USE IT OR LOSE IT is officially dead (and other broadcast issues)

[Brutus]

Here's the transcript from the David Gallop talkback segment on 2SM today.

Nick: I just want to ask you a question regarding the coverage of Melbourne Storm games. I'm reminded of an article on the 28th of April titled "Angry Gallop Threat to 9 Use It or Lose It", it was basically about Channel 9 Melbourne's inability to broadcast, or choosing not to broadcast Melbourne Storm matches at a decent time. Now that was on the 28th of April last year, what I want to now is that why more than 13 months later nothing seems to have been done about this, despite the fact the Storm have been going scintillatingly brilliant over the last few years their fans can't even watch their team at a decent time.

Mr Gallop: Yeah they've certainly improved things and and um I guess Origin is an example of of Nine in Melbourne committing to live Origin. Ummm we ....ahhhhh... saw the start of the of the year with um Melbourne Storm actually being live... ummm... we're always pushing for it, but the fact is Channel 9 want something on on Friday night that is going to rate and ahhh we're continuing to build interest in the game but we're not quite at a point where we can expect to be in prime time.

Nick: Sorry, I'll just quickly say that in this article Mr Gallop you have said that the possibility of ABC or SBS possibly televising matches if Channel 9 wasn't able to meet that commitment.

Mr Gallop: Yeah and they are now meeting their contractual commitment. Umm of course we'd like it to be on earlier, but ahh you know it's not possible at the moment.

Graeme: Thank you Nick

 

[Stagger eel]

weak as piss...

 

[Brutus]

As good as dead.

Really, I don't think "use it or lose it" was ever alive in the first place.

 

[azza]

Gallop hasn't used his spine, so he's lost it.

 

[Billythekid]

As good as dead.

Really, I don't think "use it or lose it" was ever alive in the first place.

Agreed completely.

 

[Alehana]

ummm ahhh yeh i dont have a clue and ahhh i shouldn't be ahhh doing this job, so ummm, i'm a wan***

 

[Generalzod]

ummm ahhh yeh i dont have a clue and ahhh i shouldn't be ahhh doing this job, so ummm, i'm a wan***

His a Lawyer and can't even put a sentence together without ummmmm ahhh..what a joker.

 

[Knight87]

I hear that lawyers are supposedly good at public speaking, but after hearing all the ahhhhhhs and ummmmmmms of Gallop, I now how second thoughts on it. That is pretty mediocre for someone who use to be a professional lawyer to be speaking with such a lack of confidence.

 

[Knight87]

I mean, I do feel for the Storm fans in Melbourne. If this same restriction was applied to the Broncos fans in Brisbane, imagine how they'd feel?

 

[El Diablo]

Mr Gallop: Yeah and they are now meeting their contractual commitment

no they're not, Dave

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/fox-sports-gives-afl-a-mark/2007/05/18/1178995418201.html

However, Nine's telecast of last night's St George Illawarra versus Titans match was due to begin at 1.10am, following the movie Election, a flick about a girl bribing classmates with muffins to be elected school captain. The after-midnight start is in breach of the existing NRL contract, which says Nine must televise games in Melbourne before midnight.

http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/cgi-bi...SBANE+BRONCOS&fta=1&fox=0&opt=0&time=12.00+am

TV Show Name: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE: ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS V BRISBANE BRONCOS
Broadcast Date: Friday 6 June 2008
Channel: Free to Air / Nine
Broadcast Time: 12.00 am
Classifications: Other, NA (CC) WS
Timeslot Duration: 120 mins

 

[bartman]

What a muppet!

All I want is a CEO for the game that shows some spine in the best interests of the game. Making these media companies that rape our game to feather their own nests hold up their end of signed contract conditions would just be the start... and yet too much to expect?

 

[Nuke]

Is there a complete transcript of the radio broadcast anywhere? Being in Perth, I didn't get the chance to hear it.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Is that the genuine thing? When I saw the first post I thought it was a gee up, but everybody else seems to have heard the same dribble. That's unbelievable. What a joke.

 

[Knight87]

KeepingtheFaith, I happen to be Nick, so I know for a fact and can 100% reassure you that's the genuine excerpt from my phone call (and big thanks to Brutus for translating or recording the transcript). I consider myself lucky to get through tonight, as I know there were a lot of ppl trying to ring through who didn't get to speak to Gallop (this may be the only time I ever speak to him). Everything seemed good and rosy in the beginning when I said hello to him, but I could feel the whole mood changed when I mentioned about the "Use it or lose it" article; he started to get very nervous and squirmish, not to say the least. He DEFINITELY wasn't expecting me to mention it, thats for sure.

In case Dave wants a reminder of his so called 'threat' (or fairy words) just over a year ago, he can have a look at this:

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=170001&highlight=Nine:+Use+it+OR+lose+it

I can also 100% reassure you of something else: David Gallop isn't infalliable. He may have done some good things during his time as CEO so far, but one things for sure: the pathological lies cannot continue forever. Something's eventually going to have to give way, and I can feel the foundation stones upon which these lies were based on are starting to loosen themselves. The upcoming crisis summit in less than 3 weeks time could uncover more devious deeds and could push things further into oblivion.

However, the important thing is: all rugby league fans DESERVE to know the TRUTH! Deception is one of the worst things you could possibly do to a human being. Nobody wants to be deceived (not just with this, but in life in general). For example, if a husband commits adultery on his wife REPEATEDLY, its completely not fair on the wife to have all of his scandulous and clandestine activities swept under the carpet in the hope that no one finds out. It's just not right at all. For us League fans, we've been both DECEIVED and CHEATED bigtime. Yes, there are many great things happening in league at the moment, but at the same time, there's also a 'false front' that has been established, where there are many dark activities occuring in the background, whilst everyone has their head turned in the other direction towards the 'spindoctors'.

In 1995, the game was growing and ready to be taken to a new level, but instead, like what Judas did, we were sold for 30 pieces of silver. Issues on the 'outside' may have been solved at the conclusion of the so called 'war', but unfortunately today, there are still many repercussions, after effects and ramifications that have resulted from the initial 'Judas' activity. And whilst they still linger around, Rugby League, although it is a great game, won't be able to reach its maximum potential in Australia.

 

[bartman]

Well done there Nick ;-)

 

[Knight87]

thank you Bartman. Nice to see you back in Australia, champ!

 

[parra-matters]

Sounds like NRL didn't write up a very good contract or did nine write it for them?
Also why would news ltd want games on melb tv at prime time, then no one would sign up for their paytv just to watch the league.
Where is the accc in all this? a busniess pratice like that, forcing people to pay for something that should be on free to air.

 

[Knight87]

well parra-matters, although you have nailed certain aspects on the spot, the issues in regards to tv rights run a lot deeper than this from a long time back, years before what is now being exposed. Questions that do need to be asked are:

1) Why, in 2000 (when the tv rights post-SL expired) did the NRL reject C7 Sports bid in favour of Ch9/Foxtel, when C7 Sports bid was substantially a lot larger?

2) At the last tv rights renewal, why was Ch9 and Fox Sports allowed to renew their deals, which hence blocked Ch7 and Ch10 from being allowed to bid? (I thought in a fair market, all contestants are allowed to bid: This renewal process was in complete contrary to it)

3) Why were the World Cup 2008 rights given to Ch9 on a platter, when there had been talk of Ch7 being interested in the bids? And how much did Ch9 pay for it: Well, although it hasn't been released, I won't be surprised if it was for peanuts. Same can be said for Fox Sports

4) Why were broadband rights and major sponsorship given to Telstra on a platter (and for the relatively mediocre amount they paid), with virtually with no questions asked at all?

5) Why, although NRL consistently dominates the top of the ASTRA PayTV ratings and performs very well on FTA, is our deal nearly half that of the AFL's deal? And no, you cannot use Gallop's reasoning that its because AFL have an extra game on FTA and their coverage is an extra hour more than NRL's. That still doesn't compensate for the massive difference in prices.

I think, you'll find that it's pretty safe to say that Ch9/Foxtel/Fox Sports/Telstra/News Limited are virtually all on the same boat (each is either owned by the other or has a % share in the other). The fact that one of the callers tonight said to Gallop that Ch9 and Foxtel should be made to BID against each other, not COLLABORATE with each other (which in economics is called a Cartel (Collusive Agreement), which is illegal in a 'fair market' situation). But, that will never happen, as because what I said: They're all one of the same.

So yes, the ACCC would have a very huge and fun investigation on their hands, if they were called in to analyse the situation

 

[Calixte]

I hear that lawyers are supposedly good at public speaking, but after hearing all the ahhhhhhs and ummmmmmms of Gallop, I now how second thoughts on it. That is pretty mediocre for someone who use to be a professional lawyer to be speaking with such a lack of confidence.

As for "professional lawyers", there aren't too many amateur ones in my experience.

 

[Calixte]

Cheers on behalf of the non-Sydneysiders for sticking it to him, Nick.