Conference Highlights Code's Power
THE first Annual Conference involving the soon to be appointed ARL Commissioners along with the NRL Chairmen and Chief Executives, as well as representatives of the ARL, NSWRL, QRL, CRL, ARL Development and NZRL has been given compelling evidence of Rugby Leagues power as at Television sport.
Figures released to the meeting today showed that a cumulative audience of 134million viewers tuned in to Australian free to air and subscription television to watch, NRL, Toyota Cup, State of Origin, City Country, Australia v New Zealand Tests and the Four Nations in 2011. The figure is 12 million more than any other Australian sport and does not take into account a further 12 million Rugby League viewers in New Zealand.
The detailed analysis of 2011 television results confirmed Rugby League as Australias number one television sport.
Other key points included:
the highest average ratings of any football code on free to air and subscription television in 2011
four of the top five sporting programs of the year on free to air television (including Origin Three as the highest rating free to air sports program)
sixty-four of the top one hundred programs on subscription television
the highest rating Origin series in history
1.3% growth in free to air audiences
16% growth in subscription television
They are a powerful set of results across the coverage of the game, NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today.
As we look towards media negotiations in the months ahead they are a reminder of Rugby Leagues value in the market.
Todays meeting involved considerable discussion in relation to rights negotiations, reiterating that they would commence after the formation of the ARL Commission and that the game with the support of the clubs would strongly pursue the concept of a full-season schedule with days and time-slots determined at the start of the year.
The 2011 Annual Conference was the last under the auspices of the NRL Partnership and the Chairman elect of the ARL Commission, Mr John Grant, and his fellow commissioners were in attendance.
Mr Grant made it clear that the Commission was indeed weeks away from formally assuming control but stressed there were a number of legal processes and due diligence obligations to be completed.
Rome wasnt built in a day but it was built, Mr Grant said in his address.
Mr Grant went on to assure the conference that the Commissioners would be focused on a whole of game approach.
There will be a strong focus on getting a whole of game strategic plan in place, he said.
It is important that as we look towards a significant growth in revenue that there is a strategy that underpins the way that money is used.
The Commission is a unique opportunity to review existing plans without the constraints of the games previous structure.
The meeting today looked closely at marketing and new media strategies as well as a close analysis of Rugby Leagues development figures.
We saw 35,000 new participants enter the game in 2011 - more than ever before, Director of League integration, Andrew Hill, said today.
There are over 480,000 club and school players taking part in actual competitions, not just short term clinics, and it is important people acknowledge just where our strengths are.
There are over a million more who take part in clinics, back-yard league activities or some other organised Rugby League experience.
There is no doubt that we can do a lot of things better but in the review that we have been conducting into Rugby Leagues development pathways it is clear also that there are a lot of positives to build on.
