The TV Broadcasting of Australian Rugby

[waratahjesus]

The dumb thing is, people are already doing it for free. Network tv will die out while trying to protect their own profits. Everyone needs to evolve, it wasn't long ago that having an internet connection was just for email and assignments.

It's much more complex than that. Chicken and egg. If everyone streams and downloads, just who is fronting the production costs and who is insuring them in doing so?

 

[Richo]

I don't think he's saying the process is simple, just that tv networks aren't getting this right despite the obviousness of the dynamic at play. Look what happened to the big music labels - don't the networks see that they're next against the wall?

 

[It is what it is]

Channel 9 are behaving like a middle aged American at a smorgasbord on a cruise ship.
They pile their plate way too high because their eyes are bigger than their belly, while knowing they can't eat it all.

 

[Braveheart81]

Foxsports should provide an online stream option that is relatively inexpensive but is not nearly to the same standard as having Foxtel.

It's about trying to tap into a market that they're currently getting nothing out of (the people streaming illegally online for free), not creating a product that will cannabilise their pay TV subscribers for far less revenue.

Currently they'd be afraid that providing a cheaper online stream will make them lose customers. I hardly doubt it.

People who are currently enjoying HD Foxtel on their 40+ inch TV aren't likely to downgrade to watch a rugby game streamed on their computer.

People who are currently streaming illegally online are far more likely to pay $50 a year to Foxtel to be able to get a good stream online to watch super rugby and test matches.

 

[Sully]

Foxtel don't own the rights to stream a lot of content on the internet. Including Rugby.

 

[Braveheart81]

They could buy the rights easily enough though.

They already do the production and have the ability to stream things through their website so the infrastructure is already there for them to take a product to market.

 

[waratahjesus]

I don't think he's saying the process is simple, just that tv networks aren't getting this right despite the obviousness of the dynamic at play. Look what happened to the big music labels - don't the networks see that they're next against the wall?

There is a large difference between television and music. Itsa debate for a different thread though.

It's not just channel 9 getting this wrong, it's the government and blame should be equal amongst them. No doubtbtheybwill each blame each other rather than take responsibility.

But the main problem here, is the fans. Nt enough people are watching and getting involved in protesting in order for it to change. Demand will always be met and like insurance companies, tv networks usually know when cost is going to out balance income.

 

[The Red Baron]

Foxsports should provide an online stream option that is relatively inexpensive but is not nearly to the same standard as having Foxtel.

It's about trying to tap into a market that they're currently getting nothing out of (the people streaming illegally online for free), not creating a product that will cannabilise their pay TV subscribers for far less revenue.

Currently they'd be afraid that providing a cheaper online stream will make them lose customers. I hardly doubt it.

People who are currently enjoying HD Foxtel on their 40+ inch TV aren't likely to downgrade to watch a rugby game streamed on their computer.

People who are currently streaming illegally online are far more likely to pay $50 a year to Foxtel to be able to get a good stream online to watch super rugby and test matches.

As long as the stream is of the appropriate quality, I would have no hassles watching rugby on my computer. I do have a tv as my computer monitor though.

Like Richo and Pedro said, movement away from FTA towards the internet is starting to happen. If the networks don't move with it, they will be left behind. A similar situation is currently unfolding with print media.

 

[Richo]

WJ, agree totally, but old media entities are having to adapt fast... but seem so set on being defensive that they don't innovate fast enough. Anyway, as you say, a debate for another thread.

I, for one, don't have Foxtel because I like being married, but I would definitely pay to get legal, reliable streaming, especially if there was an on-demand feature as well.

 

[TOCC]

Like WJ mentioned, Internet streaming still has legislative restrictions in Australia(reference Optus court battle on streaming NRL matches on 90sec delay)..

Australia will get there eventually, the technology(ie bandwidth) isn't really there to support it just yet either, but the NBN will go a long way to rectifying that..

You can see it already with the Internet broadcast portion of the AFL rights included as a standalone aspect in the last deal. Wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing with the latest NRL deal given Telstras involvement.

 

[roo]

Wide World of Shite have censored and blocked me on their Facebook page after hounding them for a reason as to why they won't broadcast the game!
This is really getting my goat. I want to get angry at Dingo Deans, not channel nine. I wish more people would get on their various pages and give them a bollocking.
For the love of the game, FIRE UP on these douchebags

 

[It is what it is]

ARU needs to carefully watch and potentially follow developments at the AFL as they gear up to produce, package and broadcast their own game themselves and cut out the middle man.

 

[TOCC]

I'm not entirely sure that is the best way to go for Australian rugby though...

Economies of scale make such a venture plausibly viable for the AFL, I'm not sure the same applies to rugby's much smaller 'economy'

Australian Rugby and AFL cater to vastly different markets as well(talking SANZAR partners).

 

[Richo]

It really depends how the different rights are valued and what the market actually is for access. The NFL online access actually got cheaper this last season, for example, which tells you how uncertain everyone is on how to do this stuff.

 

[Pedrolicus]

For me, when it comes to sport, being live is the ultimate. Not so long ago analogue tv's with poor reception were not uncommon in pubs and households everywhere. I remember watching the 1991 world cup n a black and white 38cm tv, it was awesome because it was happening live, history was unfolding. I wasn't concerned about whether I could see the brand of mouth guards Samoa was wearing. Sport just needs to be live, it's the feeling that your thoughts and prayers are reflected or contrasted by mates and adversaries around the globe. Streaming even in poor quality can provide this, tv stations and the aru need to understand that this is their product and deliver it live or perish.

 

[It is what it is]

I'm not entirely sure that is the best way to go for Australian rugby though.

Economies of scale make such a venture plausibly viable for the AFL, I'm not sure the same applies to rugby's much smaller 'economy'

Australian Rugby and AFL cater to vastly different markets as well(talking SANZAR partners).

Think the world market TOCC, not just a few states here.
Plenty of people here subscribe and watch NFL games.

 

[qwerty51]

Yeah that's what separates rugby here to AFL/NRL and soccer. No one outside Aus gives a fuck about those competitions and would bother to watch them. I reckon if possible (legal stream on the internet) you would have more viewers outside Aus watching Super rugby and tests than TV viewers inside Aus.

 

[TOCC]

Think the world market TOCC, not just a few states here.
Plenty of people here subscribe and watch NFL games.

World market? For rugby?
Because that's what I was referring to when I mentioned different markets and mentioned SANZAR...

IPTV on a global scale is significantly more convoluted then just trying to do it within Australia due to different legislations/rights/regulations...

If what you are suggesting is that the ARU evolve into their own broadcaster for overseas markets, then I would have to disagree quite strongly... Each country would require the ARU to establish their own ABN equivalent, jump through corporate hurdles and meet the regulation and legislative requirements of each..

This would be time consuming and manpower intensive, the cost/benefit return for 99% of these countries would not be satisfied.

What would suit the ARU better would be to sell the rights to a already established company in the country/region which provides such products.. The return would be lower, but so would the capital outlay.

 

[Schadenfreude]

You might be surprised how many countries already have NBN equivalents. Especially large Rugby markets.

 

[liquor box]

How much is the CH9 deal worth?

Can the ARU afford to tell them where to stick it and give the rights for all Tests to the ABC for free or even better give them Tests for free in return for a Brisbane and Sydney club match every weekend shown on ABC.

Is there value to the game as a whole in having all tests shown live, 2 club games a week and a S15 highlights package each week on FTA? Is this more valuable to the game than the dollars the ARU currently gets?