At least *Something* seems to be happening, just feels like
the game has been in a slow decline for so long.


 


There is a debate to be had on Catalans, I'm very much in
favour of them being in the competition, but they have received significant
investment from the game in terms of TV revenue and its difficult to quantify
financially what they have given in return, there is an argument that a club
that generates 12-14m Euros in revenue could do without the TV money coming
from the UK given the 1,000 of fans that travel over and support the local
economy in Perpignan.  I'm a big fan of Catalan, and further French involvement
in the league, but without a paying French TV contract we need to look at the
financials carefully in terms of what is 'fair'.


 The suggested model seems to be 8 teams from the UK Wire,
Pies, Saints, Leeds, Hull FC, Hull KR, with 2 'others' from Leigh, Wakey, Cas,
Huddersfield, Salford, London, Bradford and two from France, Catalan &
Toulouse presumably.  With the ones missing out playing in a ten team
second tier.  Can't say I'm a fan of a ten team comp, 14 is the ideal
number for me but I accept that there isn't enough money in the game to support
that it seems.  Ultimately we need to provide what the broadcasters will
pay for I guess.


 I'm wary of the NRL coming in if I'm honest, I accept the
way they run the game is FAR better than the RFL ever has, but I'm just
concerned about what we give up and losing any element of control - there would
have to be some form of break clause involved I guess, which would obviously
mean paying back any sort of NRL investment.  Not sure where this leaves
IMG either? We brought them in 18 months ago to turn things around, we're
ripping that up now?
The one thing NRL involvement may bring with it is further investment in clubs from Australian sources I guess...

Wires71: I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.  Could not stop laughing when I played that just now, my god that took me back, am I weird in thinking it’s better than most the crap they play now. Or is it just my age showing lol.

Wires71: I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.  Could not stop laughing when I played that just now, my god that took me back, am I weird in thinking it’s better than most the crap they play now. Or is it just my age showing lol.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/nrl-seeking-control-of-super-league-tv-deal-as-global-rights-on-new-channel-mooted

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/nrl-seeking-control-of-super-league-tv-deal-as-global-rights-on-new-channel-mooted

The best way we could get coverage for rugby league would be on a free to view channel ,sky is doing the game no favours . For too long sky has used rugby league as a shelf filler while taking it away from the casual viewer & has made RL dependent on sky tv.

Agreed, but the motive here is to develop revenue from TV rights licensing, not eyeballs on screens for free. Competition, as mooted, from Amazon Prime or DAZN would help put some pressure on Sky to pay a fair fee for licensing rights - or lose out. To be honest the whole thing with Sky is stale, it needs a revamp. 

100% it needs a revamp, it?s tired it?s old and needs to move forward. Being honest the only one I would keep from current crop is Carney and when he finally retires Tomkins I do like listening to him. All the others are garbage. Also I would prefer it to stay on Sky as I do watch other sports(not football) and don?tfancy paying for another sub just for rugby, but hey ho let?s see what happens.

Free to view well the BBC are doing a great job NOT. Childish graphics that have not changed for years and now Sharon Shortle, no thanks.