It appears 2UE is back in the game for RL radio rights

[Brutus]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/airwaves-turn-blue-over-cup/2008/08/17/1218911461309.html

Airwaves turn blue over Cup
Andrew Webster
August 18, 2008

AN UGLY brawl is looming over radio broadcast rights for the Rugby League World Cup, with bitter rivals 2UE and 2GB about go to battle over coverage of the tournament, which starts in October. We're told that 2UE has made a highly competitive bid and is quietly confident of being granted the rights. We're also informed that 2GB, which owns the broadcast rights to the NRL, expects to cover it without shelling out a cent. (Maybe the cost of covering the Olympics has something to do with it). There are also concerns behind the scenes that World Cup organisers will give the rights to 2GB, fearing a backlash from broadcaster Ray Hadley should they give the rights to their rival station. "We're quietly confident but we're not holding our breath," 2UE general manager Simon Ruhfus said. "2GB hold the rights to rugby league." ARL chairman Colin Love, who is the World Cup tournament director, did not return calls yesterday but Ruhfus said he expected a decision within a matter of weeks. He also indicated that 2UE, owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of the Herald, will "certainly have a look" when the broadcast rights to the NRL come up for renewal at the end of next season.


So here we have a reputable station willing to fork out decent bucks to cover the RL World Cup. In the other corner is a station who takes RL for granted, even paying for exclusive rights in timeslots that they have no intention covering themselves. They are not willing to pay a cent, expecting to be given the rights for zippo.
Is the NRL really that scared of Roy Hardley? Will Roy make up a nasty song about them if the World Cup rights go to 2UE?

This one seems like a no brainer, but with 2UE being linked to Fairfax you can only guess which way it will go.
C'mon Mr Love, surprise us for a change!

Promising to hear 2UE is interested once again in the covering the NRL when the next rights' renewal comes up though.

 

[ByRd]

If the NRL gives it to 2gb without them paying a cent, then they have really sunk to a new low and it should seriously be the catalyst for change

 

[Timmah]

If there's one thing you can't fault the CCT on 2GB for it's the game calls. They're always 100% professional during their call - and I don't particularly care who has the rights, as long as someone calls the action.

 

[ByRd]

but if we can get money for them or give them for nothing, whats the better option especially when we need all the money we can get right now

 

[Timmah]

Money would be great... but who says 2GB won't pay? "We're informed that" usually means they've got no source and want to inflame speculation.

 

[griff]

like it or not, Ray Hadley is an opinion leader in rugby league and Sydney general.

What the RLWC organisers should have done is buy up a heap of 'live read' ads during the continuous call, with Ray saying how great the RLWC is. Then, there is no way he can say it is crap without looking like (more) of an idiot.

If 2UE get the rights, Ray will be death riding the RLWC every chance he gets, which will be very detrimental to the success of the cup. So it may well be a sound business decision to just give it to 2GB for free.

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

Hopefully 2UE will come up trumps (or any other radio station for that matter),give it to anyone but the morons on 2GB who do sfa for rugby league.

 

[Timmah]

Hopefully 2UE will come up trumps (or any other radio station for that matter),give it to anyone but the morons on 2GB who do sfa for rugby league.

What a f*cking rubbish blanket statement you've managed to make there...

The CCT has been far more pro-active this year in grilling the NRL for it's shortcomings. Yeah they f*ck around and play songs, but they've done far more for the game than their TV counterpart, the Footy Show.

In addition to that, while I don't like Ray Hadley, he is simply the second best commentator in rugby league, and easily the best on radio. I'd rather him calling the games (which is what this RLWC rights battle would be about, not their antics for 5 hours as they wouldn't have the full show) than some boring drone fro 2UE.

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

like it or not, Ray Hadley is an opinion leader in rugby league and Sydney general.


If 2UE get the rights, Ray will be death riding the RLWC every chance he gets, which will be very detrimental to the success of the cup. So it may well be a sound business decision to just give it to 2GB for free.

Griff,I agree with you,Ih\f Hadley missed out (and I hope the **** he does) he definately would indeed death ride the RLWC.:x That would show excatly what kind of moron he is.;-) Putting his own agendas ahead of the game.(again)

 

[Ziggy the God]

If they give it away for free rather than receive a fee from a rival station, then the Board Members should be raked over the coals.

I would go so far as saying that if the stations where going to have the same coverage as well, then it becomes a case of dereliction of a Directors duty.

Bring in the Lawyers......

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

What a f*cking rubbish blanket statement you've managed to make there...

The CCT has been far more pro-active this year in grilling the NRL for it's shortcomings. Yeah they f*ck around and play songs, but they've done far more for the game than their TV counterpart, the Footy Show.

In addition to that, while I don't like Ray Hadley, he is simply the second best commentator in rugby league, and easily the best on radio. I'd rather him calling the games (which is what this RLWC rights battle would be about, not their antics for 5 hours as they wouldn't have the full show) than some boring drone fro 2UE.

2GB are not the only radio station that have brought forward the NRL shortcomings. 2SM spring to mind! I dont want fans from the other rugby league countries when they arrive out here, having to be subjected to the morons on 2GB.ie like listening to councelling sessions and all the other crap.They would really endear our game to the rest of the rugby league world.

 

[Ziggy the God]

2GB are not the only radio station that have brought forward the NRL shortcomings. 2SM spring to mind! I dont want fans from the other rugby league countries when they arrive out here, having to be subjected to the morons on 2GB.ie like listening to councelling sessions and all the other crap.They would really endear our game to the rest of the rugby league world.

2GB is one of the biggest shiate stains on our game.

Only a moron would listen in outside of when they are calling a match.

 

[Hanscholo]

like it or not, Ray Hadley is an opinion leader in rugby league and Sydney general.

What the RLWC organisers should have done is buy up a heap of 'live read' ads during the continuous call, with Ray saying how great the RLWC is. Then, there is no way he can say it is crap without looking like (more) of an idiot.

If 2UE get the rights, Ray will be death riding the RLWC every chance he gets, which will be very detrimental to the success of the cup. So it may well be a sound business decision to just give it to 2GB for free.

Ray Hadley is a dick head, and to anyone that knows anything about the game he is an annoying little upstart dog race caller.

He knows very little about the game and his coverage of anything he broadcasts is so over burdened by his ego it is ruined. He has no power over the NRL, he was tossed out of channel 9 because fatty didnt like him lol. Yea lets get scared of Ray.

 

[Pierced Soul]

wouldnt the current radio deals cover the NRL and not the ARL? hence wouldnt it make sense that radio rights for the WC need a new deal? if so then shoudlnt both radio stations have to make a paly for 'exclusive rights'

the whole idea of exclusive coverage with radio was a backwards step. ratehr than give several stations the opportuinity to have elague coverage it was cut down to one. i rememebr having up to 3 stations calling diff games on a sunday, thats how it should be

 

[griff]

Ray Hadley is a dick head, and to anyone that knows anything about the game he is an annoying little upstart dog race caller.

He knows very little about the game and his coverage of anything he broadcasts is so over burdened by his ego it is ruined. He has no power over the NRL, he was tossed out of channel 9 because fatty didnt like him lol. Yea lets get scared of Ray.

True, he is an egocentric c**k.

But for the RLWC to be a success we need people that like Ray Hadley and people who aren't RL experts to attend matches and watch them on TV.

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

Griff the RLWC does not need people Ray Hadley.

 

[westie]

Why do people insist on blaming the NRL and RFL for stuff they have SFA to do with?

 

[Timmah]

Solution - listen to the ABC's coverage. ;-)

 

[Timmah]

I dont want fans from the other rugby league countries when they arrive out here, having to be subjected to the morons on 2GB.ie like listening to councelling sessions and all the other crap.They would really endear our game to the rest of the rugby league world.

As I said earlier, you're quite adept at making blanket statements with little factual basis and now seem to be gaining a track record for not reading posts in a discussion.

I highly doubt if 2GB got the rights they'd have much of their nonsense on the airwaves - they'd be there for game calls and that's about it. The hi-jinks or whatever you'd like to call them are usually reserved for their 5-6 hour stints on Saturday afternoon and to a lesser extent on Sunday. In an environment like the RLWC where they'll be lucky to get 3 hours on air, it will be all footy, there's no doubting that.

 

[dimitri]

Why do people insist on blaming the NRL and RFL for stuff they have SFA to do with?

if the nrl's contact did not directly stipulate NRL Matches only - then yes the NRL have plenty to do with it