Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[Adam84]

https://aussierugbyshow.com/

I apologise for advertising another rugby media show, but I’m surprised I missed this until now. It was a rugby show hosted by Hoiles, Mitchell, Maloney and Lou Ransome.

Maloney would be great for Channel 9 and I must admit after watching the show I have changed my mind about Drew as a commentator, I do think he has value and an insight.

 

[Adam84]

Details for Trans Tasman competition for 2021 locked in, am I right in understanding that the Trans Tasman competition wont feature a Free-To-Air component? It seems to suggest it will alb on Stan Sport, I was hoping they would continue the FTA match as well.

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/12/13/rugby-au-rugby-trans-tasman-draw-confirmation

"Every game of the Trans-Tasman tournament will be live and on demand, ad-free as part of a new add-on sports package which will become available on Stan in 2021."

2021 SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN DRAW*

Round One

Highlanders v Queensland Reds, Friday 14 May, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 5:05pm
NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes, Friday 14 May, TBC, 7:45pm
Crusaders v Brumbies, Saturday 15 May, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, 5:05pm
Melbourne Rebels v Blues, Saturday 15 May, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7:45pm
Western Force v Chiefs, Saturday 15 May, HBF Park, Perth, 9:55pm
Round Two

Hurricanes v Melbourne Rebels, Friday 21 May, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 5:05pm
Western Force v Highlanders, Friday 21 May, HBF Park, Perth, 7:45pm
Blues v NSW Waratahs, Saturday 22 May, Eden Park, Auckland, 2:35pm
Chiefs v Brumbies, Saturday 22 May, FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 5:05pm
Queensland Reds v Crusaders, Saturday 22 May, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 7:45pm
Round Three - Super Round^

Brumbies v Blues
Hurricanes v Western Force
Melbourne Rebels v Highlanders
Queensland Reds v Chiefs
NSW Waratahs v Crusaders
Round Four

Crusaders v Western Force, Friday 4 June, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, 5:05pm
Queensland Reds v Blues, Friday 4 June, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 7:45pm
Chiefs v Melbourne Rebels, Saturday 5 June, FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 2:35pm
Highlanders v NSW Waratahs, Saturday 5 June, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 5:05pm
Brumbies v Hurricanes, Saturday 5 June, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 7:45pm
Round Five

Hurricanes v Queensland Reds, Friday 11 June, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 5:05pm
Brumbies v Highlanders, Friday 11 June, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 7:45pm
Melbourne Rebels v Crusaders, Saturday 12 June, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 2:35pm
Blues v Western Force, Saturday 12 June, Eden Park, Auckland, 5:05pm
NSW Waratahs v Chiefs, Saturday 12 June, TBC, 7:45pm
Final

Saturday 19 June 2021
*draw subject to change, all times are listed in AEST
^Super Round timings and venue will be released in due course.

 

[Adam84]

If the Rebels make the GF on the 19th June, not sure where they're going to play since the Storm have already booked AAMI Park for that night.

 

[Ignoto]

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/12/13/rugby-au-rugby-trans-tasman-draw-confirmation

Ahhh bugger, we're back to the 7:45pm starts. Hopefully the ball actually gets kicked at 7:45 rather than the visiting team running out.....

 

[KevinO]

Ahhh bugger, we're back to the 7:45pm starts. Hopefully the ball actually gets kicked at 7:45 rather than the visiting team running out...

I prefer 7:45 kick offs, having young kids it's easier to have them fed and ready for bed by that time. Means I can watch with less interruptions.

I would have kept the earlier times on a Saturday but not on a Friday.

 

[sendit]

Yea later time on a Friday helps with getting home from work and being able to settle in or go out again before the game starts

 

[Adam84]

All 26 matches in the tournament will be live and on-demand, ad-free, as part of a new add-on sports package which will become available on Stan in 2021.A selected match during each week of the tournament will also be simulcast live free-to-air on the Nine Network.
https://reds.rugby/news/2020/12/13/super-rugby-trans-tasman-draw-confirmation

Well Reds website suggests there will still be a FTA match each week.
So assuming the Saturday prime time match is the one which wil be broadcast, these will be the matches available FTA;

Rd 1. Rebels vs Blues
Rd 2. Reds vs Crusaders
Rd 3. TBA
Rd 4. Brumbies vs Hurricanes
Rd 5. Waratahs vs Chiefs

 

[Derpus]

The list of FTA matches was published somewhere.

 

[Adam84]

The list of FTA matches was published somewhere.

that was for Super Rugby AU, not the Trans Tasman comp, that hadn't been confirmed

 

[RugbyReg]

Well Reds website suggests there will still be a FTA match each week.
So assuming the Saturday prime time match is the one which wil be broadcast, these will be the matches available FTA;

Rd 1. Rebels vs Blues
Rd 2. Reds vs Crusaders
Rd 3. TBA
Rd 4. Brumbies vs Hurricanes
Rd 5. Waratahs vs Chiefs

Round 3 would have to be Hurricanes v Force wouldn't it?

 

[wamberal]

Round 3 would have to be Hurricanes v Force wouldn't it?

Kick-off time would be problematic, eh?

 

[Adam84]

Round 3 would have to be Hurricanes v Force wouldn't it?

I think it will depend on where the Super Round is hosted, the home team will most likely be put in the prime time slot to ensure the crowd builds across the games. My money is on Suncorp Stadium hosting the super round, which means the Reds vs Chiefs would be the broadcast match on the Saturday night.

 

[Ignoto]

I prefer 7:45 kick offs, having young kids it's easier to have them fed and ready for bed by that time. Means I can watch with less interruptions.

I would have kept the earlier times on a Saturday but not on a Friday.

I guess it depends on who you want your target audience to be. We've largely accepted Fox's timeslot as it was better for the older audiences, but how would you like to get your younger kids involved in watching the game?

If it starts earlier and you're still tied up with kids, you can start the stream from the beginning, it's not like the olden days where you have to record it or only start it from the live spot.

More importantly, a 9:45pm kick off for half the target audience isn't really fair either.

 

[RugbyReg]

We'd want every team to get a prime time game. Imagine the stink if the Force don't get one?

 

[Adam84]

We'd want every team to get a prime time game. Imagine the stink if the Force don't get one?

Weigh it up against the stink from the sponsors and broadcasters.
Given this concept is been 'sold' to a city, they'll pick a schedule which maximises exposure and attendance.

 

[Brumby Runner]

We'd want every team to get a prime time game. Imagine the stink if the Force don't get one?

But the suggestion above that the WF v Hurricanes game would be the Super Round tv game would see the Hurricanes having two tv games while another NZ side would miss out. Might need a bit of work.

 

[dru]

I had thought that the FTA was to be dominated by Reds and Waratahs. Though that discussion was SuperAu not TT.

 

[RugbyReg]

But the suggestion above that the WF v Hurricanes game would be the Super Round tv game would see the Hurricanes having two tv games while another NZ side would miss out. Might need a bit of work.

prime time in NZL is not the same as prime time in Australia.

Don't think the Aussie broadcasters have any commitment to NZL teams.

Not sure what the NZL broadcaster is doing but the Saturday night "prime time" games in NZL would be:

Week 1: Crusaders v Brumbies
Week 2: Chiefs v Brumbies
Week 3: TBC
Week 4: Highlanders v Waratahs
Week 5: Blues v Force.

 

[KiwiM]

Interestingly - this is from the NZ release

 

[Adam84]

prime time in NZL is not the same as prime time in Australia.

Don't think the Aussie broadcasters have any commitment to NZL teams.

Not sure what the NZL broadcaster is doing but the Saturday night "prime time" games in NZL would be:

Week 1: Crusaders v Brumbies
Week 2: Chiefs v Brumbies
Week 3: TBC
Week 4: Highlanders v Waratahs
Week 5: Blues v Force.

By the same argument prime time in WA is not the same prime time on eastern coast, it still won’t be on prime time in WA regardless. Force have traditionally rated the lowest of the Australian Super Rugby teams on Foxtel, same issue exists in the NRL/AFL where the broadcasters prioritise to the highest rating teams.

Do you really think this a worthwhile requirement to impose an equitable FTA presence on the broadcasters and sponsors at the risk of lesser funding?