Broadcast options for Australian Rugby
- Thread starter WorkingClassRugger
- Start date
Rob42
John Solomon (38)
Good for existing fans, if it included overseas comps as well. But no good for attracting new fans.
hoggy
Trevor Allan (34)
https://www.smh.com.au/business/com...ense-of-self-entitlement-20191211-p53iyf.html
A couple of interesting things he said.
"The issue with rugby that’s a challenge is the sense of self-entitlement from rugby itself," Mr Williams said in an interview on Wednesday with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "Rugby seems to deem itself as inherently worthy and therefore deserving of mountains of money and that’s a major difference to the reality."
"The real value [is] in Tests and the Bledisloe [Cup] but for the major mainstream ... it’s a low-value sport. Rugby refuses to acknowledge this," Mr Williams said.
The problem is looking forward all Castle can do is double down on the wallabies for the next broadcast deal. But the problem is, its that exact approach over the last 20 years that has ensured the game has become domestically a low-value sport.
A couple of interesting things he said.
"The issue with rugby that’s a challenge is the sense of self-entitlement from rugby itself," Mr Williams said in an interview on Wednesday with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "Rugby seems to deem itself as inherently worthy and therefore deserving of mountains of money and that’s a major difference to the reality."
"The real value [is] in Tests and the Bledisloe [Cup] but for the major mainstream ... it’s a low-value sport. Rugby refuses to acknowledge this," Mr Williams said.
The problem is looking forward all Castle can do is double down on the wallabies for the next broadcast deal. But the problem is, its that exact approach over the last 20 years that has ensured the game has become domestically a low-value sport.
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Chicken and egg, Hoggy. It has always been a low value sport domestically, and for much of our history it has been low value as an international sport.
We have next to no chance of creating a viable, and interesting, domestic competition in the forseeable future. It seems to be that the international dimension is still our biggest selling point.
We have next to no chance of creating a viable, and interesting, domestic competition in the forseeable future. It seems to be that the international dimension is still our biggest selling point.
spikhaza
John Solomon (38)
Completely, and took about 7 years too long to even consider something like SVOD. It's an absolute shame because Foxtel has been great for Australian content - unlike Netflix, Facebook/Google et al.
At the same time something like Kayo sports should have been established in 2012 and should have 4 million Australian subscribers by now. They went for short term greed by refusing to change the business model for too long.
I just read on twitter that Sean Maloney was dropped from Fox - a shame - he was good for digital engagement.
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
They'd have to have some very, very solid numbers on likely subs for that to be doable. Maybe if it were right across the SANZAAR alliance it might be worthwhile.
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
Controlling the content could open up avenues to offer up a live game a week to a FTA stations free of change as a means of achieving that exposure and driving traffic.
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
The international dimension in terms of Test Rugby has always been the biggest selling point. Super Rugby has always been the poor cousin offering little to no actual value to the deal. Which really does ask the question. If there's no value in Super Rugby rights. Then why persist? Wouldn't it be better to cut off the limb and look to other avenues instead? Ones that might actually down the track deliver that value?
dru
Tim Horan (67)
Could not agree more.
Super Rugby is how you have the baseline of professional players.
It would be fantastic if there was another avenue to achieve this but it is far from simple.
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
Never suggested it would be simple. In fact, it would likely require a rather substantial overhaul of the game at the professional level to achieve. But if most if not all of the revenue that sustains that base line of professional players in the country in terms of TV is derived from the Test arena then opting to pursue other options wouldn't be all that much different with the exception that we may establish something that could build into something of worth in the future.
Lorenzo
Colin Windon (37)
The truth is that we don't know what the tv rights are worth when separated. Foxtel likely knows roughly what the local wallaby FTA rights are worth because they sell them to 10. On the other hand, they probably don't know what they are worth when sold as an exclusive (i.e without a Foxtel simulcast) becuase that hasn't been on the table since about 1995.
If it helps everyone, some of this will be fleshed out as part of the tender process that News and their mouthpieces are so aggrieved thay RA is undertaking.
If it helps everyone, some of this will be fleshed out as part of the tender process that News and their mouthpieces are so aggrieved thay RA is undertaking.
hoggy
Trevor Allan (34)
I think a point to remember is that yes the TEST arena brings in the value, but it does that in a way on the back of compromising the domestic market, yes Super rugby may have little value. But that is due in a great part due to pretty much 20 years of being compromised by Test rugby and not being allowed to change that.
The question is given the ability to adapt and change to suit market demands what potential value could a properly supported domestic game achieve. Yes Test rugby brings in the $dollars, but again at what cost. In fact i would argue, we know what that cost is because the game in Australia is what you get.
The domestic rugby market has had little or no value in terms of generating revenue for the entire history of the game in Australia.
Domestic rugby around the world is subsidised by the international game and/or private owners with deep pockets.
hoggy
Trevor Allan (34)
But the point is you can't run if you never learn to walk. We know the domestic market has little value here, but have we ever tried to change that, NO. And whats so wrong with private money, maybe we should try that, you ever know.
I'm not saying we shouldn't try and change it. Arguably we did when the game went professional. We focused our best players into a small number of teams and moved it from being a Saturday afternoon sport to mostly Friday and Saturday nights.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with private money and the game would benefit greatly from it. It would be great if we can find more people who want to invest in the game.
There is a huge challenge in trying to have a season long domestic or Trans Tasman competition in that squads need to be much larger to deal with test players not being available (particularly when we have a small number of teams).
I understand the frustration with the status quo and am also very frustrated by it. I find it equally frustrating that people seriously suggest that we should exit Super Rugby immediately and go it alone as if that is somehow a realistic possibility.
Jimmy_Crouch
Ken Catchpole (46)
Lorenzo
Colin Windon (37)
Do you have a suggestion?
Rebelsfan
Billy Sheehan (19)
Hoggy are you really suggesting that we should go down the 'private money' path again? That 'maybe we should try that' - really did the Melbourne Rebels private ownership fiasco that was Andrew Cox escape you?
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
I really struggle to see the appeal of the Super Rugby franchises as investment vehicle for PE to be honest. I'd rather see us move to a far more centralised model. Where everything other than the respective HP squads are run out of a single office. An even those beyond the day to day training etc. would be coordinated centrally. Depending on where we end up come TV rights might be necessary anyway.
It's the only way I can see us surviving regardless of whether we stay is Super Rugby or started our own thing. Definitely the only way we do our own thing.