NRL to buy share of Super League

[Perth Red]

regal trophy and GB internationals were on grandstand.

im sure the old 1st division was on ITV but quite possibly regional stations?

it’s definitely punching above its weight and with some investment could easily go up a few levels.

The main comp was only every Thursday night in a highlights program on itv In the north. This recent deal is the first time the first division comp, or SL as called now , has been on fta In living memory.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

The main comp was only every Thursday night in a highlights program on itv In the north. This recent deal is the first time the first division comp, or SL as called now , has been on fta In living memory.

This was the shape of FTA in the early 90s -

BBC - Regal Trophy and Challenge Cup. One game per round, plus both semis and final. It was around this time the Beeb kicked their nasty habit of only broadcasting the second half of some games. They also showed the final of the old Premiership comp on Sunday Grandstand.

ITV - First division fixtures on Granada, alternately with the Beeb's cup games. So each week, west of the Pennines, we saw a live game on Saturday afternoons.

Lead commentator for Granada was Clive Tyldesley with Brian Smith as pundit. This remains the best RL coverage I have ever seen on UK TV. Great pity it wasn't broadcast nationally. Could have opened myriad eyes and jolted the Beeb into sharpening up their act.

Over in God's forsaken county, YTV had Scrumdown. I always assumed this to be a highlights programme. However, there are videos on YouTube which suggest otherwise.

Fun fact (actually no fun at all but nonetheless illuminating) -

At the behest of the RFU, the ITV authorities forced Granada to take RL off the air during the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup.

 

[Perth Red]

I remember a behind the scenes RL show on ITV, cant remember its name but was funny as. Remember scrum down as a highlights show but its a while ago! They also bizarrely used to show the French comp on one of the fta channels with Alex Murphy commentating.

Fact remains now is the first time we have national FTA covg of the main comp. Well overdue! Just a shame it didnt stay with Ch4 rather than cheap arse production Beeb.