BBC prejudice

[G@v]

I have just read some disturbing news that the BBC is reportedly in the process of making an £150m bid totelevise England RU matches over the next four years. This will be funded by licence payers money and swell the coffers of the RFU who may then go out and spend even more money luring League players to Union.

£150m is a massive amount when you consider that the total budget for BBC sport last year was £178m (taken from their website). Based on these figures, coupled with the £50m (over four years) cost of their coverage of the Heineken Cup, it appears the BBC will be spending in excess of a quarter of its sports budget on Rugby Union alone. The ratings don't justify it and it only goes to show that the BBC must be infested with Union sympathisers.

The right's to screen the RL Challenge Cup cost the BBC a mere £8.7 million, yet this competition brings them higher veiwing figures than the more expensive Heineken Cup.

What chance does our game have in the face of suchovert prejudice?

 

[legend]

Is sky bigger than the BBC in the U.K? If ever there was an establishment that would be hard to break surely it's the BBC. They typify the stuffy aristocratic nature of Englands upper classes. For RL it seems, there will always be a battle to be fought.

 

[G@v]

Sky get's lower viewing figures than either the BBC or the ITV network. This due in to the fact that Sky is mostly a satellite and cable broadcaster, the only way you can access any of Sky's programmes on a terrestrial level is through 'ONdigital', which requires a digital TV or set top box.

Our game could do with a terrestrial broadcaster in the next TV contract (Whenver it comes up for renewall), alongside that of Skysports. Channel Four has been mentioned, but I expect that to be no more than a rumour. I believe that Channel Five is showing highlights of the NFP Grand Final, it is being shown live only on the ITV stations which cover the north of England.