Well at least most of you guys have your bullshit detectors working.
So they've gone from a "$1.7 billion sure thing deal" back in August that no one had agreed to "they'll never get more than $1.3-$1.4 billion max".
Now it's $1.85 billion - and if the NRL concedes to their demands it will be the greatest victory since Jesus invented sliced bread.
But what if the NRL don't bend over and take it? Will Rupert Murdoch shoot a puppy? I gave it about 0.2 nanoseconds after such a deal that News would start with the following spin cycle:
"Friday 6pm? Are you joking NRL? I'll still be at work masturbating in the toilet" - by Phil Rothfield
"The AFL still got more bitchez. Here's 10,672 reasons why NRL sucks and why John Grant should commit suicide" - by Rebecca Wilson
Seriously though, execs at Channel 9 would be reading the DT story and going "Did you know about this?"
For all the talk about the way the NRL conduct their negotiations this is just shonky from News Corp. I wouldn't even trust those guys to sell me a second hand car.
There are so many question marks over that story. For example - once again they've put a number on it - but then they claim the deal could start 2 years earlier.
So what? The last two years of the remaining deal are scrapped? Does this new deal end in 2020 now? Or does this new deal become a 7 year contract to keep the 2022 expiry? It's so vague yet they're putting such a precise number on it. Are News expecting to get simulcasting for the next two years chucked in for free? Not to forget the time value factor -- that a dollar sooner is worth more than the same dollar later. By starting earlier for the same amount it would actually be a net loss for the NRL.
That $1.85 billion number -- once you cut out NZ & sponsorship it's $1.7 billion for the Australian F2A, Subscription & Streaming rights. And remember it's for 3 F2A games only.
That's the same number they touted back in August!
It's like they've hopped in a time machine and tried to pretend the past few months never happened. They've traveled back to give themselves the sports almanac! This is like that evil 1985.
But it's actually a worse offer than August because it comes with the suggestion of a terrible Friday 6pm time slot. :crazy:
That brainfart is solely from News Corp, don't be stupid enough to blame the NRL for that nonsense. The only reason it's there is so fans, players, clubs etc put pressure on the NRL to scrap it. The NRL should call their bluff.
I mean think about it. The game would overlap with the build up to the Channel 9 match - the News, ACA & pre-game. It seriously devalues the main match of the week. For Fox to get what they want they need both 9 & the NRL to play ball. The NRL would be best to let 9 make the refusal. Edit: I just wanted to add that the suggestion also requires the 6pm matches to be played in Brisbane. Can you seriously see 9 giving up the Broncos cash cow? This in part though gives the NRL an opportunity - "Hey, you want 6pm games in Brisbane then we'll need a second Brisbane team..."
Friday 6pm has to be one of the most bizarre negotiating tactics I've seen from those f**ktards. I'm not saying the NRL would agree to it - I reserve my judgement on them until the final deal is signed - but it would ultimately devalue the NRL overall. But I just can't take it seriously from hacks at the DT who don't understand the basic concept of daylight savings.
I mean if the NRL were to agree to these terrible terms - less F2A coverage, shittier time slots, giving away simulcasting sooner for less, potentially locking into a longer term contract - for a price they initially rejected - there's no way that can be spun into a "victory".
Sorry but this is just another News pressure tactic.
