The international status: ESL v NRL

[clarency]

Canada gets first ever Rugby League only TV Show

http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10111

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – May 19th, 2011 – Canada Rugby League proudly announces it has partnered with Setanta Sports to bring The Rugby League Show to Canadians. The program will feature Engage Super League, Carnegie Challenge Cup, and the news and notes concerning the Team Canada Wolverines and Canada Rugby League.

I don't want to take away from this being good news, but why no mention of the NRL? Assuming they are a better league (I imagine most would agree) they would provide a better means of promotion for the sport in Canada.

Or maybe it's entirely a matter of the ESL approaching them, making ties with CRL teams, with NRL giving in no effort at all.

I'd say it's the latter, I just hate admitting how incompetent the NRL can be sometimes.

 

[yakstorm]

I think you'll find it's to do with the broadcast rights and the CRL's ties with English clubs. NRL has been on Setanta Canada since last season, ESL only came on this year.

As the ESL deal was done at the same time as the Canada RL TV show was negotiated with the CRL playing a role in the negotiations, considerations for providing highlights, and programming content were all included as part of the three way deal.

The NRL deal on the other hand was based around just the full match replays (minimum 5 per week), and was done between just Setanta and the NRL, hence why the content isn't available to the CRL. I'm sure if the RL show takes off Setanta will be open to either including the CRL in the deal, or renegotiating the contract, but ultimately it's just a case of timing that has lead to the current scenario.

If the CRL had popped up in early 2009 instead of 2010, this potentially would be quite a different scenario.

Added to that, you can argue that because 3 of the 4 Ontario based clubs all have British connections (Salford, St Helens and Leigh), there is value in highlighting that content.

 

[Evil Homer]

ESL will not have approached anybody. Neither Super League nor the NRL have any requirement to do such a thing, it's a Canadian initiative and you can't criticise the NRL at all here. To be honest, I'm not sure why people feel the need for such Australian influence all the time in RL. Yes, they may be the strongest nation, but it's not an Australian sport. Even in Britain, you get people constantly talking about 'replicating Origin' and 'competing with the Aussies', it almost seems like that is the whole focus of the sport at times. Without wanting to state the obvious, the domination that Australia have had is a real stigma on the game, and so the more countries that develop without an Australian orientation the better IMO. Good on Canada, the progress they are making is great to see.

 

[roughyedspud]

Even in Britain, you get people constantly talking about 'replicating Origin' and 'competing with the Aussies', it almost seems like that is the whole focus of the sport at times. .

to paraphrase the great bill shankly.....beating australia is'nt a matter of life or death...its much more important than that ;-)



back on topic though...i feel that the ARL & RFL should practically give away tv rights to developing RL markets.....i'd also like the RLIF to get TWI (trans world international)to produce a monthly tv magazine world RL show

 

[clarency]

To be honest, I'm not sure why people feel the need for such Australian influence all the time in RL. Yes, they may be the strongest nation, but it's not an Australian sport.

It seems that people tend to pair "strongest nation" with the origin of the game. Go into fight club and see people arguing it's international status based on its presense outside of Australia.

The advantage I can see here (IMO) is that with more ESL focus from other developing countries will lead to the adoption of their rules. I've always preferred ESL rugby league to NRL rugby league.

back on topic though...i feel that the ARL & RFL should practically give away tv rights to developing RL markets.....i'd also like the RLIF to get TWI (trans world international)to produce a monthly tv magazine world RL show

Always thought the same. Seems a standard win/win. Developing nation grows with RL. Increased interest leads to demand. Demand leads to payment for NRL.

Don't know why it's not going ahead.

 

[juro]

ESL will not have approached anybody. Neither Super League nor the NRL have any requirement to do such a thing, it's a Canadian initiative and you can't criticise the NRL at all here. To be honest, I'm not sure why people feel the need for such Australian influence all the time in RL. Yes, they may be the strongest nation, but it's not an Australian sport. Even in Britain, you get people constantly talking about 'replicating Origin' and 'competing with the Aussies', it almost seems like that is the whole focus of the sport at times. Without wanting to state the obvious, the domination that Australia have had is a real stigma on the game, and so the more countries that develop without an Australian orientation the better IMO. Good on Canada, the progress they are making is great to see.

Sure, the NRL and ESL don't have any requirement to do anything, but is it too much to ask for them to think outside their boxes and be proactive? Investing in these other markets could lead to very handy future revenue growth.

 

[Jankuloski]

I'm sorry, but saying ESL, or to be more to the point, the RFL haven't approached anyone sounds funny.

If we look at the international development, ie Jamaica and Canada you'll see ties with RFL.. I'm sorry, even if RFL is not setting up clubs, they're still helping them.. Seems more than we can say for RLIF..