NRL powerbrokers tackle key issues
Brent Read, Rugby League
From: The Australian
April 21, 2011 12:00AM
TWO of the game's most pressing issues will move a step closer to resolution today when powerbrokers from across the code meet to discuss the future of Monday night football and the identity of the game's inaugural eight commissioners.
With the AFL on the verge of announcing its next television deal, the NRL's broadcasting committee will meet consultants LEK to thrash out a series of key issues in the lead-up to broadcasting negotiations. Monday night football is at the top of the agenda.
Some club officials have raised concerns over its impact on their bottom line but the flip side of that is the ratings the game has attracted on pay television this year.
Last Monday night's game between St George Illawarra and South Sydney was the fifth-highest show in the history of Foxtel, attracting more than 390,000 viewers.
The other issues for the television committee are the introduction of breaks in play to accommodate advertising and the future of Saturday night football, in particular whether it would be better placed on commercial rather than pay television.
No matter what the outcome, the NRL is well placed to cash in on unprecedented interest in the game. On pay television this year, nine of the top 10 shows have been NRL games. The NRL's spike in ratings comes as the AFL prepares to announce its next broadcasting deal, with estimates it could achieve its $1 billion target.
"We have an interest in their outcome on a number of levels but most importantly, it's our results including our most recent Monday night game that are what we're concerned with in preparing for our negotiations," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.
"The meeting tomorrow is just an update on a few of the developments that are going on in the industry and how we can continue to place ourselves to make the most of the opportunities."
On the future of Monday night football, Gallop was quick to point out the game had attracted record ratings this year.
"We need to put some precision around what Monday night football is worth to the game so an informed decision can be made about its future," Gallop said.
"It's hard to argue with the ratings that it is currently producing. But the clubs need to see that they are getting value for that."
The NRL television talks are tied to the formation of the independent commission, which is expected to edge towards fruition today when the inaugural eight commissioners are finalised.
Representatives from News Limited, the Australian Rugby League, the Queensland Rugby League and the NRL clubs have scheduled a phone hook-up to discuss the appointments, six of which are understood to have already been pencilled in.
The commission will include at least one woman and a person with a background in indigenous affairs. Former Australia forward John Grant will be among the final eight, while there is support for former Qantas chairman Gary Pemberton and former Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg.
While the appointment of commissioners is seen as a significant step, some issues are still bubbling away behind the scenes, most notably the clubs' request for News Limited (publisher of The Australian) to sign a non-competition clause which would prevent a repeat of the Super League war.
