Sky TV offer rejected

[GBT]

From the Teletext website:

The Rugby Football League have turned down BSkyB's reported offer of £53m over five years for television rights.

A statement issued by the RFL said: "The decision has been reached after consideration of the interests of the whole sport, including Super League, internationals and all other levels.

"The RFL Board feel that discussions should continue with both BSkyB and the BBC to explore ways of reaching an agreement with both parties." ---------

It seems that in Richard Lewis we at last have someone who's prepared to stand his ground. However, I do think somehow this stalemate will be resolved. Sky wouldn't offer £53 million for nothing - it was their opening gambit. The sticking point is how much control they (BskyB) hold over the game. One stipulation was that the challenge cup final should remain at the start of the season, April/May - which would leave the RFL in an awkward position with the BBC, the broadcasters of that competition.

Fact is, Super League doesn't have much bargaining power. At the moment it's a buyers market, Sky could conceavably offer peanuts, no other broadcaster would come anywhere close to matching their current offer.

 

[terracesider]

GBT, I think you're right about Lewis. He's made an impressive start in the job and this is his first big test. In years gone by Sky's bid would probably have been accepted by now. It seems to be a standard negotiating position - reject the first offer, then get down to the serious business.

I think would be a bad move if the Cup was lost from terrestial television. RL does well out of BBC coverage, for all it's faults. It's an important national showcase.

It sometimes seems that Sky already has full control of the game, especially with Friday and Saturday evening kick offs, and the occasional rescheduling espcially later in the season.

Anyway, it's nearly midnight I'm off to bed before I get carried away with an anti-Murdoch rant.

 

[GBT]

Can Sky dictate when a supposedly listed sporting event, the Challenge Cup Final, is held?

Isn't the stance by BskyB part of the greater power struggle with the Beeb over sporting rights. I understand that they (The BBC) will challenge Sky for the next football premiership broadcasting deal.

I'd be surprised if at the end of the negotiating, that SL isn't on Sky for the next five years. Rugby League might not be the largest sport they have, but by putting £53 million on the table at the outset, they probably realise that many thousands of their subcribers subscribe primarily for the Super League coverage.

Sky doesn't need RL, but it's absence would leave a substantial hole.

 

[terracesider]

I don't think Sky can dictate "when", but my worry is that, with this present government gaining in unpopularity by the day, they will be keen to keep Murdoch onside, so there might well be a possiblilty of "listed events" being redefined. After all, test cricket on terrestrial television was supposed to be guaranteed but Sky have now got at least one match a season.

I agree with you that it's part of a wider broadcasting war. I suspect the important question is, how much does the RL need Sky? In my view, a lot but not enough to let them buy the game's heart and soul, á la NRL.

And I'm still suspicious as to what Uncle Mo, Kaiser Chris and the Hetheringtons are up to in all this. Are things being complicated by them acting together trying to get separate deals for their clubs?

 

[GBT]

I don't know how the evil triad can sell their clubs apart from Super League - who'd buy into seperate deals?

Keeping Murdoch onside might be on the minds of a few ministers, but I don't see listed events being top of the list in gaining votes, not even with Sun readers. Maybe I'm naive.

I will say that terrestrial television will become increasingly irrelevent in the next few years; 'free to air' will be seen as the important ingredient for any sport with national aspirations.

The fact is, Sky is and as only ever been the one national broadcaster that has come close to taking Rugby League seriously.