The best way to improvre coverage would be to sign a 3year FTA only TV deal next time around and let Fox spend 3 years without NRL subscribers. They would come back on hands and knees and give us whatever we wanted.
Ok, well the ABC and SBS aren't bidding. Ten can't afford to and is likely to close its digital sports Channel anyway. Seven just spent all their money and handed over time slots to the AFL, so no chance of national coverage even if they put in meagre bid.
That leaves channel 9. So as long as we are all cool with 9 having the rights to every game........sweet.
Remember, this is a bidding process. If only 9 can make a serious bid then the game is going to be bent so far over a barrel that the days when fans were saying "this is what we demand in a new TV deal" will be a laughable and distant memory.
If 9 are the only people that seriously sit at the negotiating table then what do you think will happen? Worse still, what if 9 is the only broadcaster considered by the NRL? By saying we need a 3 year FTA only deal, you are basically saying that you want 9 to have exclusive rights.
Might also give the AFL a 3 year head start on grabbing a Foxtel foothold and on any emerging media too.
