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Rugby Australia to target top NRL talent - Lomax case settled

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
48,837
I don't think Rugby union, AFL or NBA TV rights are comparable to the NRL right now. People are switching off the NBA in droves because they're sick of Lebron's drama and ridiculous rule interpretations and referees/NBA rigging games. Rugby union is pretty dull to watch, even the diehard kiwis are switching off, or not attending games in the numbers they used to ... because the product is shit. AFL has dropped a little but the way their broadcast rights are managed is not comparable either. They televise games into regional networks so fans can see 'their' team on FTA. It's clever but then PayTV isn't as attractive or important to their fans as it could be. I can't speak for soccer as I don't remotely know anything about it.

You'd have to have your head buried in the sand and/or just be salty about the NRL, to not realise that the NRL is going pretty damn well at the moment. More people watching - either attending or watching the TV. The numbers back it up. Exactly the opposite of those other codes / comps you mention.
Nrl is becoming the Aussie version of the nfl as far as tv ratings / rights go

Dazn has acknowledged they overpaid for the afl and want to cut them to be able to keep the nrl

Union and a league tv deals aren’t worth the 30 million they get nor is afl worth 590 million pa

Nrl is looking at an uplift of around 250 million pa next time. Once the new clubs are established the nrl will be able to fully monetise those new clubs with nz likely to be team 20
 

gerg

Bench
Messages
2,797
Again the cringe puffing out of the chest of things others were doing 30 years ago. Things have improved for sure, but from an incredibly low base.
So why wasn't Rugby Australia doing it 30 years ago? Instead they're financially crippled and taking out loans against future revenue. I'm not one to drive the boot into the code and my history of posting backs this up. I used to play union a long time ago. They're refusal to adapt their rules to make the game better to watch is why they are where they are, and they continue to stubbornly refuse to change anything. I'd like a strong Rugby in Australia because the skills the younger players develop are usable in league. We lose union in Australia and I think league will gain some juniors but we'll lose some to aerial ping pong and that is less positive for me.
 

taste2taste

Bench
Messages
3,292
Here’s some more for you.

NBCUniversal's $27 billion NBA rights deal is projected to incur annual losses between $500 million and $1.4 billion initially

More losses on tv sports contracts. But it will go on forever and ever and the values will only go up!
You're comparing the NBA which has had a 50% decrease in viewers to the NRL that has had a 200% increase over the same period?

Tell us you have NFI without telling us you have NFI

And here's something that will truly blow your mind, FTA never makes profits on sports rights, they are used as ' loss leaders ' to drive audiences and increase renevenue to other programming.

But of course you already knew that being that you're an expert after listening to 1 podcast.
 

BODISGOD

Bench
Messages
4,016
No, I'm comparing the frequency revenue is obtained

Why does the IRB host 6 world cups per year instead of hosting their zero value loss leaders like Super Rugby or PREM Rugby

The $billion cited their isn't all ARLC revenues you numpty, I suggest you read it again. If you still. Have difficulty comprehending it, get a RL fan to explain it to you
No you’re not. You picked an “economic value” assessment, ie some quack Deloitte or EY “study” on the value of hotel rooms and pints poured from hosting a game. Are you thick?
 

BODISGOD

Bench
Messages
4,016
I don't think Rugby union, AFL or NBA TV rights are comparable to the NRL right now. People are switching off the NBA in droves because they're sick of Lebron's drama and ridiculous rule interpretations and referees/NBA rigging games. Rugby union is pretty dull to watch, even the diehard kiwis are switching off, or not attending games in the numbers they used to ... because the product is shit. AFL has dropped a little but the way their broadcast rights are managed is not comparable either. They televise games into regional networks so fans can see 'their' team on FTA. It's clever but then PayTV isn't as attractive or important to their fans as it could be. I can't speak for soccer as I don't remotely know anything about it.

You'd have to have your head buried in the sand and/or just be salty about the NRL, to not realise that the NRL is going pretty damn well at the moment. More people watching - either attending or watching the TV. The numbers back it up. Exactly the opposite of those other codes / comps you mention.
We talk about pseudo analysis and then we gr the “nobody watches because of LeBron.” What is this nonsense?

No actual the loss making is because the rights come up for the first time in a decade and NBC want content for their streamer, so will eat losses. This reflects what has happened over and over with sports rights, as the rights value inflation has been driven by a mixture of fear and optimism bias as well as business fundamentals. This isn’t sustainable forever, hence the pull back evidence across many markets.

I didn’t say the NRL isn’t going well. It absolutely is going well. But what I have said is there is this article of faith amongst many that rights just go up and up.

Look at the landscape internationally and also look in your own backyard. Channel 10 has been a mess for years. Seven had been put up for sale because it causes all the problems within that entertainment group. Nine have sold off assets and made redundancies.

DAZN own Foxtel now and are heavily loss making. It is widely accepted that they overpaid, much like they have done for other assets globally. They are now pulling back.

What else is there? Other streamers is the big dream but they largely want events and things they can get an audience for internationally.

The “NRL is different” is pretty hilarious given the NRL has rode the same broadcast rights boom as other sports. There are nuances for sure, but people pursuing this line now because they’ve been just made aware that the market isn’t as chipper as they were being led to believe is just living in denial.
 

BODISGOD

Bench
Messages
4,016
In summary,

You're an expert on the future of TV broadcast rights, French Rugby Union revenue streams, Pokies profits distribution, the NRL's investments in commercial, hospitality and hotel assets, teams jersey sponsorships ... and you claim to be more knowledgeable than Google AI.

You'll fit in perfectly on these boards 🤝
I try to be educated on topics I discuss.
 

BODISGOD

Bench
Messages
4,016
So why wasn't Rugby Australia doing it 30 years ago? Instead they're financially crippled and taking out loans against future revenue. I'm not one to drive the boot into the code and my history of posting backs this up. I used to play union a long time ago. They're refusal to adapt their rules to make the game better to watch is why they are where they are, and they continue to stubbornly refuse to change anything. I'd like a strong Rugby in Australia because the skills the younger players develop are usable in league. We lose union in Australia and I think league will gain some juniors but we'll lose some to aerial ping pong and that is less positive for me.
I mean that’s their own decision.

All I am pointing out is that buying a hotel is a very 1990s and 2000s move. I’m not suggesting it is a poor investment either, just commenting on how cute it is to see lad’s bragging about this being somewhat earth shattering stuff in the mid 2020s.
 

BODISGOD

Bench
Messages
4,016
You're comparing the NBA which has had a 50% decrease in viewers to the NRL that has had a 200% increase over the same period?

Tell us you have NFI without telling us you have NFI

And here's something that will truly blow your mind, FTA never makes profits on sports rights, they are used as ' loss leaders ' to drive audiences and increase renevenue to other programming.

But of course you already knew that being that you're an expert after listening to 1 podcast.
In which period?

The NBA signed their last broadcast deal in 2023 after a 9 year term with ESPN/TNT.

Actually NBC knew the NBA would be loss making. It’s the classic loss leader exercise. That does not mean it is sustainable. Someone picks up the bill eventually.

And it is not just the NBA- this is just one more example I have you in addition to the Premier League, Ligue 1, Belgian League et al.
 

Kurt Angle

First Grade
Messages
9,799
No you’re not. You picked an “economic value” assessment, ie some quack Deloitte or EY “study” on the value of hotel rooms and pints poured from hosting a game. Are you thick?

I was taking the piss out of the "240 minutes" parable.

Are you thick?
 

taipan

Referee
Messages
22,770
I mean that’s their own decision.

All I am pointing out is that buying a hotel is a very 1990s and 2000s move. I’m not suggesting it is a poor investment either, just commenting on how cute it is to see lad’s bragging about this being somewhat earth shattering stuff in the mid 2020s.

You have zero idea of the value of Oz city hotels and the demand by patrons and the demand by buyers .Capital value jumps regularly. They have become more than drinks outlets to entertainment venues ,restaurant facilities, where profitability is now more on food than alcohol in many instances. They have been upgraded to meet the needs of the public.
You'd have to be an ignorant ,dimwitted ,salty eyed leather patch wearing , gin & tonic drinking rah rah not to understand what is going on.
Having money making assets on hand when times are tough is forward thinking(aka ARLC) by any organisation.
 

marlins2.0

Juniors
Messages
336
In summary,

You're an expert on the future of TV broadcast rights, French Rugby Union revenue streams, Pokies profits distribution, the NRL's investments in commercial, hospitality and hotel assets, teams jersey sponsorships ... and you claim to be more knowledgeable than Google AI.

You'll fit in perfectly on these boards 🤝
One of us!
One of us!
Gooble gobble!
Gooble gobble!
 

Gobsmacked

First Grade
Messages
5,916
Cheers for posting that, might just be the best episode of a sports podcast I've ever listened to.

His explanation of the differences of the two games should be required listening for haters in both league and rugby forums. 😉
I'm well aware of the differences! I posted it for those that thinks a flood of League players are going to Union.
I've stated this before but what he's talking about is the very highest level of Rugby there is and I have enjoyed watching it at that level. But almost anything at it's highest level can be appreciated.
Drop below that level and it's a mess.

What a tremendous bloke, the transition was really only possible because of his humble demeanor.
 

Matua

First Grade
Messages
6,174
I'm well aware of the differences! I posted it for those that thinks a flood of League players are going to Union.
I've stated this before but what he's talking about is the very highest level of Rugby there is and I have enjoyed watching it at that level. But almost anything at it's highest level can be appreciated.
Drop below that level and it's a mess.

What a tremendous bloke, the transition was really only possible because of his humble demeanor.
Nah, that's just to you, top high school rugby is outstanding, the NPC is great, in fact test rugby can be some of the awfullest rugby, you're just not a rugby fan and that's fine, but that doesn't make rugby below the highest level a mess.

Anyway, I was pointing out his discussion of the actual physical differences, his use of the squat example for the scrum discussion is great context for those league fans (not saying you're one of them) who genuinely don't understand the technicality of the game and why the players are the sizes they are, and conversely to the rugby fans who don't understand the anaerobic requirements of league.

Agree with him being a tremendous bloke, he probably is the greatest league to rugby convert of the modern era, shading Jason Robinson. SBW was class too but he was stuck behind Thorn's guy Ma'a in the pecking order.
 

marlins2.0

Juniors
Messages
336
Nah, that's just to you, top high school rugby is outstanding, the NPC is great, in fact test rugby can be some of the awfullest rugby, you're just not a rugby fan and that's fine, but that doesn't make rugby below the highest level a mess.

Anyway, I was pointing out his discussion of the actual physical differences, his use of the squat example for the scrum discussion is great context for those league fans (not saying you're one of them) who genuinely don't understand the technicality of the game and why the players are the sizes they are, and conversely to the rugby fans who don't understand the anaerobic requirements of league.

Agree with him being a tremendous bloke, he probably is the greatest league to rugby convert of the modern era, shading Jason Robinson. SBW was class too but he was stuck behind Thorn's guy Ma'a in the pecking order.
Tana Umaga one of the great concerts too. Often gets overlooked.
 

Matua

First Grade
Messages
6,174
Tana Umaga one of the great concerts too. Often gets overlooked.
I know his wiki says he grew up playing league, but I think in his book he said he played both. So I guess we can make up some arbitrary rules for a cut off, I think of RTS and SBW as league guys first even though they played various rep rugby as schoolboys. 🤣

Depending on what actually counts as a convert, Nehe Milner Skudder played league at U20s level before becoming a RWC winner.

For going the other way from an NZ perspective Ridge would have to be number 1 I guess.
 
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