Broadcast options for Australian Rugby
- Thread starter WorkingClassRugger
- Start date
stoff
Trevor Allan (34)
Stan are taking the rights from Optus for $60m p.a. with Optus continuing to pay the other $40m. https://www.afr.com/companies/sport...ulti-million-tie-up-with-stan-20250624-p5m9z3
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
I understand that, I just think Rugby ends up having products reduced overall when they get the eyeball numbers. Right now there's probably too many Rugby products on Stan in fairness in regard to talk shows but it's still good to have.
You add EPL & NRL they will have these shows and probably want to bring in more talent and more expensive talent. Remember the slow decline of Inside Rugby...
Adam84
John Eales (66)
More information on Stan purchasing EPL from Optus, Stan will pay $60million a year with Optus subsidising $40million of the original $100million contract that Optus signed.
Risk for rugby is the base costs of this get shared onto rugby supporters, on a potential positive note it might mean more venues with Stan going forward if the content is beyond just rugby.
www.afr.com
Risk for rugby is the base costs of this get shared onto rugby supporters, on a potential positive note it might mean more venues with Stan going forward if the content is beyond just rugby.
Optus to subsidise Premier League in multimillion-dollar Stan tie-up
The telecoms group will continue to pay money for the broadcast rights for years despite handing them to the Nine Entertainment-owned streaming service.
Mick The Munch
Phil Hardcastle (33)
Hopefully,More information on Stan purchasing EPL from Optus, Stan will pay $60million a year with Optus subsidising $40million of the original $100million contract that Optus signed.
Risk for rugby is the base costs of this get shared onto rugby supporters, on a potential positive note it might mean more venues with Stan going forward if the content is beyond just rugby.
Optus to subsidise Premier League in multimillion-dollar Stan tie-up
The telecoms group will continue to pay money for the broadcast rights for years despite handing them to the Nine Entertainment-owned streaming service.
I hope this doesn't end up like Foxtel where other sports took precedence over Union
The Ghost of Raelene
Phil Kearns (64)
That’s my concern and will be dictated by eye balls.
Ignoto
John Hipwell (52)
I don't think it'll be as big of an issue in terms of competition for eyeballs.
The EPL runs from like August - May/June and games are generally speaking after 11pm at night. Super Rugby is Feb/Mar - June playing in "prime time". So you will have plenty of subcribers who wont necessarily have something to watch during their prime viewing hours.
The EPL runs from like August - May/June and games are generally speaking after 11pm at night. Super Rugby is Feb/Mar - June playing in "prime time". So you will have plenty of subcribers who wont necessarily have something to watch during their prime viewing hours.
half
Dick Tooth (41)
This is an interesting article from Crickey... well worth the read...
www.crikey.com.au
As it snares EPL soccer rights, Nine positions itself to become the sports broadcast overlord
Nine appears to be in pole position to sweep up just about every sporting broadcast there is, including both major football codes, for the first time in over two decades.
www.crikey.com.au
The_Wookie
Chris McKivat (8)
Blockbuster matches and digital audience growth drive strong viewership for 2025 DHL Super Rugby Pacific on Sky
Sky and Super Rugby Pacific are celebrating a thrilling 2025 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season on Sky, with digital audiences surging, and the Final between the Crusaders and Chiefs drawing the most engaged audience since the iconic 2016 showdown between the Hurricanes and South African team, the Lions.
Two million viewers tuned in across Sky Sport and free-to-air channel Sky Open, underscoring the season’s strong appeal and wide reach.[1]
Digital engagement also soared, with a combined 650,000 viewers across Sky Go and Sky Sport Now – up 15% on 2024[2] – and more than 8.5 million streams of the competition across the two platforms.[3]
Final delivers a compelling finish to the season
The Final between the Crusaders and Chiefs was the most-watched match of the season, drawing a cumulative audience of 726,000 on Sky Sport 1 and Sky Open, well above the 644,000 who tuned in for the 2024 Final. An additional 40,000 viewers watched the match commentated in reo Māori on Sky Sport 3, and around 306,000 people watched on digital platforms Sky Sport Now and Sky Go.
Nielsen data revealed the Final sustained the highest average audience across Sky Sport and Sky Open since the 2016 Super Rugby Final[4]. The match also captured a 64% share of the TV audience at the time—up 9% year-on-year.[5]
Sky’s Head of Sport Content, Gary Burchett credited the season’s success to the sustained levels of competition on the field and the passion of fans watching at home: “This season reminded us of just how powerful top-tier rugby can be in bringing people together. The support from fans, the intensity on the field, and the passion and professionalism from the Sky Sport production teams created something truly special. We couldn’t have asked for a more captivating season.”
CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, Jack Mesley also applauded the results from the season: “It’s fantastic to see fans turn out in such strong numbers to watch the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final across Sky’s channels. We’ve worked hard over the past few years to make sure our competition delivers exciting and engaging rugby, and this season has seen the culmination of that work in spades. These numbers are a credit to the players, clubs, broadcasters who have helped bring the game to life, and to our fans who continue to engage with the competition.”
Top 10 most-watched matches of the 2025 season
The following matches drew the biggest audiences across Sky Sport, Sky Open, Sky Sport Now, and Sky Go:
- Chiefs v Crusaders Final (21/06/2025)
- Blues v Chiefs (07/06/2025)
- Brumbies v Chiefs - Semifinal 2 (14/06/2025)
- Blues v Crusaders - Semifinal 1 (13/06/2025)
- Chiefs v Crusaders (10/05/2025)
- Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika (31/05/2025)
- Chiefs v Moana Pasifika (24/05/2025)
- Crusaders v Hurricanes (11/04/2025)
- Blues v Hurricanes (01/03/2025)
- Crusaders v Highlanders (26/04/2025)
References:
[1] Linear TV Source: Nielsen TAM, AP05+, Cume Reach, Sky Sport + Sky Open
2 Digital Source: Sky Internal. Viewers based on Sky internal Unique Account data and a co-viewing factor of 2.3 (Source Glasshouse Consulting streaming co-viewing study)
3 Source: Sky Internal
4 Nielsen TAM, AP05+, AUD, Sky Sport, Overnights
5 Linear TV Source: Nielsen TAM, AP05+, Share%, Sky Sport + Sky Open
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
^^^Not big fans of Aussie rugby then?
HogansHeros
Cyril Towers (30)
This is why Super Rugby doesnt work. There is no interest in games with teams across the ditch.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Force v Lions highlights on Stan sports YouTube channel. 5.5k views
Force v Lions highlights on Sky sports YouTube channel. 381k views
Force v Lions highlights on Sky sports YouTube channel. 381k views
Wilson
John Eales (66)
It'll be interesting to see how that tracks across the tour, I'd expect the Force game would be the smallest draw for Stan's market but wouldn't be as low relative to the rest for Sky. Possibly also more casual interest in the UK for the Lions from the start, whereas it'll take a bit of time to draw in any casuals here.
Might be worth checking in at 24 hours or 7 days post though - ~12 hours after the game is probably going to favour the market that has been awake (not that it's a 300k+ difference.
Strewthcobber
Michael Lynagh (62)
Yeah, it's a bit unfair to do it at 10am on Sunday, but anyway!
I think the third legal highlights package is The British and Irish Lions channel, which is 121k.
Nothing up on Western Force, Rugby.com.au or Wallabies channels as far as I can see (actually I think they have some shorts up)
Wilson
John Eales (66)
Which is particularly impressive given they only have 101k subscribers. Probably the benefit of it being exactly the reason or the channel, versus just part of it.
I wouldn't hold your breath on the Force channel, they haven't added anything for 6 months. I think Rugby.com.au highlights tend to come in a day or two after the fact, which might be an aspect of the broadcast deal (or maybe their youtube guy just doesn't work weekends). Wallabies channel doesn't run super highlights as standard so I doubt they'll have them.
PhilClinton
Paul McLean (56)
Yep and I think it’s why SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) need to test an open player selection policy in the next season or so. At least see if having some All Blacks playing in OZ and visa versa moves the needle a bit in terms of viewership.
The other issue of course is there aren’t exactly players being marketed well so it may not change anything.
HogansHeros
Cyril Towers (30)
Yeah even JOC (James O'Connor) playing the last 10mins of Saders games has peaked my interest in watching 10mins of a NZ derby.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Not sure it would work. I personally don't know anyone who were Canes men who got more interested in the Blues when Beauden Barrett or Ricitelli (or even back when Nonu etc) moved up there. Same as when Jeremy Thrush, Matt Proctor (both good Canes men in past) went to Force, didn't make any difference in interest in Force etc.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
On broadcast options and how well they do it, I think Aus is really well served by Stan. I only really say that from the programme we get on Sky in NZ from Stan. I enjoy between the posts etc, while as in any rugby show I may not agree with all comments etc, but I really enjoy it, even Inside the Lines is not too bad. And there is a good number of shows following involved with the Lions from what we seeing been advertised that are on here too. So seems a huge step up from anything Foxtel did when I was there.
drewprint
Bob Davidson (42)
It’s a great idea that would work well. Create more depth and jeopardy in the competition. It would help to bring it back up to a world class comp, and more eyeballs and money flows in. Look at the NRL, it’s thriving with a similar set up. But to do so it requires NZR and RA to stop viewing Super Rugby as a mere national development tool. But archaic, backwards thinking will likely prevent this from ever happening.