In the late 80s, 2JJJ introduced Roy and HJ calling the Saturday Live ABC game off the box for their radio station. It was meant to take the piss out of Rugby League and had the opposite effect in attracting 20 somethings to Rugby League. In the 80s, Rugby League games were a no go zone for women. With the Tina Turner Ads and 2JJJ, the perception of Rugby League changed.
Sydney has the most diverse radio market in Australia. 2GB represents one demographic on the AM band. Forget 2UE, 2KY, 2SM and 2CH for a moment. The NRL are missing out on the youth market with TODAY FM, NOVA, 2JJJ and 2MMM. They are also missing out of the over 30s who dont like talkback on AM with 2WS FM, MIX FM and VEGA FM. On all of the FM stations, how many presenters and sports reporters would be pro Rugby League? Is there one? There is one common thread that comes out of the mouths of every AFL friendly presenter or sports reporter on Sydney radio. They all say Sydney is big enough for all football codes. Totally opposite to what they would be saying if they stayed in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart or Perth.
The NRL in trying to control debate on Rugby League have achieved the opposite.
Radio to me is an important medium to get information and be entertained with Rugby League. I dont spend all my life in front of a TV screen. If Im working in the backyard of a weekend, I like to listen to the radio. I want to listen to Rugby League debate and interviews. Sometimes, you have to go out of a night and in the car I like to listen to the call, especially the Friday night call and the Saturday 7.30pm call. Taxis are ferrying thousands of people around on a Friday and Saturday night and have no access for them and there customers to listen. I go to about 15 matches a season. I like Friday and Saturday Night Football. I like to take my radio and listen to the call and have all the advantages as the viewer at home who knows the latest changes on the sideline or who is replacing who and who is the new rookie.
The NRL and other sports in the next few years are heading into a very lucrative market with downloads onto 3G wireless technology. The only way you can get score updates to certain games now is with their crappy NRL Wireless service which you have to pay for.
With a combined $100m TV contract, this radio contract is a piddle I the ocean compared to the money the NRL make, not to mention merchandising, ticket sales and sponsorship. The NRL should not be allowed to get away with this substandard radio deal, even if it is for one year,