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Rugby and the Media

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Karl

Bill McLean (32)
What is with the relationship Rugby has with free to air media?

For example, this morning, I'm watching the Today Show on 9 as I get ready to leave for work and there is a segment on the "footy" this weekend with some fat guy talking about league and Ackermanis talking about the AFL. Nothing about the Rugby. You never see anything about the Rugby, or if you do, it's fleeting.

League is about to land a massive TV rights deal and we're not even getting match of the week on free to air.

I know that Test Matches and Internationals get more airplay, but a lot of that is still Foxtel Only. It it seems that on the whole Rugby is just about invisible in the mainstream media, when compared to other codes.

Surely someone is working on this?
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Yet, The Nine Network have the FTA rights to rugby in Australia.
Yes, and the League. So what do they care? They're conflicted.

That's exactly the reason I keep bringing up that we need either the SBS or ABC to take on Rugby. It's obvious to me Nine has only got Rugby to see the amount of exposure it gets on FTA stays small so it can take care of it's precious League. I've always thought SBS coverage plus a Rugby segment headed by Sam Ikin, maybe also give guys like Rog & HG a line & get them involved - that would be 1000x better than the current arrangement. More people would watch something like that. It bewilders me how we are continually tied to Nine.
 

Rob42

John Solomon (38)
Better exposure on FTA TV will come at serious cost in the short term, because Foxtel pay a significant premium for exclusive access to Super Rugby. The amount paid by SBS or ABC would be tiny in comparison. And then there's still no guarantee they would show games live.

So if you think the cost-cutting measures from the ARU are severe now, they'd be mild in comparison to what would be required to get Super Rugby onto FTA. And the TV rights are awarded by SANZAR, not the ARU, so we'd have to persuade NZ and SA to accept a cut in the rights, and cross our fingers that there would be a huge rise in interest in rugby once it went onto FTA. O'Neill is obviosuly pretty persuasive in SANZAR, but that might be a bridge too far.
 

boyo

Mark Ella (57)
IIRC Channel 7 (I'm not an apologist for them) used to show Super Rugby on delay. I can't remember if it was every game or if it was highlights.

Surely, the Nein (I deliberately spelt it that way) Network with their 3 channels (channels 9, Go, Gem) must have room in their schedule (considering all the repeats) for better treatment of Rugby.
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
IIRC Channel 7 (I'm not an apologist for them) used to show Super Rugby on delay. I can't remember if it was every game or if it was highlights.

Surely, the Nein (I deliberately spelt it that way) Network with their 3 channels (channels 9, Go, Gem) must have room in their schedule (considering all the repeats) for better treatment of Rugby.

Channel Nine shows highlights on Monday nights. I am pretty sure that Channel Seven did not show a highlights package, so that at least is a step forward.

I would imagine that Channel Nine is not contracted to cover anything other than Test matches and a SupeRugby highlights package, again, this is to do with the SANZAR deal, Fox Sports has exclusivity in Australia.

It's chicken and egg, really. Rugby will not get onto FTA (other than Test matches) until it becomes much more popular. It will not get much more popular unless it gets onto FTA, although just as importantly, until the game fixes a couple of the blindingly unattractive aspects that just do not appeal to the average Aussie spectator. Like scrum resets and rolling mauls. And meerkatting by the half back. And three points for penalties and field goals.
 

Karl

Bill McLean (32)
So Nine has some sort of broadcasting contract for "highlights" - but what does that mean? What are their actual obligations? It seems to me that a well positioned, well put together "highlights" show on FTA Tv would be good for Rugby.

Fox has the rights for "live", but, for example, can Nine show a delayed telecast?

Super Rugby: Fox Sports (live, 2011–2015),[52] Nine Network (highlights, 2011–2015)[52]
 
C

Cave Dweller

Guest
I believe they can do so. They can not show it live is the main point. Live is very important for sport events and they will agree time slots normally when the delay could be broadcast. But I am not completely certain with that. The contract will explain that so its hard to see what is the actual agreement.
 

Karl

Bill McLean (32)
So Nein last night showed their Highlights Package.

at 11.30 pm.

What does the ARU allow them to get away with that?
 
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