are also some jewels. The History channel, National Geographic, and some of the other documentary type stuff occasionally has something worthwhile.


We don't watch any of the dross, and we don't mind paying for the convenience of our current set-up, which works for us. Old dogs, new tricks, etc.


If it came to the stage that we had to make a change, we would make it. But it won't be to subscribe to Netflix, or STAN or any of the other similar offerings.

 

[Ignoto]

While I hardly watch any FTA TV, they’re the only two channels I would watch when I do...

The most ironic thing is, SBS and ABC have the best mobile streaming apps in the Australian FTA market. iView and onDemand are miles ahead of anything 9, 7 and 10 have put out. Hell, a lot of Australian TV's come pre-installed with iView and onDemand these days as well.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Perhaps a little insight as to what RA has planned for the NRC or more specifically a replacement via https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...e-shield-rights-imminent-20200210-p53zi6.html

It mentions a competition between Shute Shield and Hospitals Cup teams. I'd hope they'd also look to maintain the inovlement of the likes of Canberra, Melbourne and Perth. With Canberra being the winner or top 2 from the JD Cup and a rep squad made of local players from each of Meblourne and Perth.

 

[Rebels3]

Perhaps a little insight as to what RA has planned for the NRC or more specifically a replacement via https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...e-shield-rights-imminent-20200210-p53zi6.html

It mentions a competition between Shute Shield and Hospitals Cup teams. I'd hope they'd also look to maintain the inovlement of the likes of Canberra, Melbourne and Perth. With Canberra being the winner or top 2 from the JD Cup and a rep squad made of local players from each of Meblourne and Perth.

If it’s a team from Melb it needs to be authentic and not some put together group, it has to mirror what the others are getting. Harlequins would have a squad solid enough to compete without been embarrassed. They made up a decent portion of the Rising NRC squad that started to perform to a reasonable level midway through the tournament.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

If it’s a team from Melb it needs to be authentic and not some put together group, it has to mirror what the others are getting. Harlequins would have a squad solid enough to compete without been embarrassed. They made up a decent portion of the Rising NRC squad that started to perform to a reasonable level midway through the tournament.

Whichever model that would be the most competitive should be the one used in my opinion.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Perhaps a little insight as to what RA has planned for the NRC or more specifically a replacement via https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...e-shield-rights-imminent-20200210-p53zi6.html

It mentions a competition between Shute Shield and Hospitals Cup teams. I'd hope they'd also look to maintain the inovlement of the likes of Canberra, Melbourne and Perth. With Canberra being the winner or top 2 from the JD Cup and a rep squad made of local players from each of Meblourne and Perth.

NRC might not be popular but neither is the Sheffield Shield. We need that higher level to develop the players. Doesn't have to be a money making venture (although it would be nice). This will also ruin the other competitions (SS & QPR) as the top players will congregate at the same clubs. Lower ranking clubs will die without their best players

 

[qwerty51]

It absolutely does have to be a money making venture. RA is not CA. We can't get away with a comp that bleeds money. CA makes a loss on Sheffield Shield.

 

[Adam84]

Does the NRC bleed money, what are the losses posted?

 

[Derpus]

Shute Shield is absolute poo and the only people who care for it are 60+ 'back in my day' randwick fans and blokes with mullets from Warringah.

Just because people use the final as a (good) excuse to get on the piss does not make it a good or popular competition.

 

[barbarian]

Shute Shield is absolute poo and the only people who care for it are 60+ 'back in my day' randwick fans and blokes with mullets from Warringah.

Just because people use the final as a (good) excuse to get on the piss does not make it a good or popular competition.

But at least there is a level of passion there. As much as I can appreciate the NRC as a development tool, there is no doubt it just hasn't taken hold in the wider rugby community.

 

[Micheal]

Shute Shield is absolute poo and the only people who care for it are 60+ 'back in my day' randwick fans and blokes with mullets from Warringah.

Just because people use the final as a (good) excuse to get on the piss does not make it a good or popular competition.

That's why I'm almost excited by this idea.

Look at the Sydney NRC teams, it's not like they're going incredibly well. People always froth "Sydney Uni would beat (Insert Professional Side Here)". Would it? Let's find out.

Let's see how the Melbourne Rising go against Sydney Uni. Let's see how the Shute Shield copes when it's fringe players are poached by the Force and the Rising and the Brumbies at a greater scale.

Maybe they'll realise that if they want to be semi-professional they at least have to show a semblance of being professional.

On your point of no one caring, you're completely right. I've been to two Shute Shield grand finals at North Sydney oval purely to get drunk on the hill and throw empty cans of beer at my friends. Couldn't tell you who played or won.

It's not a competition that demands interest week in, week out.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

It absolutely does have to be a money making venture. RA is not CA. We can't get away with a comp that bleeds money. CA makes a loss on Sheffield Shield.

One of the best things of Pulver's reign was having Foxsport 100% underwrite the comp. It has been completely cost neutral to RA.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

But at least there is a level of passion there. As much as I can appreciate the NRC as a development tool, there is no doubt it just hasn't taken hold in the wider rugby community.

I place part of this on the mismanagement by the states. Even QLD who have done the best job with the NRC should change. Rather then City v Country have North v South of the River. Being a Wests fan we have players in both teams so who should I follow? Each club team could host a home game (North - Brothers, Uni, GOS, Wests and Norths) the clubs would push this as they would take all food/bar etc.

I'd try and create a consistent funnel. Make each QPR team "sponsor" a QLD country region so if a kid from Rocky (CQ) was to move to Brisbane direct them to Brothers for example. It doesn't mean that the player has to play there but its gives them a warm lead. I'd also play a city to the bush round every year to help with that engagement.

 

[Derpus]

On your point of no one caring, you're completely right. I've been to two Shute Shield grand finals at North Sydney oval purely to stand in the beer queue for 60 minutes and hastily neck the 4 beers i just bought because the game is over. Couldn't tell you who played or won.

fixed it for you.

 

[qwerty51]

He's an idea. You don't need an NRC if there's 8 Australian professional teams playing in a Trans-Tasman comp.

 

[drewprint]

I place part of this on the mismanagement by the states. Even QLD who have done the best job with the NRC should change. Rather then City v Country have North v South of the River. Being a Wests fan we have players in both teams so who should I follow? Each club team could host a home game (North - Brothers, Uni, GOS, Wests and Norths) the clubs would push this as they would take all food/bar etc.

I'd try and create a consistent funnel. Make each QPR team "sponsor" a QLD country region so if a kid from Rocky (CQ) was to move to Brisbane direct them to Brothers for example. It doesn't mean that the player has to play there but its gives them a warm lead. I'd also play a city to the bush round every year to help with that engagement.

Interesting idea. Something I’ve pondered myself actually. North vs South is a big thing in Brisbane, and I think would lend itself to natural tribalism, plus of course you get to still back your club boys. As you touch on though you couldn’t lose that QLD Country connection. It’s something they’ve done quite well, and people would rightly be filthy if that element is dropped.