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ARLC Commission Changes

Canard

Immortal
Messages
35,614
I suggest you read Roy Master's comments yesterday on SMH.com.au on the $150m for the digital rights strategy.He calls it a smart investment, because ch10 is up the famous creek without a paddle,ch9 is losing money and wants to back off paying big money fro cricket rights, and ch7 is also not in a good position.Advertising money is down, sport's Tv ratings are down.We and a small but competitive market.
If people think TV stations are going to throw money around next time, they are kidding themselves.So the $500m pa could well drop with no back up alternative.
IOW I suggest the ARLC have a fair idea what the next 10 years will look like, and it will be a far different landscape.Hence the need for better stadiums and digital strategy.whilst I think the NRL at times lose the plot, on this I think they are thinking ahead.

Isn't the flip side of your argument that its a bad time to be get involved in broadcasting??
 

taipan

Referee
Messages
22,500
Isn't the flip side of your argument that its a bad time to be get involved in broadcasting??

Sure ,there's always a flip side to any thing of this nature.
Not if the TV stations want to pay peanuts,and pay much less than the $1.9bn Tv deal from 2023.Not if we are down to just two Tv stations, meaning less competitive tension.
Who knows what the lie of the land will be from 2023.The current stats suggest more and more people are watching less Tv and using other devices.
What do you do, still rely on the old TV set up.which may become just like landlines?Any sport needs to get their "product" out to the masses, else get left behind.
 
Messages
15,488
The following article was published in today's Sydney Morning Herald -

May 25 2017 - 5:53AM

It's time for either John Grant or Todd Greenberg to go
by Andrew Webster
There's an old saying in rugby league that nothing good happens after midnight. It usually relates to the players.

ARL Commission chairman John Grant was in good spirits in the sports bar at The Star well after midnight on Monday night as Blues players past and present mixed with officials, sponsors and reporters following the True Blues function.

Grant was among the last to leave. At 2.45am, he fired off an email to all 16 club chairs and the rest of the commission smacking down chief executive Todd Greenberg in a manner that surely makes either man's job untenable.

For the good of the game, one of them must go. The pair come face to face at a commission meeting in Sydney on Thursday.

Grant sent his email ahead of a meeting on Tuesday with club chairs who were angry about yet another meeting the week before when Greenberg and chief financial officer Tony Crawford told club chief executives the NRL was short on cash and would struggle to give them all of their $13 million in funding next year.

In the email, which Fairfax Media has obtained, Grant doesn't so much throw Greenberg under the bus as reverse back over him.

Like a mother berating her naughty toddler in a crowded shopping centre, Grant writes the "proposal regarding alleviation of the NRL's short-term cash flow requirements understandably caused concern, including within the Commission".

In other words, he didn't know about it.

He then adds that commissioner Tony McGrath will now provide "direct oversight" over Greenberg and Crawford as they try to make the numbers work.

Then comes this final jab at Greenberg: "Separately, the Commission will meet with Todd to understand why this issue arose and discuss the steps needed to ensure future executive actions that relate to the Deed receive the appropriate oversight and consideration by the Commission."

Just on the basis of that sentence alone, many self-respecting chief executives would tell Grant to shove something large somewhere small, pack up the office and leave the building.

In other words, we'll be checking their homework from now on.

Greenberg has established a reputation as being the best politician in the game. He can't condemn his chairman publicly, but the worst kept secret in the game is that the chairman and the chief executive are not getting on.

He has every right to be angry because Greenberg and Crawford are trying to make Grant's decision to cave in to a club funding model work when clearly the NRL cannot afford it.

Several reliable and well-placed NRL sources say that both Greenberg and Crawford told Grant the game could not afford to give clubs an annual grant of 130 per cent on player payments ($13 million based on a $10 million salary cap) from 2018.

Sources say they told him in December 3, 2015, when a memorandum of understanding was first drawn up, and then just before Christmas last year after Grant reneged on the deal in November before backflipping weeks later, which saved his position.

As for last week's proposal to cut club funding by $1 million next year because of the game's cash flow problems, Grant has said he knew cash flow was an issue but didn't know of the final figure. Others in the NRL find this hard to believe.

While this is all very titillating for those behind the scenes, especially after midnight in the sports bar at The Star, the poor old fans out there are shaking their heads at the madness playing out before them from the people assigned to run the game.

Some don't really care as long as their footy comes on at the right time, but others take a broader view and they are growing angry at an independent commission that was supposed to rid rugby league of self-interest when it was formed five years ago: the self-interest of half-owner News Corp; of the old blazer wearers of the ARL; of clubs that have more sway than others.

Whether the perception is correct or not, they now believe Grant is more interested in survival than anything else, blindly holding on so he can present the trophy at the World Cup when it's held here at the end of the year.

Grant scoffs at this. He also believes that the angry minority – a few disenchanted club chairmen – is getting smaller.

To some extent, that's true, but expected when the NRL owns two clubs (the Knights and Titans) and has pumped money into two more (the Tigers and Dragons).

Other club chairmen remain bemused that Storm owner Bart Campbell, once their nominated representative, has become passive in the cut and thrust of funding discussions.

While this happens, questions remained unanswered about why the game that has put together two record broadcast deals has a $60 million black hole in its budget. They have committed $100 million to "grassroots" footy, but won't say where it's going. They have committed $150 million to a digital strategy that's yet to be explained.

What's clear, though, is that Grant's time is up in February next year, we can expect more meetings, more showdowns, more brinkmanship, more emails.

Grant did not want to talk when contacted but he has told others he didn't send his email about Greenberg at 2.45am. He'd sent it earlier in the day but for some reason it didn't go through until the wee small hours of Tuesday.
 

insert.pause

First Grade
Messages
6,461
Smith left because of Murdoch politics. And who cares if Greenburg cant handle working with Grant....Toddy is a shocker & doesnt deserve to be there.
It was widely reported that Smith & Grant were butting heads, primarily over club funding! Coincidence? And like the latest club funding bungle where Grant threw Greenberg & Crawford under the bus, he did the same thing with Smith and the TV deal, despite the commission having to have signed off on it. The guy is a coward.
 

El Diablo

Post Whore
Messages
94,107
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/d3d17ea1ff5c6a2a24736073fbf08bf0

ARL boss John Grant’s 2:45am rant over funding slammed by clubs
PHIL ROTHFIELD, The Daily Telegraph
May 25, 2017 11:28am

ARL Commission chairman John Grant’s desperate 2.45am pitch to save his job by blaming NRL boss Todd Greenberg has been labelled “an absolute disgrace”.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a copy of the email titled “CBA — Media Release & Discussion Points” that Grant sent to all 16 NRL club chairman in the early hours of Tuesday.

Greenberg, along with the ARL commissioners, were copied into the late-night email. One club chair said Grant’s extraordinary email was a blatant attempt to hold Greenberg and the NRL’s chief financial officer Tony Crawford responsible for last week’s mishandled club funding negotiations.

“I can’t believe the commission chairman would email all us of at 2.45am in the morning. It’s an absolute disgrace,” one club chair told The Daily Telegraph.

Another club official who has seen the email said: “He (Grant) doesn’t take personal responsibility for anything. Where is the leadership the game so desperately needs.”

Earlier on Monday night, Grant attended the NSW Rugby League’s gala Hall of Fame dinner at The Star in Sydney, where rumours quickly circulated of a new coup to bring down the commission chairman.

96f86aeb91a03add3a036faf17a5f6aa


Grant was questioned about his shaky future at the dinner before he left around midnight to return to his hotel to fire off the email.

The NRL club chairs had a telephone hook-up scheduled for 1.30pm on Tuesday to discussed the funding crisis, constitutional reform and Grant’s tenure.

Grant’s email also informed the club chairs he was launching an internal inquiry into last week’s embarrassing revelations that the game has a significant cashflow problem and the clubs would no longer received the $13 million-a-season funding as promised.

Grant claims the commission was not properly informed of the new funding proposal that Greenberg and Crawford put forward to the clubs to take into account the game’s $50 million cash black hole.

“Our team’s proposal regarding alleviation of the NRL’s short-term cash flow requirements understandably caused concern, including within the Commission,” Grant wrote.

Grant has appointed ARLC commissioner Tony McGrath to now provide “direct oversight” of the troubled club funding negotiations, effectively sidelining Greenberg.

“We have asked Tony McGrath to provide direct oversight of the process Todd is leading,” Grant said.

Greenberg and Grant will come face-to-face today at a commission meeting in Sydney.

Grant’s email made it clear his CEO has a lot of explaining to do.

“Separately the Commission will meet with Todd to understand why this issue arose and discuss the steps needed to ensure future executive actions that relate to the Deed receive the appropriate oversight and consideration by the Commission,” he wrote.

However, sources have told The Daily Telegraph that members of Greenberg’s executive raised concerns with Grant last December that the club funding model was unsustainable for next year.
 

Stormwarrior82

Juniors
Messages
1,036
It was widely reported that Smith & Grant were butting heads, primarily over club funding! Coincidence? And like the latest club funding bungle where Grant threw Greenberg & Crawford under the bus, he did the same thing with Smith and the TV deal, despite the commission having to have signed off on it. The guy is a coward.

Widely reported by who? News ltd? Smh? They seem legit and trustworthy. Do always believe them? Now I'm sure they have had a difference in opinion on some things. But to generate a "butting heads" agenda only undermines any positive things that could be happening.

Have you read the email that Grant sent? It's hardly throwing anyone under the bus. The email was obviously leaked by a childish club CEO and is a total media beat up. It seemed he was only clearing up the situation.

What I find funny is that the clubs want more information about the Nrl finances and plans but how could the nrl trust them to keep it quiet? The Nrl should just walk into the afl headquarters and tell them the grassroots spendautre and exactly how there spending the digital money. These constant leaks have to stop. It seems raylene castle thought the same but was unaware Dib is one of the chief architects. Now she resigns ...hmmmm.
 

Stormwarrior82

Juniors
Messages
1,036
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/d3d17ea1ff5c6a2a24736073fbf08bf0

ARL boss John Grant’s 2:45am rant over funding slammed by clubs
PHIL ROTHFIELD, The Daily Telegraph
May 25, 2017 11:28am

ARL Commission chairman John Grant’s desperate 2.45am pitch to save his job by blaming NRL boss Todd Greenberg has been labelled “an absolute disgrace”.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a copy of the email titled “CBA — Media Release & Discussion Points” that Grant sent to all 16 NRL club chairman in the early hours of Tuesday.

Greenberg, along with the ARL commissioners, were copied into the late-night email. One club chair said Grant’s extraordinary email was a blatant attempt to hold Greenberg and the NRL’s chief financial officer Tony Crawford responsible for last week’s mishandled club funding negotiations.

“I can’t believe the commission chairman would email all us of at 2.45am in the morning. It’s an absolute disgrace,” one club chair told The Daily Telegraph.

Another club official who has seen the email said: “He (Grant) doesn’t take personal responsibility for anything. Where is the leadership the game so desperately needs.”

Earlier on Monday night, Grant attended the NSW Rugby League’s gala Hall of Fame dinner at The Star in Sydney, where rumours quickly circulated of a new coup to bring down the commission chairman.

96f86aeb91a03add3a036faf17a5f6aa


Grant was questioned about his shaky future at the dinner before he left around midnight to return to his hotel to fire off the email.

The NRL club chairs had a telephone hook-up scheduled for 1.30pm on Tuesday to discussed the funding crisis, constitutional reform and Grant’s tenure.

Grant’s email also informed the club chairs he was launching an internal inquiry into last week’s embarrassing revelations that the game has a significant cashflow problem and the clubs would no longer received the $13 million-a-season funding as promised.

Grant claims the commission was not properly informed of the new funding proposal that Greenberg and Crawford put forward to the clubs to take into account the game’s $50 million cash black hole.

“Our team’s proposal regarding alleviation of the NRL’s short-term cash flow requirements understandably caused concern, including within the Commission,” Grant wrote.

Grant has appointed ARLC commissioner Tony McGrath to now provide “direct oversight” of the troubled club funding negotiations, effectively sidelining Greenberg.

“We have asked Tony McGrath to provide direct oversight of the process Todd is leading,” Grant said.

Greenberg and Grant will come face-to-face today at a commission meeting in Sydney.

Grant’s email made it clear his CEO has a lot of explaining to do.

“Separately the Commission will meet with Todd to understand why this issue arose and discuss the steps needed to ensure future executive actions that relate to the Deed receive the appropriate oversight and consideration by the Commission,” he wrote.

However, sources have told The Daily Telegraph that members of Greenberg’s executive raised concerns with Grant last December that the club funding model was unsustainable for next year.

What a beat up.
 

insert.pause

First Grade
Messages
6,461
Widely reported by who? News ltd? Smh? They seem legit and trustworthy. Do always believe them? Now I'm sure they have had a difference in opinion on some things. But to generate a "butting heads" agenda only undermines any positive things that could be happening.

Have you read the email that Grant sent? It's hardly throwing anyone under the bus. The email was obviously leaked by a childish club CEO and is a total media beat up. It seemed he was only clearing up the situation.

What I find funny is that the clubs want more information about the Nrl finances and plans but how could the nrl trust them to keep it quiet? The Nrl should just walk into the afl headquarters and tell them the grassroots spendautre and exactly how there spending the digital money. These constant leaks have to stop. It seems raylene castle thought the same but was unaware Dib is one of the chief architects. Now she resigns ...hmmmm.
Castle was unaware? She would have to be as naïve as you.
 

Diesel

Referee
Messages
23,771
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/d3d17ea1ff5c6a2a24736073fbf08bf0

ARL boss John Grant’s 2:45am rant over funding slammed by clubs
PHIL ROTHFIELD, The Daily Telegraph
May 25, 2017 11:28am

ARL Commission chairman John Grant’s desperate 2.45am pitch to save his job by blaming NRL boss Todd Greenberg has been labelled “an absolute disgrace”.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a copy of the email titled “CBA — Media Release & Discussion Points” that Grant sent to all 16 NRL club chairman in the early hours of Tuesday.

Greenberg, along with the ARL commissioners, were copied into the late-night email. One club chair said Grant’s extraordinary email was a blatant attempt to hold Greenberg and the NRL’s chief financial officer Tony Crawford responsible for last week’s mishandled club funding negotiations.

“I can’t believe the commission chairman would email all us of at 2.45am in the morning. It’s an absolute disgrace,” one club chair told The Daily Telegraph.

Another club official who has seen the email said: “He (Grant) doesn’t take personal responsibility for anything. Where is the leadership the game so desperately needs.”

Earlier on Monday night, Grant attended the NSW Rugby League’s gala Hall of Fame dinner at The Star in Sydney, where rumours quickly circulated of a new coup to bring down the commission chairman.

96f86aeb91a03add3a036faf17a5f6aa


Grant was questioned about his shaky future at the dinner before he left around midnight to return to his hotel to fire off the email.

The NRL club chairs had a telephone hook-up scheduled for 1.30pm on Tuesday to discussed the funding crisis, constitutional reform and Grant’s tenure.

Grant’s email also informed the club chairs he was launching an internal inquiry into last week’s embarrassing revelations that the game has a significant cashflow problem and the clubs would no longer received the $13 million-a-season funding as promised.

Grant claims the commission was not properly informed of the new funding proposal that Greenberg and Crawford put forward to the clubs to take into account the game’s $50 million cash black hole.

“Our team’s proposal regarding alleviation of the NRL’s short-term cash flow requirements understandably caused concern, including within the Commission,” Grant wrote.

Grant has appointed ARLC commissioner Tony McGrath to now provide “direct oversight” of the troubled club funding negotiations, effectively sidelining Greenberg.

“We have asked Tony McGrath to provide direct oversight of the process Todd is leading,” Grant said.

Greenberg and Grant will come face-to-face today at a commission meeting in Sydney.

Grant’s email made it clear his CEO has a lot of explaining to do.

“Separately the Commission will meet with Todd to understand why this issue arose and discuss the steps needed to ensure future executive actions that relate to the Deed receive the appropriate oversight and consideration by the Commission,” he wrote.

However, sources have told The Daily Telegraph that members of Greenberg’s executive raised concerns with Grant last December that the club funding model was unsustainable for next year.
Does Sloth get Dibs and Politis to give the tick of approval before he submits his work each time?

This has more drama than an episode of Melrose Place
 

taipan

Referee
Messages
22,500
I tell you what,Sloth lost the plot on NRL 360,when he cited Patrick Smith of the Australian (a fumbler licker)as being an authority on NRL leadership.
Sloth " 'Patrick Smith is a well respected ,not a broadsheet journalist who questioned the credentials of the NRL leadership,suggesting the NRL should get Demetriou to come in and clean the place up."

Sheesh the same Vlad Demetriou that f*cked up the Essenbong pep dramas apportioning blame to everyone else, and denying shots aimed at him.The leader of the sweep it under the carpet community, if you can.

When I see and hear Sloth on 360,I get the feeling he's had a weekend at Nimbin with a bunch of hippies, smoking anything but dried cattle t*rd and wearing flowers in his hair.The guy has well and truly lost it.
I think he'd wipe himself out on a glass of Cascade Lite.
 

Front-Rower

First Grade
Messages
5,297
Sure ,there's always a flip side to any thing of this nature.
Not if the TV stations want to pay peanuts,and pay much less than the $1.9bn Tv deal from 2023.Not if we are down to just two Tv stations, meaning less competitive tension.
Who knows what the lie of the land will be from 2023.The current stats suggest more and more people are watching less Tv and using other devices.
What do you do, still rely on the old TV set up.which may become just like landlines?Any sport needs to get their "product" out to the masses, else get left behind.

So what content is the NRL going to show and do between October and March to a) keep subscribers and b) make money on their investment in their new broadcast/streaming venture?

Content is king which is why channels like Fox Sports are so successful.
 

Front-Rower

First Grade
Messages
5,297
“I can’t believe the commission chairman would email all us of at 2.45am in the morning. It’s an absolute disgrace,” one club chair told The Daily Telegraph.

Lol does this "chair" live in a 9-5 bubble. What a deluded viewpoint thinking someone sending a business email at 2.45am is a disgrace lol
 

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