2024 TV and Streaming Ratings Discussion

[The_Wookie]

It would be interesting to see some crowd and viewership figures for Big Bash Cricket.

It was the hottest ticket in town and must watch TV, then they got greedy and extended the season and crowds and tv audience plummeted. More isn’t always better.

The current England v Samoa has been reduced to 2 games, they have had a big rise in crowds and tv audience from last years 3 Test series. Less is more.

The theory with shortening the NRL season is you’d get a rise in attendance and tv viewers, and so a shorter season wouldn’t negatively effect the tv deals.

The most successful completion on the planet plays only 16 games, why haven’t the NFL increased their season to 24 games ?

The risk is -

Can you cut 8-10 rounds worth of matches (64 games) at around 600k each (more than 38 million viewers), 16 of them in prime time and expect that to be made up with some internationals.

Can you cut 8-10 rounds of matches without killing of 1m+ in attendance. Also affects memberships and season ticketing.

Its a little hard to believe that a league which currently is goig nuts for expansion, at least in the belief that more games = more revenue, will suddenly cut 1/4 to 1/3rd of a season.

 

[Wb1234]

The risk is -

Can you cut 8-10 rounds worth of matches (64 games) at around 600k each (more than 38 million viewers), 16 of them in prime time and expect that to be made up with some internationals.

Can you cut 8-10 rounds of matches without killing of 1m+ in attendance. Also affects memberships and season ticketing.

Its a little hard to believe that a league which currently is goig nuts for expansion, at least in the belief that more games = more revenue, will suddenly cut 1/4 to 1/3rd of a season.

Cutting 20 percent in content would be a disaster for the nrl

It would hand afl sporting dominance

 

[Frank Burge]

At 20 teams if we put everyone in a group of 4 and they play each other twice and everyone else once that’s 22 games per team and allows plenty of rivalry games, if we also do 3 split rounds for origin allows for a in season bye totals 220 games + finals which will probably go to 10 teams ,so still a 30 week comp inc finals with 2 less games for the players

 

[Billythekid]

The risk is -

Can you cut 8-10 rounds worth of matches (64 games) at around 600k each (more than 38 million viewers), 16 of them in prime time and expect that to be made up with some internationals.

Can you cut 8-10 rounds of matches without killing of 1m+ in attendance. Also affects memberships and season ticketing.

Its a little hard to believe that a league which currently is goig nuts for expansion, at least in the belief that more games = more revenue, will suddenly cut 1/4 to 1/3rd of a season.

I think it’s a complicated discussion. Firstly how much of the season do you actuallly cut? If it’s 8-10 rounds than yeah I think that’s going to be a hard sell but as mentioned above it may only be cutting down by 2-4 rounds. I don’t think it’s going to be an easy sell to just replace that with something international games.

I do think that the growing popularity of WNRL, the potential for more emphasis on international games as well as the increased weekly content due to expansion can help offset that or even be a net gain if the international game really takes off.

The big question is just how much growth could we see if we actually make this change and heavily promote the international game. If we can reach the point where kangaroos games rate more like a finals game rather than a regular season NRL game. It’s a gamble to be sure and one a risk averse NRL may not be likely to take but it’s worth a discussion.

Edit: Another potential benefit of growing the international game is that it has the potential to rate well nationally which is something both codes struggle with outside of finals.

Cutting 20 percent in content would be a disaster for the nrl

It would hand afl sporting dominance

No doubt. Same reason the NBA and MLB dominate the NFL.

The international game has absolutely been left to rot in this country and the ratings reflect that (the move away from FTA hasn’t helped). This does highlight the potential though, those were significant ratings and it’s not like the international game was treated super well back the either.

 

[Wb1234]

I think it’s a complicated discussion. Firstly how much of the season do you actuallly cut? If it’s 8-10 rounds than yeah I think that’s going to be a hard sell but as mentioned above it may only be cutting down by 2-4 rounds. I don’t think it’s going to be an easy sell to just replace that with something international games.

I do think that the growing popularity of WNRL, the potential for more emphasis on international games as well as the increased weekly content due to expansion can help offset that or even be a net gain if the international game really takes off.

The big question is just how much growth could we see if we actually make this change and heavily promote the international game. If we can reach the point where kangaroos games rate more like a finals game rather than a regular season NRL game. It’s a gamble to be sure and one a risk averse NRL may not be likely to take but it’s worth a discussion.

Edit: Another potential benefit of growing the international game is that it has the potential to rate well nationally which is something both codes struggle with outside of finals.

No doubt. Same reason the NBA and MLB dominate the NFL.

The international game has absolutely been left to rot in this country and the ratings reflect that (the move away from FTA hasn’t helped). This does highlight the potential though, those were significant ratings and it’s not like the international game was treated super well back the either.

They would need to play 25 test matches to cover for the loss in ratings from clubs games

 

[Billythekid]

They would need to play 25 test matches to cover for the loss in ratings from clubs games

I don’t think that’s true at all.

 

[Wb1234]

I don’t think that’s true at all.

Each club round generates around five million viewers

Taking out five rounds is 25 million viewers

Australia v Tonga got 900k viewers and Australia v nz less

Its a good idea in theory and the nrl simply can’t afford to do it

 

[Frank Burge]

I think everyone is forgetting that the Aud NZ test was on Sunday afternoon and almost cracked 1m with9/fox that is qtr finals numbers. Also if there is less nrl content maybe more people will tune in for the internationals . But I think 22 club games over 24 rounds is the way to go 27 weeks is a long season and when your team isn’t going well you tune out anyway

 

[Perth Red]

Each club round generates around five million viewers

Taking out five rounds is 25 million viewers

Australia v Tonga got 900k viewers and Australia v nz less

Its a good idea in theory and the nrl simply can’t afford to do it

you're forgetting with 20 clubs we have two extra games a round. in a 21 round season thats 42 extra games a season.

If 8 games generates 25mil a round then 10 games generates 6.25mill a round. Basically the total would be the same but you add on more Int games and interest and its still ahead.

20 club, 21 game season works best imo. 10 home games, 1 magic weekend.

 

[Wb1234]

you're forgetting with 20 clubs we have two extra games a round. in a 21 round season thats 42 extra games a season.

If 8 games generates 25mil a round then 10 games generates 6.25mill a round. Basically the total would be the same but you add on more Int games and interest and its still ahead.

20 club, 21 game season works best imo. 10 home games, 1 magic weekend.

So add 3 teams but still have less content than now and expect to get a tv deal to match or beat your afl mates ?

No chance

 

[Perth Red]

So add 3 teams but still have less content than now and expect to get a tv deal to match or beat your afl mates ?

No chance

It isnt less content than now.
Going to a 21 round season you'd lose 24 games (from current total >8 games x 3 rounds)
and gain 42 (2 games x 21 rounds) + more internationals.
You could even add an extra week of finals and have a top 10 play off if need be.
So you'd be 18 extra NRl games up plus say 2 more international weekends of 3 games a weekend.
Total increase 24 games a year or approx 1.7million viewers extra. You'd also be hoping less content means more people tuning in, ie the NFL mentality.

 

[Wb1234]

It isnt less content than now.
Going to a 21 round season you'd lose 24 games (from current total >8 games x 3 rounds)
and gain 42 (2 games x 21 rounds) + more internationals.
You could even add an extra week of finals and have a top 10 play off if need be.
So you'd be 18 extra NRl games up plus say 2 more international weekends of 3 games a weekend.
Total increase 24 games a year or approx 1.7million viewers extra. You'd also be hoping less content means more people tuning in, ie the NFL mentality.

The proposal was 19 rounds

 

[Perth Red]

The proposal was 19 rounds

yeh I think that's too few. 21 seems a good compromise position. 10 home games enough to generate gameday revenue and scarcity maybe driving up attendance. Gives 18 extra NRL games a season for TV content increase. Opens up 3 more weekends for International competitions of worth.

 

[Wb1234]

yeh I think that's too few. 21 seems a good compromise position. 10 home games enough to generate gameday revenue and scarcity maybe driving up attendance. Gives 18 extra NRL games a season for TV content increase. Opens up 3 more weekends for International competitions of worth.

Two less home games per club won’t be good either

 

[taste2taste]

RLPA CEO Clint Newton was on SEN radio this arvo saying 22 games is their preferred number.

Less injuries, better recover time, better quality games, better quality product to attract fans and sell to broadcasters.

SEN have put the full interview on thier YouTube channel.

 

[Wb1234]

RLPA CEO Clint Newton was on SEN radio this arvo saying 22 games is their preferred number.

Less injuries, better recover time, better quality games, better quality product to attract fans and sell to broadcasters.

SEN have put the full interview on thier YouTube channel.

Two less games per club but an expanded finals series with a 20 team comp would be ok for going to broadcasters

 

[Diesel]

If we go to 20 teams, we don’t have to be playing 10 games for the entire 22 weeks (RLPA preferred number). 2 teams can have a bye some weeks

 

[Perth Red]

Two less home games per club won’t be good either

not from club revenue point of view, but thats where a grant increase can sweeten the pot.

End of day there is a limit to what can be played, you either reduce games in the belief quality improves and fan interest increases for entirety of a shorter season and put effort into growing interest in an extended Int RL season, stay same and keep the status quo which leaves little time for growth of Int Rl, or increase in the belief more club games is better and give up on Int RL.

 

[Wb1234]

not from club revenue point of view, but thats where a grant increase can sweeten the pot.

End of day there is a limit to what can be played, you either reduce games in the belief quality improves and fan interest increases for entirety of a shorter season and put effort into growing interest in an extended Int RL season, stay same and keep the status quo which leaves little time for growth of Int Rl, or increase in the belief more club games is better and give up on Int RL.

Stopping the nrl for four weeks to play origin achieves the same result with no loss of content

Indeed if they retain the current origin schedule without stopping the nrl player fatigue will hardly improve especially for the elite players

 

[Iamback]

yeh I think that's too few. 21 seems a good compromise position. 10 home games enough to generate gameday revenue and scarcity maybe driving up attendance. Gives 18 extra NRL games a season for TV content increase. Opens up 3 more weekends for International competitions of worth.

You say these extra weeks but the ESL won't move. So just results in pre season starting later