Goddo
Bench
- Messages
- 4,257
Decision will hinge on TV rights, and which locations bring the best financial return - something some here have been in denial about for years.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-for-league-20120526-1zbou.html#ixzz1w1pMXFI1
Any comment Red&blackbear? You were very vocal in denying that location and TV rights would be determining factors over the last 2-3 years.
Perhaps the most interesting insights into the commission's plans for the game revolve around expansion, an issue inextricably linked to the ongoing broadcast-rights deal negotiations.
''We thank for your interest. But I wouldn't spend any more money if I were them yet,'' was Grant's message to prospective franchises. ''There's consideration now about the number of teams that will now form discussions with the broadcasters. Wait and see. I can't be more specific than that. If something firm did come out about the benefit of extra games in the broadcast discussions, we would need to make the decisions with the broadcasters about where they can extract value.
''That would start to narrow locations for teams
''At the conclusion of [negotiations] there will be clarity around expansion choices for the game.''
Prospective franchises were hoping to enter the competition next year although 2015 appears more realistic. Grant said: ''We haven't formed a view on that The simple bottom line is if we can't get an uplift in broadcast rights for extra games, why would we do it when we've got all the other issues to deal with existing clubs?''
The commission is in negotiations with the Seven and Ten networks after incumbent rights holders Nine and Fox Sports tabled their first offers. Grant said the initial discussions had centred around a competition comprising eight games a week, although this would change as talks progress. ''I'm also not going to say that we're not going to expand the number of teams over a period of time,'' Grant said. ''But we've got to remember there was never any soliciting of this from the game's point of view, but we welcome it It would be very difficult for us to sit here and contemplate expansion if we had no expressions of interest to deal with.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-for-league-20120526-1zbou.html#ixzz1w1pMXFI1
Any comment Red&blackbear? You were very vocal in denying that location and TV rights would be determining factors over the last 2-3 years.