While alot of the whinging about Channel 9's coverage (or lack thereof) of League is well-meaning, I think its time people started to look a little closer at the issue rather than taking the easy option and bagging the station continuously.
Most aspects of 9's coverage of the footy are contractually arranged - like the number of games they can show each weekend, and when. Often, it isn't a case of the station doing the bare minimum to satisfy fans, but rather doing what has been contractually arranged in negotiations with the NRL.
A major gripe seems to be 9's steadfast refusal to televise League interstate. Obviously, this is very frustrating for interstate fans, and for the majority of League supporters, who would love nothing more than to see TGG receive the exposure it needs in the South and West in order to grow nationally.
That said, we have to remember that 9 isn't some generous, well-meaning organisation which will selflessly offer itself up to the cause of spreading the Rugby League gospel. I wish it was, but it isn't. When Channel 9 refuses to broadcast the GF or State of Origin matches at a reasonable hour in VIC, SA and WA, its motivation is purely commercial. It is, after all, after a profit (personally, I blame capitalism). If showing reruns of Gilligan's Island instead of the football is going to attract more advertising dollars, then 9's decision to broadcast them is commercially justifiable. Sure, we might think the decision stinks, but we should see the logic in its reasoning.
We can argue, correctly, that 9 is being myopic in its refusal to assist in the development of interstate markets for league. But as far as laying the blame for the lack of League coverage, we should be looking towards Fox Studios rather than Willoughby. It is the NRL's responsibility to ensure that the game is televised appropriately, not 9's. The NRL has to drive a harder bargain next time the rights come up. If we get to the stage where grandfinals are attracting a truly national audience of 3 million, it will be due to the NRL's sucess in simultaneously creating demand in other states, and agreeing to a means by which such demand can be satisfied. Constantly blaming the station is just missing the point.
Most aspects of 9's coverage of the footy are contractually arranged - like the number of games they can show each weekend, and when. Often, it isn't a case of the station doing the bare minimum to satisfy fans, but rather doing what has been contractually arranged in negotiations with the NRL.
A major gripe seems to be 9's steadfast refusal to televise League interstate. Obviously, this is very frustrating for interstate fans, and for the majority of League supporters, who would love nothing more than to see TGG receive the exposure it needs in the South and West in order to grow nationally.
That said, we have to remember that 9 isn't some generous, well-meaning organisation which will selflessly offer itself up to the cause of spreading the Rugby League gospel. I wish it was, but it isn't. When Channel 9 refuses to broadcast the GF or State of Origin matches at a reasonable hour in VIC, SA and WA, its motivation is purely commercial. It is, after all, after a profit (personally, I blame capitalism). If showing reruns of Gilligan's Island instead of the football is going to attract more advertising dollars, then 9's decision to broadcast them is commercially justifiable. Sure, we might think the decision stinks, but we should see the logic in its reasoning.
We can argue, correctly, that 9 is being myopic in its refusal to assist in the development of interstate markets for league. But as far as laying the blame for the lack of League coverage, we should be looking towards Fox Studios rather than Willoughby. It is the NRL's responsibility to ensure that the game is televised appropriately, not 9's. The NRL has to drive a harder bargain next time the rights come up. If we get to the stage where grandfinals are attracting a truly national audience of 3 million, it will be due to the NRL's sucess in simultaneously creating demand in other states, and agreeing to a means by which such demand can be satisfied. Constantly blaming the station is just missing the point.
