The TV rights thread part II

[docbrown]

We shouldn't forget that the Storm exist because News understood the importance of creating a presence in the second biggest media market.

Is it News' fault that Storm have been blacklisted? Or is moreso the naval gazing set up of the previous NRL board structure that allowed themselves to be subject to the whim of Channel 9?

Ten will promote the Storm because they want the market. Nine won't because of Victorian influence at board level.

 

[LESStar58]

Current Seven boss and former Nine head honcho David Leckie believes league can deliver any network a guaranteed weekly ratings result that translates into revenue. He would love nothing more than to see at least the State of Origin series on Seven.

Given the ratings Origin turned out this year (with Origin 3 being the most watched sports programme of 2011) in the Eastern States I'd pose 2 questions;

> would Seven go into WA and SA with Origin? AND
> how much is Origin worth to Seven over 5 years? I reckon we could sell them that for about $300 mil as part of the 5 year deal.

 

[Quidgybo]

> would Seven go into WA and SA with Origin?

Well it'd be a lot easier with Seven simply because they actually own their affliates in those markets. The organisation we contract with won't be trying to persuade a third party to show matches they don't really want to show, unlike Nine.

Leigh.

 

[Quidgybo]

We shouldn't forget that the Storm exist because News understood the importance of creating a presence in the second biggest media market.

Is it News' fault that Storm have been blacklisted? Or is moreso the naval gazing set up of the previous NRL board structure that allowed themselves to be subject to the whim of Channel 9?

Ten will promote the Storm because they want the market. Nine won't because of Victorian influence at board level.

And looking at it from the club side, the only way the Storm become profitably for their existing owner (News) and saleable to a new owner is if they massively increase their profile. It's in News interests to get the club on FTA in Melbourne.

Leigh.

 

[LESStar58]

We shouldn't forget that the Storm exist because News understood the importance of creating a presence in the second biggest media market.

Is it News' fault that Storm have been blacklisted? Or is moreso the naval gazing set up of the previous NRL board structure that allowed themselves to be subject to the whim of Channel 9?

Ten will promote the Storm because they want the market. Nine won't because of Victorian influence at board level.

I agree with you but what do you mean by the bolded part. I mean, yes; there is an ex-AFL lawyer as Gygell's 2IC but in terms of having Melbourne on FTA at reasonable hours down here what does that have to do with anything. You'd half expect that someone like Browne would forget his "loyalties" to a code and put his business cap on and say "let's try this".

How the times have changed. I remember when we moved here from Sri Lanka in 1987 we used to get the feckin' Panasonic Cup on Channel Ten!

Well it'd be a lot easier with Seven simply because they actually own their affliates in those markets. The organisation we contract with won't be trying to persuade a third party to show matches they don't really want to show, unlike Nine.

Leigh.

Again, I'd be afraid of copping the old "rugby league doesnt rate" excuse if it goes elsewhere although they are a lot sharper at Seven than at Nine! At least with Nine in Melbourne they finally came around to the fact that they can win the ratings (or at least place second if Masterchef is on!) for 3 nights of the year.

 

[docbrown]

And looking at it from the club side, the only way the Storm become profitably for their existing owner (News) and saleable to a new owner is if they massively increase their profile. It's in News interests to get the club on FTA in Melbourne.

Leigh.

Exactly.

I mean I have actually advocated blacking out Storm and Perth homegames in those states to encourage them to a point of strong attendance. I think there should be some kind of minimum pre-sales before a home game is confirmed for broadcast but all away games should be broadcast on free to air.

Nine has claimed that the reason they blackout Storm home games is for the same reason.

However it does nothing to explain the countless Friday & Sunday Storm away matches that have also been blacked out. Ratings are no excuse - they will outrate Gem 40 year old repeats. Exemptions are easy to get, other sports have done it.

The only reason why Nine haven't is because of Victorian influence.

 

[docbrown]

I agree with you but what do you mean by the bolded part. I mean, yes; there is an ex-AFL lawyer as Gygell's 2IC but in terms of having Melbourne on FTA at reasonable hours down here what does that have to do with anything. You'd half expect that someone like Browne would forget his "loyalties" to a code and put his business cap on and say "let's try this".

The programmers are there at the behest of the board.

The board is roughly split beteen Victorian and New South Wales based parties.

The infighting and lack of unified direction is just mindboggling at times.

 

[Quidgybo]

Again, I'd be afraid of copping the old "rugby league doesnt rate" excuse if it goes elsewhere although they are a lot sharper at Seven than at Nine! At least with Nine in Melbourne they finally came around to the fact that they can win the ratings (or at least place second if Masterchef is on!) for 3 nights of the year.

My point is that you can have a legal contract with Nine that says they've got to show it at a reasonable time in the minor states but it's not enforceable beyond Victoria and NT because they don't actually own the stations anywhere else. And that's exactly what we saw in practice, live or mild delay on the Nine owned station in Melbourne, and the affliates dumping it to late night in Adelaide and Perth. We didn't have a legal leg to stand on because our contract was with Nine, not with the affiliates in SA and WA. But with Seven, who own their stations in all five major capitals, we'd know that when we sign a contract with them that they can actually guarantee coverage in all five capitals and that if they don't deliver we've got a legal recourse.

Leigh

 

[carlosthedwarf]

You just have to look at people in the crowds at games, let alone TV. League is king with kids.

Maybe once you get to teenagers/young adults it different. But then they're the generation that went through Super League and everything.

 

[LESStar58]

My point is that you can have a legal contract with Nine that says they've got to show it at a reasonable time in the minor states but it's not enforceable beyond Victoria and NT because they don't actually own the stations anywhere else. And that's exactly what we saw in practice, live or mild delay on the Nine owned station in Melbourne, and the affliates dumping it to late night in Adelaide and Perth. We didn't have a legal leg to stand on because our contract was with Nine, not with the affiliates in SA and WA. But with Seven, who own their stations in all five major capitals, we'd know that when we sign a contract with them that they can actually guarantee coverage in all five capitals and that if they don't deliver we've got a legal recourse.

Leigh

Oh I see. Understood.

 

[carlosthedwarf]

I think there should be some kind of minimum pre-sales before a home game is confirmed for broadcast but all away games should be broadcast on free to air.

Which is what they have in the NFL. And the blackouts are announced at least 24 hours ahead so you can plan around it.

But as you said Nine's excuse holds no water.

 

[Balkey]

all i am hopeing for is better coverage of league in Melbourne

 

[Perth Red]

Can't help but think that the reason NRL isn't shown in those states is an under the table deal to boost Fox RL subscribers in those states.

With the game shown live in SA,Vic and WA we can add over 6milllion to the annual metro total viewing figures.

 

[danmiles73]

With Lachlan according the reports in the press being behind the aggressive push for league by Ten, it is interesting to see that he is once more being mentioned as the News Ltd heir apparent: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/w...nces-to-sun-newsroom.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The presence of Lachlan on the tour signaled to observers of the Murdoch family’s internal dramas that James — the heir apparent and overall head of British newspaper operations until the phone hacking scandal that erupted last summer — may have ceded his place to his older brother. Lachlan, a onetime heir apparent himself, had a falling-out with News Corporation executives in 2005...

The announcement of Mr. Hartigan’s unexpected departure was made personally by Rupert Murdoch on a visit to Australia. “His going,” the person said, “is another step to clearing the way for Lachlan.” A spokeswoman for News Corporation declined to comment on the matter.

 

[Smiley]

Manly to feature on Biggest Loser tomorrow night.

Yet Nine chose to use GWS for their weight loss show.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Manly to feature on Biggest Loser tomorrow night.

Yet Nine chose to use GWS for their weight loss show.

Which is ironic. Have you seen their patients, I mean players?

 

[docbrown]

Manly to feature on Biggest Loser tomorrow night.

Yet Nine chose to use GWS for their weight loss show.

At least Manly will be seen on the main channel...

 

[babyg]

When will the next stats on paytv subscriptions come. I want to see if the footy channel has made a dint.

 

[VictoryFC]

If its a success, we'll hear about it. If not, we won't. What would be the target for Foxtel though?

10k subscribers comes to about $7.5m in extra revenue for Foxtel annually. Dunno how much extra they paid for auskick, but with Foxtels rates you would imagine even a modest increase would go a long way.

 

[docbrown]

I guess the Auskick pre-season comp ratings will be published on Monday so that will be an indicator.