NRL RADIO DISGRACE (The article)

[bartman]

The thing that bothers me most is they've signed off on a reduced contract while maintaining exclusivity. This is an opportunity to make a gain for the game, in an environment where we were being told that broadcast rights had been previously undervalued.

It may only be a one-year deal, but it sends the wrong message to media businesses that you can bargain us down to the basement and we will bend ove rto meet your needs (even if those needs go against the game's need for wider coverage and better promotion and publicity).

Amateurs... but they are getting paid handsomely out of the game's money to miss these opportunities. I think I'll sleep on it before sending any letters and emails - the emotional ones tend not to get the best response.

 

[yakstorm]

Geez you guys all need to calm down, you have asked to chop off the CEO's head without even knowing half the details of the contract. The AFR has estimated what Macquarie has paid, what you guys have missed is the amount the NRL recieved prior by Macquarie in both cash and contra is roughly static to what the new deal is.

This 1.5 million a year made up by the AFR is significantly off the mark, and is significantly more than the Macquarie group announced in their annunal reports for NRL rights.

Secondly you have to remember that for 06 there is still a large amount of constraints on radio rights due to the Channel 9 deal. Come 2007 the NRL is free to sell off whatever games they want to ANY partner, they didn't have that flexibility this year and were almost forced into going with Macquarie.

If it went with the Broadcast Operations offer, Macquarie would of told them where to go for a one year contract, and BO overall offer was less than Macquaries.

 

[iggy plop]

We don't need exclusive rights for radio and all the this contra rubbish is just that. It's just preaching to the converted on 2GB anyway. Like those stupid NRL ads on Fox Sports. Where are the ads on FTA?

What happened to 2UE interest? The answer is they couldn't be bothered after being stuffed around the by the NRL previously. How the NRL can be happy with the way 2GB portray the game is baffling.

I'm starting to think league is a game for dumbed down meatheads.

 

[eelandia]

http://www.nrl.com/bigpond/contactus.cfm

Send your disgust. I smell a rat.

That rat is the fact many people at the NRL that make decisions aren't passionate fans and couldn't give a stuff about the game - too interested in the politics of business.

 

[iggy plop]

And we wonder why our rival codes grow stronger by the year with ridiculous decisions like this.

Only a fool would think that not having an NRL presence on the FM band would be the way to go. MMM were dead keen to broadcast some NRL, now they will continue their association with the Swans, leaving commercial radio rugby league in the sewer with a show that only serves to dumb down the audience.

Well done Mr Gallop.

 

[El Diablo]

very bad decision

 

[Foz]

Does anyone know if the NRL has looked into funding their own radio station(similar to 2ky and the Tab I suppose)?
$500k a year mightnt be a lot to play with given licence costs etc and being a seasonal sport(Kangaroo Tours may blow the budget) but they would attract some sponsorships.
A bit like a community station.
Set up costs may be a killer.
Maybe not a good idea but have they ever thought about it?

 

[bartman]

As a slight side issue, it seems that UK Premier League (soccer) rights will now no longer be exclsuively held by Sky (pay) TV, but instead will be spread across a range of boradcatsers and providers. So exclusivity as a concept might be viewed as becoming "old hat"?

Sure, the FA were forced into it by European Parliament laws, and Sky would be upset at losing their cash cow. Funny thing is that they already have by far the dominant winter sport over here, so they don't really need to expand their base much, but decision makers have still felt it in the best interests of the game and fans to enforce these laws. The NRL has a fight on it's hands to be/stay a dominant winter sport, but for one-year, and with contra or not, the decisions seem to fly against against the basis need to expand the game's coverage base?

Hopefully 2007 contracts will see a great improvement and progression. Or are we now doomed to never regain the pre-1997 levels of broadcast coverage, or fan and media interest that our game used to enjoy?

 

[chunk]

I'm not a fan of Hadley's show but one thing is that it rates very well.

Compared to league shows that talk 'real' footy Hadleys show always has won in the ratings.

There are plenty of non league fans who listen to him because of his antics. For some reason people like listening to him.

 

[Noel]

Hadley's radio show annoys league fans. Its listeners aren't likely to be attracted to the game. The content is of his show is moronic and 90% of it has nothing to with league. A ridiculous decision by the NRL.

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

Another year of Hadley,FFS

 

[Jake the snake]

F-bomb!!!

 

[iggy plop]

I'm not a fan of Hadley's show but one thing is that it rates very well.

Compared to league shows that talk 'real' footy Hadleys show always has won in the ratings.

.

So what? Just because his show rates well doesn't mean it should be the only commercial option. His crap should be just one of a few options. If he is willing to throw his RL credo out the window by trying to attract a broader audience who couldn't give a stuff about footy, then so be it, but it shouldn't be the only commercial option. Fancy the NRL having his crap as the official commercial braodcaster. Gallop and co must think true rugby league fans like hearing vindictive vaudeville rubbish instead of rugby league.

 

[Front-Rower]

I'm not a fan of Hadley's show but one thing is that it rates very well.

Compared to league shows that talk 'real' footy Hadleys show always has won in the ratings.

There are plenty of non league fans who listen to him because of his antics. For some reason people like listening to him.

Ofcourse it rates well. Its the only show on Radio that broadcasts the game. So remember the next time he tells you he wins the ratings, he has no competition.

The ABC you might say are his competition, but they broadcast a lot more than league through their Grandstand program.

 

[iggy plop]

Ofcourse it rates well. Its the only show on Radio that broadcasts the game. So remember the next time he tells you he wins the ratings, he has no competition.

The ABC you might say are his competition, but they broadcast a lot more than league through their Grandstand program.

You could argue that Hadley also broadcasts a lot more than league as well. Although none of it could be classified sport or humour for that matter. Crap probably fits the bill.

 

[mickdo]

Hadley doesn't win the ratings any more anyway. He was getting beaten by 2GB with their talkback on both Saturday and Sunday in the second half of the 05 season. Very bad news for RL.

 

[Simo]

Hadley doesn't win the ratings any more anyway. He was getting beaten by 2GB with their talkback on both Saturday and Sunday in the second half of the 05 season. Very bad news for RL.

He is on 2GB, left 2ue a few years ago.

 

[Green Machine]

Geez you guys all need to calm down, you have asked to chop off the CEO's head without even knowing half the details of the contract. The AFR has estimated what Macquarie has paid, what you guys have missed is the amount the NRL recieved prior by Macquarie in both cash and contra is roughly static to what the new deal is.

This 1.5 million a year made up by the AFR is significantly off the mark, and is significantly more than the Macquarie group announced in their annunal reports for NRL rights.

Secondly you have to remember that for 06 there is still a large amount of constraints on radio rights due to the Channel 9 deal. Come 2007 the NRL is free to sell off whatever games they want to ANY partner, they didn't have that flexibility this year and were almost forced into going with Macquarie.

If it went with the Broadcast Operations offer, Macquarie would of told them where to go for a one year contract, and BO overall offer was less than Macquaries.

I totally disagree with you. $1.5m is a piddle in the ocean. By not opening up to other radio stations is just giving a free kick to other football codes. The AFL recently got $1m for endorsing Betfair. It now seems the NRL have changed their wholly than thou stance against gambling money.

The only place radio is locked out at the moment in Friday Night Football. 2GB can cover any other game they like and choose not to call certain games. I wonder if Foxsports and Channel 9 prefer the limited radio coverage to enhance the TV product?

The NRL hinted during last season that once Channel 9 got to “Live” Friday night football, radio would be allowed to call the “Live” match of the Friday double header. The CEO of the NRL should answer questions from Rugby League fans as to why they have given 2GB exclusive rights again. The last time they gave 2GB exclusive rights, David Gallop hung up in phone interview with 2UE when he was asked as to when the radio rights would be decided. The NRL waited until the off season and announced 2GB as the exclusive radio station. It seems funny that this information was leaked out during a week where soccer had wall to walk media coverage. Was this done to limit the impact? Does the NRL like Hadley’s format where important issues about the game are never discussed?

 

[Man_of_Steel_1982]

I totally disagree with you. $1.5m is a piddle in the ocean. By not opening up to other radio stations is just giving a free kick to other football codes. The AFL recently got $1m for endorsing Betfair. It now seems the NRL have changed their wholly than thou stance against gambling money.

The only place radio is locked out at the moment in Friday Night Football. 2GB can cover any other game they like and choose not to call certain games. I wonder if Foxsports and Channel 9 prefer the limited radio coverage to enhance the TV product?

The NRL hinted during last season that once Channel 9 got to “Live” Friday night football, radio would be allowed to call the “Live” match of the Friday double header. The CEO of the NRL should answer questions from Rugby League fans as to why they have given 2GB exclusive rights again. The last time they gave 2GB exclusive rights, David Gallop hung up in phone interview with 2UE when he was asked as to when the radio rights would be decided. The NRL waited until the off season and announced 2GB as the exclusive radio station. It seems funny that this information was leaked out during a week where soccer had wall to walk media coverage. Was this done to limit the impact? Does the NRL like Hadley’s format where important issues about the game are never discussed?

Top post, Green Machine. You raise some very good points.

I certainly don't like this deal. It doesn't seem to be the best thing for Rugby League.

 

[Brutus]

I wonder if Foxsports and Channel 9 prefer the limited radio coverage to enhance the TV product?

Does the NRL like Hadley’s format where important issues about the game are never discussed?

You have posed two very interesting points there. I think all NRL fans who like their footy on the radio should make a stand on this because this crazy decision by Gallop and co. just doesn't add up.