SL next tv deal

[Perth Red]

It’s now been made official that a new Super League streaming platform will be in place come the start of next season, with the plans of how every game is going to be broadcast becoming a little clearer.

First reported by Love Rugby League back in July, Sky Sports and RL Commercial announced a three-year extension to their rights deal in October, running until the end of the 2026 season.

That new deal – dubbed ‘transformational’ will see every Super League game broadcast live, meaning there will be a video referee in place at all six games in every round of fixtures.

In a press release sent around this morning on the back of the fixture release, it’s now been confirmed that the six games will be split between Sky Sports and a new streaming platform, described as ‘Sky Sports and Rugby League’s own’.

It’s not yet known whether any other broadcasters will hold rights to show Super League live in 2024. Channel 4 have done so for the past two years, and RL Commercial Director Rhodri Jones told Love Rugby League in an exclusive interview earlier this year that they wanted games to continue being screened on free-to-air television.

“For the first 15 rounds of the season, with the exception of Rivals Round, Sky Sports subscribers will have exclusive access to two matches per week.

“The remaining four matches of each round will be shown live on Sky Sports and Rugby League’s own streaming platform – with further details to be announced early in the New Year.

“As in previous years, Sky Sports will make exclusive selections from Round 16 and beyond as the season progresses, which will include a number of additional Thursday night fixtures.”

From what we understand, the new streaming platform will operate in a similar fashion to OurLeague. If the game they wish to watch isn’t chosen as an ‘exclusive’ live fixture and accordingly isn’t shown on Sky Sports’ main channels, supporters will be able to pay a fee to watch that specific game.

Super League broadcast plans for 2024 become clearer as new streaming platform is confirmed

A new Super League streaming platform will be in place for the 2024 season, with plans of how every game is going to be broadcast becoming a little clearer.

www.loverugbyleague.com

 

[Wb1234]

Its unclear at this point.
There's two schools of thought
1. RFL took less money as Sky offered to produce all games and a streaming service that RFL would then get revenue from the ons ales from
2. Sky stiffed the game again and offered less and got a lot more content. It will depend Id say on if RFL have the rights to on-sell the streaming service and games to a FTA provider.

It that is the case then its not such a bad deal. 2mill less for every game produced and ability to on-sell.

3. Sky offered ten percent less but got access to every game each week not one or two and this killed off fta interest

 

[Harry O]

its rugby league, last minute is our thing!

So they'll decide a day before???? lmao.....
Anyway, why not play it somewhere else in the world to promote it? If the NRL can take the double header to Vegas then we can take the WCC elsewhere also

 

[Wb1234]

Pokie dens

 

[Foreign Legion]

hope all games are on KAYO!

 

[yakstorm]

The problem Super League has had with only ever showing 2-3 games a week is its never been able to prove that the value of these extra games is greater than the cost to broadcast them.

Sky's offer would be based upon the assumption that the additional 104 games they need cover the broadcasting costs for are unlikely to break even, which unsurprisingly would bring down the cash component of their offer, even though their total investment in RL is possibly larger.

It's a shame the RFL waited until now to take this plunge. If they had done it earlier, they would have at least been able to prove value around these extra matches.

Anyway, the RFL arguably has up to 4 games a week for nothing which they can monetise, either through streaming or on selling. They also will be able to use this extra content go help boost their international deals, ie. It's a lot easier to get a French broadcaster when you can give them a feed of every Catalans game.

 

[Wb1234]

The problem Super League has had with only ever showing 2-3 games a week is its never been able to prove that the value of these extra games is greater than the cost to broadcast them.

Sky's offer would be based upon the assumption that the additional 104 games they need cover the broadcasting costs for are unlikely to break even, which unsurprisingly would bring down the cash component of their offer, even though their total investment in RL is possibly larger.

It's a shame the RFL waited until now to take this plunge. If they had done it earlier, they would have at least been able to prove value around these extra matches.

Anyway, the RFL arguably has up to 4 games a week for nothing which they can monetise, either through streaming or on selling. They also will be able to use this extra content go help boost their international deals, ie. It's a lot easier to get a French broadcaster when you can give them a feed of every Catalans game.

They were worried about the impact on crowds

 

[Wb1234]

 

[Perth Red]

The BBC and Channel 4 are battling it out to secure Super League's free-to-air coverage next season. Rugby League Live understands the two broadcasters are in talks with Rugby League Commercial and a decision is set to be made in the next four weeks.

For the last two seasons, it has been Channel 4 who took the unprecedented stride of showing Super League on terrestrial television, with their coverage earning praise. While they are interested in continuing that partnership, they now face competition from the BBC who are looking to expand their coverage of the sport beyond their long-standing Challenge Cup programming and showcasing of the international game.


Officials are understood to have been updated during last week's Council meeting with Rugby League Commercial said to be 'positive' about landing a deal with one of the broadcasters ahead of the new season. It's unclear what the financial package for the coverage looks like but having two companies in the mix is seen as a positive from a negotiation standpoint.

Super League coverage is set to take a historical step next year, with every single game to be broadcast. Every match in the opening 15 rounds of the season will be shown on Sky Sports while a new streaming app will be launched in 2024 providing supporters with further access to games.

But as part of the new arrangement with Sky, a selection of games can also be broadcast on free-to-air television and that has now become the focus as the new season approaches.


Sky Sports will get the first two picks of every round before the free-to-air broadcaster gets their selection. As part of the new broadcast deal, there will be video referees at every match.

Broadcasting giants battle it out for Super League's free-to-air coverage

The two companies both want to show Super League games next season.

www.hulldailymail.co.uk

 

[Perth Red]

Beeb would give more viewers but the production would be horrible as they do everything on the cheap and very much would push RL out for other sports priorities.

IMG own Ch4 so wouldnt be a stretch to see them win it and they did a great job last 2 seasons producing the games.

Id be more happy to see it stay with ch4. American Football interest in UK was very much built on Ch4's first coverage in the early 80's.

 

[Wb1234]

Beeb would give more viewers but the production would be horrible as they do everything on the cheap and very much would push RL out for other sports priorities.

IMG own Ch4 so wouldnt be a stretch to see them win it and they did a great job last 2 seasons producing the games.

Id be more happy to see it stay with ch4. American Football interest in UK was very much built on Ch4's first coverage in the early 80's.

BBC have challlenve cup

maybe having two fta broadcasters is good for reach

maybe consolidating under one roof is good for consistency

 

[RL The greatest game]

BBC to 'show live sport on Saturday nights from February' after 'outbidding C4'

BBC SPORT are set to screen live rugby league on Saturday nights for the first time after reportedly landing a bumper three-year deal. The national broadcaster even pipped Channel 4 to the rights i…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[Perth Red]

Hmmm, Ch4 did a great job presenting the game and was really hoping theyd not only keep it but get more games. BBC has looked down its nose at RL since forever, all those London union toffs at Auntie. not even sure why it'd want it. They've turned the CC showpiece comp into a farce over the years.

 

[yakstorm]

Daily Mail is saying BBC has won the FTA rights which includes:
- Min. 12 Super League matches on BBC2
- World Club Challenge
- 2 Finals matches

Throw in the 7 Challenge Cup games and that's 22 games on FTA. There is also scope for BBC to stream some additional matches.

Whilst C4s production is superior, having 18+ weekend's with RL coverage in the season on the same channel & able to cross promote, etc, makes it far easier to build an audience, which is what the code needs.

 

[Wb1234]

Daily Mail is saying BBC has won the FTA rights which includes:
- Min. 12 Super League matches on BBC2
- World Club Challenge
- 2 Finals matches

Throw in the 7 Challenge Cup games and that's 22 games on FTA. There is also scope for BBC to stream some additional matches.

Whilst C4s production is superior, having 18+ weekend's with RL coverage in the season on the same channel & able to cross promote, etc, makes it far easier to build an audience, which is what the code needs.

Good result

 

[RL The greatest game]

Super League confirm new media partners for 2024 - Serious About Rugby League

On a day in which it’s been reported that BBC are set to air Super League games there’s also been an update from Super League themselves around a new streaming platform partner. Earlier Mail Sport reported that the BBC were set to broadcast 12 games a season for the next three seasons in a new […]

www.seriousaboutrl.com

 

[yakstorm]

New Super League streaming service has been announced, Super League+

Super League+ will have all 6 games a week and offer Annual, Monthly and per Game streaming options. Sky Sports will also broadcast all 6 games a week on their primary channels for the first 15 rounds, before 4 matches are moved to Sky Sport's new streaming service.

 

[Perth Red]

Super League's new streaming service will launch next week as the competition embarks on a new era of broadcasting. 'Super League+' will be launched on January 23rd, with the service providing supporters with the ability to watch every single game without needing a Sky Sports subscription.

Every match will be broadcast next year, with Sky Sports footing the production bill. For the first 15 rounds of the season, every game will be shown on Sky Sports, but rugby league fanatics can alternatively buy a subscription to the competition's new platform, which will give them the ability to watch every game, every week, for the entire season.

Providing further insight on the platform, Rugby League Commercial's Managing Director, Rhodri Jones, said: "It will be a subscription platform, similar to Netflix. You'll be able to buy an annual pass, a monthly pass or a game pay-per-view pass. In effect, the six games a weekend, two games are exclusively for Sky Sports. Let's, for example, say a Thursday night and one game on a Friday night. If there are other games on the same night, that game will be available on Super League+. If you are a Sky Sports subscriber, you are also able to watch that game via a Sky Sports platform.

"In the first 15 rounds, it has been commented and noticed that all games will sit on the front channels of Sky Sports, that's because there's no streaming platform owned by Sky Sports. That is in development and the aspiration from their perspective is to get that ready for the new EFL season in August.

So there's a bit of a lag there for rugby league. After round 15, two matches will stay on the front channels and the other four will disappear onto the Sky Sports streaming platform. In terms of Super Legaue+, we'll launch on the 23rd; you can buy immediately at that point; there are over 250 pieces of archive uploaded onto the system, so it will be a proper subscription service."

It means that the new subscription platform is looking to attract the same audience as Sky itself. There is a possibility that the two platforms are essentially in competition but Jones said: "Modern-day sport, modern-day competition. You could argue there's conflict, equally Sky Sports is producing more games and delivering more content to their audience as well. There's a world where both can exist.

Our pricing will be very much akin to other competitions. The competition and market, namely around Netflix and monthly. Sky, I would say, is a more considered purchase. In my household, it's £130 a month. We're clearly not going to be that expensive. There's a place for both."

Super League streaming platform launch date and name confirmed as new era lands

The new subscription service will provide access to every Super League game.

www.hulldailymail.co.uk

 

[Perth Red]

Be interesting to see if streaming service is available overseas

 

[yakstorm]

It's a shame that Sky will revert to only 2 games on their traditional broadcasting channels from Round 16 onwards, the extra games going to streaming will mean it's less likely for casual audiences to stumble across and watch SL.

I'm not sure if it was a condition the RFL pushed to help drive people towards SL+, but if it is, you'd hope they'd reverse that restriction, especially as it won't impact SL+ subscriptions (which will either be RL supporters who currently have Sky, but don't watch anything else on Sky, or RL fans who don't want to pay for a full Sky Sports subscription)