Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[Dctarget]

Yeah , lead story in today’s Australian sport is how RA risk damaging rugby by selling off potentially 15% to private equity.

There’s a story three pages in about tonight’s GF .

News have been doing their best to damage rugby for some time now.

The improvement in ratings for rugby and the push to FTA must really annoy the shit out of them . So sad ...

It's really odd isn't it, I assume this must happen in other countries but when you take a step back the situation is quite bizarre. Our national paper always undermining a classic Australian sport and past time that many people love. When did everything get so vicious. The problem with these mega companies is that something is either positive for their interests or against their interests, there's nothing that doesn't affect their bottom line.

 

[Dan54]

Meh.

It was free live streamed on the Lions media (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and website).

I cbf watching because it is easier just to wait for the three paragraph team list announcement.

Yep which was plenty, I was laughing, I thought replaying again in a couple of channels was a little bit too much even for me

 

[Rebels3]

From what I can gather the following will be the FTA games for TT

7:30 games are as follows

Rebels v Blues
Reds v Crusaders
Reds v Chiefs
Brumbies v Hurricanes
Waratahs v Chiefs (645 game for some reason)

 

[wamberal]

It's really odd isn't it, I assume this must happen in other countries but when you take a step back the situation is quite bizarre. Our national paper always undermining a classic Australian sport and past time that many people love. When did everything get so vicious. The problem with these mega companies is that something is either positive for their interests or against their interests, there's nothing that doesn't affect their bottom line.

The Oz is a national paper in name only. It behaves more like a fancy comic book. Read the SMH or The Age if you want proper journalism.

 

[Highlander35]

The Oz is a national paper in name only. It behaves more like a fancy comic book. Read the SMH or The Age if you want proper journalism.

Did I just wake up in 2009?

 

[Adam84]

SuperRugbyAU Nine and 9Gem
#REDvBRU 207,000

That’s metro figures, throw in Stan and regional and you’re looking at close to around 350k

 

[Adam84]

 

[Derpus]

Amazing.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yeah , lead story in today’s Australian sport is how RA risk damaging rugby by selling off potentially 15% to private equity.

There’s a story three pages in about tonight’s GF .

News have been doing their best to damage rugby for some time now.

The improvement in ratings for rugby and the push to FTA must really annoy the shit out of them . So sad ...

Yep the coverage in Sunday daily telegraph was pathetic as small article at back of sports section with no pictures.

 

[PhilClinton]

Any idea what Stan paid for $BW to be an expert this year? I could be way off here but did he only appear in the first round and the grand final? Not having a dig at the bloke but I doubt he goes cheap these days, I’m guessing he was brought into the fold to bridge the channel 9 NRL gap.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Any idea what Stan paid for $BW to be an expert this year? I could be way off here but did he only appear in the first round and the grand final? Not having a dig at the bloke but I doubt he goes cheap these days, I’m guessing he was brought into the fold to bridge the channel 9 NRL gap.

Yep he would attract some coin...yeh I think you are right he is there to attract the league casual sports watchers as well as appealing to rugby crowd given also has of course excellent rugby credentials. Makes a lot of sense but agree not been that visible so far...

 

[Crashy]

Yep the coverage in Sunday daily telegraph was pathetic as small article at back of sports section with no pictures.

yes its quite odd how after all these years, The Australian / Telegraph waits until now to produce content such as The Breakdown. Whilst rugby has many, many problems, 8 year old kids in Blacktown not knowing who Campo is, is not one of them. despite this being a 'shocking' relevation. I thought The Breakdown was terrible. Tim Glbert and Matt Dunning's 'Running Rugby' on the other hand is excellent.

 

[Crashy]

In the AFR today. Take of it what you will.....

According to numbers supplied by Nine (the owner of this masthead), around 1.3 million people watched the Super Rugby final between the Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies live across Stan Sport, Channel 9, 9GEM and 9Now on Sunday.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

In the AFR today. Take of it what you will...

According to numbers supplied by Nine (the owner of this masthead), around 1.3 million people watched the Super Rugby final between the Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies live across Stan Sport, Channel 9, 9GEM and 9Now on Sunday.

You get the feeling that Nine/Stan sport got a bargain in what they paid for rugby sports rights given the success they have so far early into the deal. Hopefully RA can negotiate a much better deal next time round.

 

[The Nomad]

You get the feeling that Nine/Stan sport got a bargain in what they paid for rugby sports rights given the success they have so far early into the deal. Hopefully RA can negotiate a much better deal next time round.

It’s a win for both parties.

Rugby was stagnant/ going backwards for years in the Australian market for largely a subscription only audience.

The FTA part of the deal with the cross marketing between Stan and Nine ( plus associated papers ) has rugby way more visible than its been in years . It’s also where the biggest growth potential is. Rather than just dishing out the same shit to rusted on fans behind a paywall we now rugby visible for anyone who wants to have a look.

Win win situation. Probably helped by having had some good rugby played . The numbers for the GF are fantastic. That also attracts sponsorship dollars that were disappearing in the last few years.

If Trans Tasman is successful, the TV rights into Europe could be worth a pretty penny over the next couple of years given the lack of international competition.

 

[liquor box]

In the AFR today. Take of it what you will...

According to numbers supplied by Nine (the owner of this masthead), around 1.3 million people watched the Super Rugby final between the Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies live across Stan Sport, Channel 9, 9GEM and 9Now on Sunday.

I wonder if Fox is scared that Nine/STAN will attempt to get the NRL or AFL after the success with Rugby? It seems that the STAN platform can be as successful as Foxtel at getting sports fans.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

It’s a win for both parties.

Rugby was stagnant/ going backwards for years in the Australian market for largely a subscription only audience.

The FTA part of the deal with the cross marketing between Stan and Nine ( plus associated papers ) has rugby way more visible than its been in years . It’s also where the biggest growth potential is. Rather than just dishing out the same shit to rusted on fans behind a paywall we now rugby visible for anyone who wants to have a look.

Win win situation. Probably helped by having had some good rugby played . The numbers for the GF are fantastic. That also attracts sponsorship dollars that were disappearing in the last few years.

If Trans Tasman is successful, the TV rights into Europe could be worth a pretty penny over the next couple of years given the lack of international competition.

Yeh not complaining on the deal struck as at that point best we could hope for but with numbers getting yes hopefully helps with better future deals and you also make the important point of also attracting more sponsorship dollars.

It certainly validates was right decision to leave Foxtel and was more a case of should have happened earlier but regardless not looking back and looking forward the future certainly looks a lot brighter than has for a while. RA and others in rugby management and influence will need to be vigilant though as continues to be critical decisions and junctures which can decide rugby's future. Examples include private equity discussions, future TT participation, considerations of lower tier, future products (e.g. club national champtionship, nrc type competiition, SOO, etc etc) as well as how to expand and grow the game (including getting grassroots flourishing, into high schools etc etc), ensuring wallaby success etc. In other words lot more work to still do to get rugby back where it should be.

 

[barbarian]

I wonder if Fox is scared that Nine/STAN will attempt to get the NRL or AFL after the success with Rugby? It seems that the STAN platform can be as successful as Foxtel at getting sports fans.

Pretty sure Fox has locked the AFL and NRL for an extended period of time.

Kayo are worried as for the first time they have a genuine rival, albeit small at this point. They'd be worried that Stan keeps picking up smaller sports to the point they have a decent offering PLUS a good entertainment package.

I know for a fact that Kayo were running a 'drown out rugby' operation in Brisbane last week, offering Kayo ambassadors (local AFL and league players) to any media outlet that would have them, talking up that weekends offering on Kayo. And fair enough I suppose.

Soccer is the really interesting one coming up. Fox have given the A-League the same treatment they gave Super Rugby, so I think the FFA will be looking at the Super AU final and thinking what could be if they ditched Fox.
.

 

[RugbyReg]

Any idea what Stan paid for $BW to be an expert this year? I could be way off here but did he only appear in the first round and the grand final? Not having a dig at the bloke but I doubt he goes cheap these days, I’m guessing he was brought into the fold to bridge the channel 9 NRL gap.

think it would just be piggy backing off his 9 contract for the NRL. I was a SBW doubter but like what he contributed to the GF coverage. I think it is also an important recognition of the polynesian fan base of rugby. In fact it seemed like there was a strategic direction to focus a lot on that fan base in the crowd which is great from a rugby perspective.

 

[Wilson]

think it would just be piggy backing off his 9 contract for the NRL. I was a SBW doubter but like what he contributed to the GF coverage. I think it is also an important recognition of the polynesian fan base of rugby. In fact it seemed like there was a strategic direction to focus a lot on that fan base in the crowd which is great from a rugby perspective.

Should add plenty of value moving into Trans-Tasman and the test season too.