$1bn NRL broadcast deal kicks off

[jirskyr]

I don't know how anyone can call this a good deal, the ratings are the best since 2014 and the broadcasters essentially got those rating for free from the NRL.

Question is whether that will hold if (a) crowds take ages to be allowed back, (b) all the other codes are back up and running, (c) across the duration of the season.

Rd 1 always rates well and especially so after an unexpected break.

What I do think is very smart is separating the FTA and PTV deals to end at different times, so you are negotiating with each party independently, similar with having staggered player contracts vs everyone coming off at once.

I can only imagine this is the start of the shift away from FTA, where cash-poor networks might only vie for the top-tier matches like SOO, GF, Friday night and use those to drive advertising revenues as special events. The anti-siphoning laws might be a bit antiquated now with almost all entertainment streams moving to subscription - software, TV and film, computer games etc.

Eventually NRL will probably want to have its own online product and sell subscription to that, like other codes do.

I must say as an outsider, Foxtel really does appear to have stuck fast with NRL and not rocked the boat publicly during this though period. I know Foxtel basically has no option, because NRL is so vital to their product, but they weren't pricks about it via their own mastheads (Fox can go crying to the Telecrap just as much as Nine can whinge via SMH, but they didn't). Ch Nine basically want out of the deal because they've paid beyond their means and their advertising revenues is going to hell.

 

[cochise]

I don't know how anyone can call this a good deal, the ratings are the best since 2014 and the broadcasters essentially got those rating for free from the NRL.

Question is whether that will hold if (a) crowds take ages to be allowed back, (b) all the other codes are back up and running, (c) across the duration of the season.

Rd 1 always rates well and especially so after an unexpected break.

What I do think is very smart is separating the FTA and PTV deals to end at different times, so you are negotiating with each party independently, similar with having staggered player contracts vs everyone coming off at once.

I can only imagine this is the start of the shift away from FTA, where cash-poor networks might only vie for the top-tier matches like SOO, GF, Friday night and use those to drive advertising revenues as special events. The anti-siphoning laws might be a bit antiquated now with almost all entertainment streams moving to subscription - software, TV and film, computer games etc.

Eventually NRL will probably want to have its own online product and sell subscription to that, like other codes do.

I must say as an outsider, Foxtel really does appear to have stuck fast with NRL and not rocked the boat publicly during this though period. I know Foxtel basically has no option, because NRL is so vital to their product, but they weren't pricks about it via their own mastheads (Fox can go crying to the Telecrap just as much as Nine can whinge via SMH, but they didn't). Ch Nine basically want out of the deal because they've paid beyond their means and their advertising revenues is going to hell.

The NRL has given both ch 9 and the NRL this season practically for free, I know our market is a lot smaller but even in the US TV is still king. The NFL's streaming service is blacked out in local markets and they have moved away from any exclusive games on the NFL network. I do not see how the NRL can make its own streaming service profitable in such a small market as Australia, the market is set and I can't see them being able to charge more than $10 a month.