SEVEN million people across NSW will be denied any live free-to-air NRL television coverage this weekend for the first time in five years.
Channel 9 will telecast the New Zealand Warriors' match against Canterbury in Auckland (kicking off at 8.30pm NZ time, shown at 7.30pm) on a one-hour delay and then show the Brisbane-Gold Coast derby from 9.30pm, also on delay.
Nine's Sunday match between Newcastle and Manly at Ausgrid Stadium will also be on delay from 4pm.
Traditionally, NSW fans are shown a live match each Friday night before the second delayed game is aired.
Fans are urged to turn off their computers, mobile phones and radios this weekend if they want to watch the three games without knowing the final score.
Media sites will carry updates results on Friday night - frustrating fans who want to watch the game without knowing the score.
The decision to telecast the Warriors match from Mt Smart Stadium with a two-hour time difference is behind the free-to-air delay on Friday night.
Fox Sports will be the only television carrier to show matches live this weekend. The pay-TV station will actually cover four live games into NSW.
"They are unique circumstances with Nine taking the Warriors game on Friday night," said NRL director of football operations Nathan McGuirk.
"The time difference of two hours makes it impossible for Nine to take the game live.
"A 9.30pm kick-off in Auckland for 7.30pm live here isn't an option."
Reminded Nine could have chosen another Friday game to be shown live, McGuirk said: "They chose this game about eight to 10 weeks ago when New Zealand were on a bit of a run. It made this game quite attractive.
"The Dragons-Shark game (on Monday night) wouldn't have been as attractive back then as it is now. It is one of the difficulties in scheduling matches this far out.
"Queensland fans will get the Brisbane local derby live but unfortunately the time difference means NSW won't get the Warriors game live."
Nine's rugby league executive producer Matt Callander did not return calls yesterday.
One well-placed NRL source said: "It will be interesting to see how the new commission handles this in the future.
"As much as they do for rugby league, Nine should be doing better than not having any live matches on for an entire round.
"The league fans in NSW deserve better."
Radio station 2GB will call Friday night's games for those wanting live scores.
Nine is locked in a fierce battle to retain the television rights, which become available after next season, with rival networks Seven and Ten.
Channel 9 started showing live rugby league on Friday nights back in 2007. There has been a live match each Friday until now.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...matches-on-delay/story-e6frexnr-1226093454690
Channel 9 will telecast the New Zealand Warriors' match against Canterbury in Auckland (kicking off at 8.30pm NZ time, shown at 7.30pm) on a one-hour delay and then show the Brisbane-Gold Coast derby from 9.30pm, also on delay.
Nine's Sunday match between Newcastle and Manly at Ausgrid Stadium will also be on delay from 4pm.
Traditionally, NSW fans are shown a live match each Friday night before the second delayed game is aired.
Fans are urged to turn off their computers, mobile phones and radios this weekend if they want to watch the three games without knowing the final score.
Media sites will carry updates results on Friday night - frustrating fans who want to watch the game without knowing the score.
The decision to telecast the Warriors match from Mt Smart Stadium with a two-hour time difference is behind the free-to-air delay on Friday night.
Fox Sports will be the only television carrier to show matches live this weekend. The pay-TV station will actually cover four live games into NSW.
"They are unique circumstances with Nine taking the Warriors game on Friday night," said NRL director of football operations Nathan McGuirk.
"The time difference of two hours makes it impossible for Nine to take the game live.
"A 9.30pm kick-off in Auckland for 7.30pm live here isn't an option."
Reminded Nine could have chosen another Friday game to be shown live, McGuirk said: "They chose this game about eight to 10 weeks ago when New Zealand were on a bit of a run. It made this game quite attractive.
"The Dragons-Shark game (on Monday night) wouldn't have been as attractive back then as it is now. It is one of the difficulties in scheduling matches this far out.
"Queensland fans will get the Brisbane local derby live but unfortunately the time difference means NSW won't get the Warriors game live."
Nine's rugby league executive producer Matt Callander did not return calls yesterday.
One well-placed NRL source said: "It will be interesting to see how the new commission handles this in the future.
"As much as they do for rugby league, Nine should be doing better than not having any live matches on for an entire round.
"The league fans in NSW deserve better."
Radio station 2GB will call Friday night's games for those wanting live scores.
Nine is locked in a fierce battle to retain the television rights, which become available after next season, with rival networks Seven and Ten.
Channel 9 started showing live rugby league on Friday nights back in 2007. There has been a live match each Friday until now.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...matches-on-delay/story-e6frexnr-1226093454690
