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

[Timmah]

How can the NRL's contract cover RLIF and ARL sanctioned matches without the prior approval of those bodies?

There's a lot of people here saying a lot of things, all based on a rumour rather than factual reporting.

 

[gong_eagle]

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.

so if 2ue do get the rights
who would be callers
Johnny Gibbs and ?

 

[Timmah]

I remember Gibbsy... whatever happened to him?

 

[dontmakemeangry]

so if 2ue do get the rights
who would be callers
Johnny Gibbs and ?

Russell (f**khead) Barwick

 

[Brutus]

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.

.

I wanna spew.

2GB tows the NRL line just like the Daily Telegraph does. Ranting and raving about offield behaviour, rules and silly referees - fluff stuff.

We all know what the real issues are and Ray and his 2GB mates, just like Bec and Buzz and their Telegraph stable, steer clear of those as best they can.

Keep talking about yourselves guys and playing those songs.

About time we gave a network a go that might actually pay more attention to the actual game. Ray can just as easily do his vaudeville act without the footy to call.

BTW, I enjoy Morrow more as a footy caller than Ray. Have done since thirsty started calling ABC TV games back in 87 with Stevo.

And another thing - I can't believe they haven't yet worked out a commercial broadcaster for the World Cup yet. Get your act together Colin Love and don't give it to a network who thinks its their god-given right to call the games for free.

 

[Brutus]

I remember Gibbsy... whatever happened to him?

Works 5 days a week on a 2ue sports program. Probably the best radio sports show in Sydney (only when he's on with Brandy though).

Barwick is a wan...

 

[Brutus]

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.

What ever happened to people who are loyal to RL?

If Hardley threatens to deathride the World Cup because he doesn't get the rights then that proves the type of guy he is.

We don't need people like that in the game and it's about time the rugby league stopped letting people and their petty agendas set the agenda, especially when it comes to things like media rights.

MORE POWER TO 2UE!!!

 

[Timmah]

I see you convienently ignore the point I made about this entire story being based on rumour.

 

[Molly]

Why are the commercial rights awarded to one station? Why not award rights to whoever wants to pay the right price for them and get some decent choice happening. In Melbourne 3 commercial stns cover the AFL plus the ABC. What is it with the NRL and exclusive radio rights...???

 

[eastsrule]

I see you convienently ignore the point I made about this entire story being based on rumour.

Brutus has an agenda. Don't expect any sort of objectivity or logic from him. As soon as a I see a photo of that idiot in his signature I know I'm in for some stupidity.

This is a bullsh*t article.

More concerning, shouldn't something like this have been sorted months ago?

 

[Timmah]

Exactly, but the issue isn't that, it's another chance to have a go at something he doesn't like and doesn't have to listen to.

 

[Tiger_Tim]

I'd say if 2GB covered the World Cup, most of the games they called would probably be done by Andrew Moore anyway, rather than Hadley. Hadley rarely does the post-season internationals.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The last thing we need in the WC is ignorant morons who do childish things like make fun of Polynesian players' names. International football is about broadening the game's horizons. Employing neanderthals to deliver the radio coverage is hardly the way to do that. The NRL has no control over the rights and if 2GB don't want to play for the rights they won't get them. Let's hope so. In fact I'd love to see 2SM call it. That way it will be done well and it will reach more people. The kind of geniuss that would actually be influenced by anything Hadley says are not the type of people we want or need in international RL. In fact that kind of person probably wouldn't have the mental capacity or inclination to muster the $20 required to attend a WC game anyway so who cares.

 

[dallymessenger]

Griff the RLWC does not need people Ray Hadley.

spot on.

hadlee is another person whose gotten famous from RL, not the other way around.

we dont need these people.

ever since the SL war hes lost his passion for it.

his calls are boring imo and the CCT is a disgrace to rl.

 

[Brutus]

Why are the commercial rights awarded to one station? Why not award rights to whoever wants to pay the right price for them and get some decent choice happening. In Melbourne 3 commercial stns cover the AFL plus the ABC. What is it with the NRL and exclusive radio rights...???

100 percent agree.

The NRL's cost minimisation strategy means they will take whatever money they can even if it means fewer options/coverage for the fans. Radio money is a drop in the ocean compared to other revenue streams.

Disgraceful way to operate and a major reason why our code is stagnant.

 

[Brutus]

Exactly, but the issue isn't that, it's another chance to have a go at something he doesn't like and doesn't have to listen to.

The biggest 2GB/Hadley apologist on here is one Timmah.

"Oh but I don't like Hadley, really I don't". Yeah sure. :crazy:

 

[Tyler Durden]

would a radio station really want the rights ?

the "world cup" will be a real bore with the only interest being if it is england or nz are the least hopeless and are the whipping boys for australia in the final

 

[Generalzod]

If UE are offering more for the broadcast rights to the WC, and decide to stick with GB for nothing they have rocks in there heads....

 

[Timmah]

The biggest 2GB/Hadley apologist on here is one Timmah.

"Oh but I don't like Hadley, really I don't". Yeah sure. :crazy:

:lol: "He doesn't suit my agenda, I'll discredit him by calling him an apologist".

Deadset... get over it. Pre-empting sh*t that hasn't gone down based on an article that's itself is based on a rumour. A point you still avoid.

 

[eastsrule]

Funny how Brutus hasn't responded to my comment.

Regardless of what people think of 2GB's coverage on the Continuous Call, it won't be like that for the World Cup.

But once again, people are jumping the gun here. However, the RLIF/ARL have really dropped the ball on this one. Is the entire tournament going to be this unorganised?

In an ideal world, Kangaroos games and NZ games would be on 2GB and the rest on ABC and 2UE.