Multi year rights up for grabs in 2007. Here endth your conspiracy theory Captain Beefheart?????
Radio boss says no to Singo's NRL coverage
By Paul McIntyre Marketing Editor
November 24, 2005
Reclusive mini-media mogul Bill Caralis pulled out of bidding two weeks ago for a radio broadcasting deal next year with rugby league officials and has warned John Singleton's Macquarie Radio Network that the 2SM Supernetwork - the largest radio station owner in NSW - will not carry its coverage in regional NSW in 2006.
The NRL extended Macquarie's expired contract last week for the 2006 season for about $500,000 in cash and an unknown figure for free advertising. Caralis's Broadcast Operations, which owns 33 radio stations in NSW and south-east Queensland, pledged $500,000 in cash and $500,000 in contra advertising for the NRL to promote the game in 2006.
Broadcast Operations, which owns 2SM, has paid Macquarie for its league coverage in recent seasons but will not in 2006.
Some in the industry said the current spat was standard fare between the two radio groups, which "fight like cats and dogs".
Macquarie's chief executive, Angela Clark, said that if Mr Caralis did not carry rugby league next year, a combination of community and commercial stations was likely to be found that would.
The head of sports programming for the 2SM Supernetwork, Mike Niu, told the Herald yesterday that Macquarie had successfully stalled the NRL negotiation process for the radio rights in 2006, resulting in last-minute changes to the original terms.
"The last 10 months have been just ridiculous," Mr Niu said. "Basically [Macquarie's] 2GB was delaying it [the bidding process]. We pulled out purely because we were getting nowhere and it was leaving us no time to sell [advertising]. The question for the NRL is how could they give a Sydney station the NSW rights when they don't have a regional network?"
Mr Niu said he had put the question to the NRL but they "closed up shop on that". Mr Niu said the company would not be carrying 2GB's coverage next year but would launch its own syndicated weekend sports show which would cover rugby league.
Macquarie's Ms Clark said she was surprised by Broadcast Operations decision.
"Bill [Caralis] hasn't told me he's not interested," she said.
"Maybe I'll get a call today. I'm getting a bit confused with Caralis's messages. If that network doesn't want to take the rights from us, it's really up to them. They haven't been locked out. There are other stations out there, whether they are commercial or community stations, happy to take the NRL."
Ms Clarke said Macquarie had sent letters out on Tuesday to all commercial and community radio stations in NSW asking them for expressions of interest by December 2.
NRL communications director John Brady said that, after widely consulting with the radio industry, the NRL decided to extend the existing contract with Macquarie because most station owners wanted to bid for multi-year rights from 2007, when radio commentary for Monday and Friday night football games would be introduced.
Mr Brady said ABC Radio would still cover the 2006 season on its network, regardless of what transpired in the commercial sector. "It has the widest regional network and that's protected."
