http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/ot...perth-missed-out/story-fn4pw13c-1226063386848
SPORTS fans in the United States and across the world were treated to a live viewing of last night's State of Origin clash, but rugby league fans in Perth without Foxtel had to stay up until 10.30pm to see the game.
The decision by Channel 9 Perth to begin coverage of the clash five hours on delay angered the WA Rugby League organisation, which says it is at odds with the growing interest in the game here, especially in the last 12 months.
That renewed interest has placed WA in the box seat to win the 17th licence in the NRL from 2013.
But at 7.30pm last night on Channel Nine, 'David Attenborough's Elephant: A Spy in the Herd' was broadcast instead of the blockbuster NRL clash.
"The fact that we are considered to be the frontrunner to win a franchise - it's unfortunate that it is not live," said mystified WARL chief executive John Sackson yesterday.
As reported on the PerthNow iPad app last night, Sackson acknowledged the importance of the station's news programs but questioned why the game could not be shown at 7.30pm, ensuring more fans, especially families, would be able to tune in for the showcase event.
The development yesterday that film star and South Sydney Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe had orchestrated a deal with American cable sports giant Fox Sports to show all three State of Origin games live into the homes of 40 million people in the United States also baffled the WA league boss.
"No question it is one of the premier sporting events in Australia annually," Maroons fan Sackson said.
People in New Zealand, the Pacific, the United Kingdom, Canada, North Africa, parts of Asia, the Middle East and central and southern Africa were also able to tune in for live broadcasts of last night's game along with all Australian states and territories except South Australia and WA.
That arrangement will continue for the next two Origin games.
"It's extremely disappointing for many rugby league fans in WA and sports fans in general," a bewildered Sackson said.
He believed the State of Origin series was not being treated with the "respect" it deserved.
"I don't think it does Channel Nine any particular good," he said.
The delayed timeslot saw many Perth fans head to pubs or friends' houses who are able to receive the signal of Nine Network-owned and Alice Springs-based Indigenous channel Imparja - which showed it live.
What adds to Sackson's confusion is that Channel Nine Perth is owned by television magnate Bruce Gordon - who is a "big rugby league fan" - and whose company, WIN Television, has the naming rights to the home of reigning NRL premiers St George-Illawarra Dragons.
A spokesman for Channel Nine Perth said showing the State of Origin in earlier timeslots had failed in the past.
"For Nine Perth to show the State of Origin live would mean scheduling the State of Origin at 5.30pm, which would mean pre-empting Nine News and ACA," he said.
"In 2009, Nine Perth trialled showing it at 7.30pm and it did not rate very well at all. The programming of the State of Origin in a 10.30pm timeslot (9pm on WIN in regional WA) is a responsible business decision as our previous ratings figures indicate that Channel Nine’s programming will deliver Nine more viewers than the State of Origin."
Sackson hoped the new NRL would "place a lot of importance" on the development of the game in areas outside its traditional heartlands in the next TV rights deal - that begin in 2014 - to ensure local fans have the opportunity to watch Origin live in the future.
"It's very very disappointing and a bit puzzling," Sackson continued.
"It's live into America for God's sake."
The latest decision over live coverage of major sporting events comes after more than 90% of PerthNow readers indicated a preference for Channel 7 in Perth to follow their state counterparts in showing Friday night AFL football live at 5.30pm on its digital channels.
Fans will be able to log-on to PerthNow for live blog coverage of the remaining two Origin games.
