new TV deal brings in millions for SL & guarantees expansion

[dallymessenger]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/rugby_league/article2951155.ece

fantastic result for SL with revenues up by a minimum of 30% (i make it 40% actually).

this new deal ensures the code will expand to 14 teams in 2009, with celtic crusaders a shoe in for a spot, and either toulose or salford for the other.

the deal also offers significant money for NL 1 / 2 so giving these clubs a chance to grow their business as well. i wouldnt be surprised to say any one of either widnes, leigh, oldham or halifax in SL one day.

the deal also allows internationals to return back onto national FTA broadcaster via the BBC.

the RFL has done it all with this deal : more money, expansion, money for NL1 / 2 and FTA for internationals

a massive result for RL.

well done richard lewis

posted on TFC, also here in case some miss out.

excellent result.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Wow, its interesting how Super League in the UK can be great and the Super League that was here was evil.

Good work Super League.

 

[thommo4pm]

 

[nadera78]

It does look like a good deal. Especially by being a shorter deal, only three years, which means we can fight for an even better deal in short period of time, and not have to hang around waiting for the next discussions when we know we deserve more. I like Richard Lewis.

 

[winnyason]

possibly watershed moment for code. With lewis in charge i have great hope for the game.
The one team i think that is in is celtic - look at the facts millenium magic set in stone & the breaking up of great britain has to be for wales.
Have no idea for 14th side want toulouse but not likely.Facts are poor squad lost 4 in a row notably missing 5 internationals for autumn internationals & the stadium .
Have to say cannot see both wakey & castleford both in.

 

[Copa]

Looks crap to me.

They used to pay for 2 games per week... now they pay for 3 games per week and pay 30% more. Where is the real increase in value of the SL part of the broadcast?

If this also included "new media" then the RFL/SL have been totally shafted.....

 

[dallymessenger]

Looks crap to me.

They used to pay for 2 games per week... now they pay for 3 games per week and pay 30% more. Where is the real increase in value of the SL part of the broadcast?

If this also included "new media" then the RFL/SL have been totally shafted.....

the NL clubs got nothing before from sky now they will get millions.

the SL clubs get an extra 100,000 pounds each, plus there are 2 new clubs so it looks like Sky are paying 3 million pounds extra a year for the SL games.

 

[deluded pom?]

Not a bad deal but I dislike the idea that even the FTA intenationals will still be evening kickoffs.

 

[nadera78]

Not a bad deal but I dislike the idea that even the FTA intenationals will still be evening kickoffs.

Is that definite ? I haven't seen that anywhere.

 

[roughyedspud]

the BBC have said they will look at moving the kick off times for ALL the games,challenge cup & internationals, they broadcast to early evening to boost the number of viewers...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/rugby_league/article2951155.ece

The separate agreements cover the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, with the BBC securing live international rights for the first time since the 2000 World Cup to screen one England match and a second international game per season. That is in addition to the Carnegie Challenge Cup, with the corporation looking to introduce later kick-off times for live Saturday ties to attract bigger audiences from next season.

 

[Copa]

the NL clubs got nothing before from sky now they will get millions.

the SL clubs get an extra 100,000 pounds each, plus there are 2 new clubs so it looks like Sky are paying 3 million pounds extra a year for the SL games.

and if that includes "new media" then the deal is rubbish...

even without "new media" the deal is not crash hot....

 

[thommo4pm]

I can't see how gaining exposure on free to air TV, is a bad thing regardless of the kick off time.
The exposure it gives to more viewers and people who wouldn't generally watch Rugby League is massive.
That is the most exciting part of the deal.

 

[greenhat]

Looks crap to me.

They used to pay for 2 games per week... now they pay for 3 games per week and pay 30% more. Where is the real increase in value of the SL part of the broadcast?

If this also included "new media" then the RFL/SL have been totally shafted.....

Am I missing something?

The way I see it, they get an extra game broadcast -and- they get 30% more revenue. Thats 2 very significant gains.

 

[ucantseeme]

If the ESL rates so well why aren't all matches of the round being broadcast on Sky Sports. Is it a case of too much of a good thing?

 

[Kurt Angle]

Am I missing something?

The way I see it, they get an extra game broadcast -and- they get 30% more revenue. Thats 2 very significant gains.

I think Copa is saying "they are broadcasting 50% more games, there should be 50% more revenue".

SL is a high rating show in the UK, like RL here it makes money for the broadcaster.

More SL on TV means more revenue for sky.

I think he believes the RFL should get a bigger slice of than enlarged pie.

Good thing is that it's a 3 year deal, it seems rather astute from Lewis.

3 years will figure in enough time to guage the impact of the Welsh team, and 5-6 years of pro RL in France. If it works out well, the next deal could be a mother load that sees the international game on FTA TV and bringing new fans to the game in time for another non-heartland team.

 

[dallymessenger]

and if that includes "new media" then the deal is rubbish...

even without "new media" the deal is not crash hot....

its not the nrl.

rl struggles for media and has poor tv deals, so compared to the last TV deal its a big improvement.

consider :

1. money to allow NL1 and 2 clubs to develop means the game can grow away from SL and provide more clubs ready to step up.

2. salary cap up by 100,000 per club

3. 2 new clubs in SL to further expansion

4. internationals on BBC again

this all sets the sport up in the future to grow massively from here. i think its a watershead deal.

 

[dallymessenger]

I can't see how gaining exposure on free to air TV, is a bad thing regardless of the kick off time.
The exposure it gives to more viewers and people who wouldn't generally watch Rugby League is massive.
That is the most exciting part of the deal.

exactly what i was thing.

more tv viewers means more people that watch RL.

people complain in england that the bbc doesnt do enough to promote rl. here they are doing exactly that

 

[Quidgybo]

the BBC have said they will look at moving the kick off times for ALL the games,challenge cup & internationals, they broadcast to early evening to boost the number of viewers...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/rugby_league/article2951155.ece

Spud, forgive me if I'm missing something here but that article doesn't actually say anything about evening kickoffs. It just says "later kick-off times for live Saturday ties". Could that not simply mean a 4pm kickoff with the game leading into the regular Saturday night programming at 6pm? Hardly evening - especially during an English summer.

Leigh

 

[Quidgybo]

Looks crap to me.

They used to pay for 2 games per week... now they pay for 3 games per week and pay 30% more. Where is the real increase in value of the SL part of the broadcast?

If this also included "new media" then the RFL/SL have been totally shafted.....

Oh please, get a bit of perspective dude. Sky used to pay for 2, they now pay for 3. The extra game was always going to be played with or without TV but now the RFL get TV coverage for it where they didn't get TV coverage previously and they get paid more for it. More exposure for the game and more funding for clubs both at SL level and below. We can sit here and debate whether they should have got 30% more or 50% more for that extra game but no matter how you look at it the game is significantly ahead of where it was. How an objective observer could dismiss it as a "crap" deal defies belief. At worst it's a mild improvement but in reality it's a great step forward which improves funding at multiple levels, provides increased media exposure and guarantees the game's further expansion. For a minority sport largely appealing to a geographically limited population, the English game couldn't realistically wish for anything more at this point.

Leigh.

 

[winnyason]

Looking at the deal if you read between the lines two internationals would have to be the france vs england match & wales vs england as the mid season anzac test to be scapped.
Looking at that this also,the breaking up of Lions & mm a annual event celtic are in.
Expansion is something that has not worked well in the past for SL with the failures of paris & gateshead but this time i can see it working.

When celtic are in i would hope theyhave a few bigger games at swansea this city has support for league EG the on the road sl match in 1998 got 9 thousand through the gate & the 1995 world cup match between wales & samoa which attracted 15 thousand, there base is ok but need bigger crowds i would imagine averages of around 4 to 5 thousand at brigend.

Onto toulouse there bid from what i have read is a lot to do with if a tv deal is done for superleague to be put on french TV. Have a good fan base already & strong finances, while i think the stadium is not a big issue as they have a good relationship with toulouse rugby so i think they could use it while there stadium is upgraded. I just get the feeling 2012 is there time but if this is the case will the stade france rugby chief put in a paris superleague bid in 2012?. The only way i see Toulouse in if wakefield or castleford miss out.

English fans get over the expansion to non english sides remember esl stands for european not english. St helens finances is a problem what happens if they have a couple of lean years on the field.

This is how i see the 2009 Superleague: 1. wigan 2. warrington 3. bradford 4. st helens
5. leeds 6. hull 7. salford(a must) 8. huddersfield 9. catalans (france) 10. london
12. celtic(wales) 13. hull kr 14. castleford or toulouse or wakefield.

To me widnes, leigh & donny may have to weight sure to capture emotions but this is for the good of the sport.