NRL app is not global

[Saintsified]

Cancelled my NRL app subscription, what a rort that is, i travel a lot and cant watch matches from overseas at all, i dont know why, i have other global sporting apps and can watch anywhere but NRL merkins take my money then tell me i can only watch if i'm in Australia....how is not allowing it growing the game globally?

 

[Danish]

The NRL app isn't even available for download outside of the Australian iTunes Store, so not surprising their streaming subscription isn't international.

Most sports that I follow only allow your streaming subscription to work in the country you bought it in though. NFL and NHL apps definitely restrict viewing when you leave the home market (international subscriptions cost a tonne more for both those sports)

 

[Travitoh]

There may be an OS version of the app for watching games. I know the AFL is like that and pretty sure it's all run by Telstra more so than the leagues

 

[Canard]

The App is a Telstra one, for which they have the NRL streaming rights in Australia only. They couldn't legally operate it elsewhere.

Livestream is the overseas app for most countries that don't have a TV deal. And it's free.

Geoblocking is hardly limited to the NRL.

 

[Danish]

The annoying thing though is that the NRL does not have an app available to people outside of Australia to check scores, news stories, schedule, the ladder, etc.

Basically if you live outside of Oz there are no official apps for you to use to keep up to date on league.

Seems like it would be very easy for them to allow the app to be downloaded from all stores but just geoblock the streaming like most sports apps do

 

[Timmah]

To be fair, Premier League - arguably one of the world's biggest domestic comps - only just went global with its official app.

There are still plenty of apps available for NRL scores anyway... as for streaming, I don't know many sports apps that allow streaming outside the native country, particularly where there are already broadcast agreements in place with another network.

 

[moffla]

The NRL aren't allowed to broadcast through their app outside of Australia because it would be a conflict with sports networks in certain countries - I can understand it tbh

 

[Danish]

To be fair, Premier League - arguably one of the world's biggest domestic comps - only just went global with its official app.

There are still plenty of apps available for NRL scores anyway... as for streaming, I don't know many sports apps that allow streaming outside the native country, particularly where there are already broadcast agreements in place with another network.

The premier league are famously living in the 1800s when it comes to tech. No streaming platform, website is a dogs breakfast, and I think they even try and charge people for their official app don't they? Not to mention how expensive it is to watch no matter what country you are in.

I wouldn't use them as a yardstick for what a decent sports league online presence should look like.

The American sports would be who I'd try to model the the NRL social media strategy against

 

[Timmah]

There's no streaming platform that PL offer direct because they have broadcast agreements. Depending on the broadcaster in any one location, they then stream the games, not PL direct themselves.

The website used to be a dogs breakfast - it's actually quite modern and useful now. Their app is free.

Agree on the last point though, American sports are probably a better model. NFL just started streaming Thursday night football on Twitter I think? Was a raging success from what i heard.

 

[Danish]

American sports also offer direct streaming in international markets, regardless of any local broadcast deals.

it's actually easier to watch all NFL games for the international subscriber in Oz than it is for people in the US

 

[adamkungl]

The NRL streaming app is terrible.

-Unusable overseas, can't be purchased OR use your existing already paid sub.
-Purposely gimped part 1: low quality video to drive people towards Foxtel
-Frequent freezing/failure to load video (on my phone)
-Video doesn't feel whole screen (on my phone)
-Purposely gimped part 2: Video is windowed on PC to drive people towards Foxtel
-Lack of basic options (last time I used it there was no ability to mute sound iirc)

Probably more i can't think of off top of my head.

Make all the excuses you want about broadcast agreements but the whole point of streaming is to be able to watch something when you dont have access to a tv and cable subscription. Until it is free of these artificial restrictions it's a worthless product.

I'd pay $200 for a good one but I won't pay $80 for a poor one.

 

[Travitoh]

The annoying thing though is that the NRL does not have an app available to people outside of Australia to check scores, news stories, schedule, the ladder, etc.

Basically if you live outside of Oz there are no official apps for you to use to keep up to date on league.

Seems like it would be very easy for them to allow the app to be downloaded from all stores but just geoblock the streaming like most sports apps do

I was using it no worries when i was in the UK last year. Was able to watch highlights and all (didn't have the live game pass though)

 

[Danish]

I was using it no worries when i was in the UK last year. Was able to watch highlights and all (didn't have the live game pass though)

Did you already have it on your phone when you went there, or did you download it in the UK?

when I've travelled through the US with it already on my phone it worked fine, but once living here it can't be downloaded from the US App Store, so updates don't work, which means I've been locked out since about round 4 or 5 of this season. Very frustrating

 

[Travitoh]

Did you already have it on your phone when you went there, or did you download it in the UK?

when I've travelled through the US with it already on my phone it worked fine, but once living here it can't be downloaded from the US App Store, so updates don't work, which means I've been locked out since about round 4 or 5 of this season. Very frustrating

It was already on my phone.

If you're using the US app store, does that mean that you've signed in with a US account?
I could be wrong but my understanding is that what app store you use is determined by the country that your account is based in, not necessarily the country you are in.
I never changed my Google account so all my apps continued to update and run as normal but i was unable to download UK specific apps without changing account.

 

[Alex28]

Cancelled my NRL app subscription, what a rort that is, i travel a lot and cant watch matches from overseas at all, i dont know why, i have other global sporting apps and can watch anywhere but NRL merkins take my money then tell me i can only watch if i'm in Australia....how is not allowing it growing the game globally?

Cancelled your NRL app subscription - which you could have got for free through Telstra - after the season has finished.

Way to take a stand!

 

[Saintsified]

Cancelled your NRL app subscription - which you could have got for free through Telstra - after the season has finished.

Way to take a stand!

No it doesnt stream whilst overseas during the season, but it wont stop me paying for it either, why would i want to watch matches after the season?

same goes for foxtel go, Australia is behind the times.

 

[Timmah]

Cancelled your NRL app subscription - which you could have got for free through Telstra - after the season has finished.

Way to take a stand!

Reminds me of the Dragons fans cutting up their 2016 memberships last week lol

 

[coolumsharkie]

I watched live nrl for free while I was os this year. I'd rather pay the NRL but there is nothing so I'll watch it on other live streaming apps.