I understand it's actually more the various RLs who are causing the delays more than anything, with their various demands and wanting to protect their own positions.
Yeah QRL and NSWRL haven't liked each other since the NSWRL just dumped two teams in Qld to essentially take over the running of a national competition. It's really frustrating to think about how different the League landscape would be in this country if the NSWRL and QLD Cup had merged back in the 80s. Super League wouldn't have stood a chance if expansion had been managed properly imo.
The Commission should really go in hard with the TV rights. With the AFL rights settled, Channel Ten and Nine really need league - which actually brings in more in advertsing return than does AFL. Moreover, league is such an awesome game to watch on TV. It's probably the only sport I actually prefer watching on the box rather than at the ground.
AFL actually has a couple of very key differences that make it more valuable on a per capita basis to a free to air network.
- Live AFL games can have more ad breaks because you can slot an ad or two in after each goal. NRL games can often go for 20 minutes without a break in play, and generally only 4-10 tries are scored per game while the AFL has 20-40 goals.
- The games are longer.
Both of the above mean it's easier to sell advertising space for AFL which is huge for FTA networks. Of course the NRL produces an awesome product for TV, and the AFL gets very poor ratings FTA in two of the three biggest markets in the country, but there is a competetive advantage for them. That said I think 9 will still go really hard at league, with 10 maybe looking to get one game. League still completely dominates the ratings up here, and having a game on FTA pretty much means winning the ratings battle on that evening.
NRL is massive for Fox though. Because the NRL is such a good product for TV getting all the games live means that their northern subscription rates are massive (I'm card carrying proof tbh). The reason they went so hard for the AFL was to hopefully drive that sort of surge in the southern states. The NRL should be focusing on extracting every cent possible out of Fox because of this, and for that reason it's critical that News (and Gallop) are gone from the game before any negotiations start.
Still don't trust the bastards though.
The NRL should use their strong bargaining position to:
- return to a day time GF
- set the games at season's start (rather than set the weekend schedule four week's in advance)
- give all teams exposure on Friday nights
- don't put players in the position of needing to back up 24-72 after a rep game
Simply put, take control of the schedule in the way that AFL do. I seriously doubt Channel Nine will walk away or won't pay what the NRL wants, if the NRL brings in these sorts of measures.
League's very strong bargaining position, is at least partially due to the concessions it has made on scheduling though. Having the best two games on every Friday means that there is no contenst in the ratings war on Friday nights in NSW and QLD. Would it rate as well in QLD for example if we had Cronulla vs Melbourne and Canberra vs Penrith? Almost definitely not, and like it or not that will effect what the networks will pay for it. Completely agree about the GF though. That's a once a year showpeice event that should be about tradition rather than money.
People whinge about Monday night football too, and getting to a ground after work on a Monday evening SUCKS, but it's massive for Fox. It absolutely rates the house down, and it's a big carrot for those thinking about subscribing. Clubs complain about smaller crowd numbers, but would the moderate once a year increase in a crowd that each club gets be worth the millions of dollars lost to the game if Fox can't get MNF? Because again, that effects what the networks will be willing to pay.
If there's something the NRL should play hardball with it's the sheduling of games in expanding markets. RL should be looking to get Storm games shown live (or very close to live) in Melbourne, every week. If the Reds come in the same should be done with Perth viewers. Every network has digital channels now, so there really should be no excuse. The AFL has done that very well with the Swans (and the Lions?), and likely will do the same with GWS. Despite the fact neither will rate very well, if you're a Swans fan in Sydney, you can watch the game live or very close to on FTA. It's vital if the game wants to expand properly in those markets imo.
