Chances of an NRL channel ?

[pacey]

Is there any chance there will be a full NRL channel next year with the new broadcasting rights ? Like something similar to the AFL's fox footy ?
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[Jazza]

I remember reading an article about it being a slight possibility.
This is the only article I could find about it from 2 months ago:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/broadcast/nrl-channel-may-help-sweeten-new-tv-broadcast-rights-deal/story-fna045gd-1226348183510

I would say it would depend on whether a dedicated channel would increase new subscriptions which is what the aim is for a dedicated AFL channel. There is a higher percentage of people in Sydney that have Foxtel compared to the percentage in Melbourne which means that there is more of an opportunity to gain more subscriptions down there then in Sydney. Obviously the easiest way to get more people on board down there is to implement an AFL channel.

Implementing an NRL channel may not have the same affect as more people in Sydney already have Foxtel, this is why Foxtel has paid so much for the AFL rights, because there is more chance of them gaining more subscriptions in Melbourne then Sydney.

Also it might depend on what Fox Sports does with the empty timeslots on the weekend with NRL matches no longer on the Fox Sports 1, 2 and 3 channels.

 

[innsaneink]

I have FOX and I find theres more than enough footy on TV to do me.

Fri nite footy x2
Sat - usually 3 games and repeats of fri if you wish
Sun footy show 9 - more repeats on FOX and 2 games on FOX wil delayed on nine
Mon - MNF
Tues - Chooseday NF - the back page (sports program)
Wed - NRLon FOX
Thur - TGP and TFS

 

[GNR4LIFE]

AFL coverage has always been light years ahead of the NRL

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

I'd be more than happy to swap my Al Jazeera channel on my Foxtel subscription with a dedicated NRL channel.
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_Posted using RoarFEED 2012_

 

[alex]

If there was an NRL channel, rather than more talk/analysis type shows, I'd like to see all games televised - all U20s, NSW Cup, QLD Cup and UK Super League.

 

[dermo]

AFL coverage has always been light years ahead of the NRL

What makes you say that? I watch a fair bit of AFL and I can't say I notice a massive difference except that maybe the Cometti/Mcavaney conbo is a bit more professional than Gus and Rabs.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

If there was an NRL channel, rather than more talk/analysis type shows, I'd like to see all games televised - all U20s, NSW Cup, QLD Cup and UK Super League.

That would be a great concept… I'd be happy to swap "Housewives of Wherever" for a NRL Channel!!!

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

It would be nice, but IMHO it's not just the contempt of the current broadcasting channels that holds this game back. There is a genuine lack of personalities in the game who are in the mould of Warren Smith & Brett Kimmorley (i.e. professional, knowledgeable, articulate and have a likeable on air persona.)

Besides those two, and possibly Andrew Voss, who else would be able to handle the pre-game stuff with a bit of eloquence and will call the game with diplomacy and sensibility? (e.g. no Gus and Rabs having an argument over whose senility is worse.)

That holds the game back just as much as the current broadcast structure. I have Fox as well, but it also seems that it may alienate those who cannot afford PayTV to watch what was once known as the working man's game.

 

[GoldXR50Leroy]

I understand that one of the reasons that have prevented a dedicated Rugby League channel over the last couple of years has been the lack of archival material, not all the stations that broadcast our great game kept it all on tape.
While Fox has a dedicated AwFuL channel I'm surprised when I'm surfing the channels that there are 2 games of gAyFL on at the same time, to get my fix of the English Super League game I rely on Eurosports who do broadcast live but their replays are always inconvient.
How often does a Wests Tigers NYC game happen live, the last one or should I say the only one I've seen this season was a rather lively affair from Canberra, would you watch the U/20's in delay.
We all love to see old Balmain or Wests games on Chooseday night footy and the Wests Tigers games on the Head To Head so of course a NRL only show on Fox would be a sucess.
There are a couple of things that Fox can capitalise on here, we have State Of Origin and genuine Test matches, now remember we get the AFL channel whether we watch it or not on Fox but a NRL channel highlighting what AwFuL misses out on would be a huge selling point for our sport.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

AFL coverage has always been light years ahead of the NRL

What makes you say that? I watch a fair bit of AFL and I can't say I notice a massive difference except that maybe the Cometti/Mcavaney conbo is a bit more professional than Gus and Rabs.

First of every game is live. They have talk shows on a nightly basis with AFL insider, AFL 360, On the couch, AFL teams. They even have a show dedicated to supercoach, not to mention Eddie's talk show as well. Then theres the fact unlike the NRL, they don't hire ex-players with the interlectual capacity of Gordon Tallis or Mark Gasnier. Any ex-player you see on their shows actually come across as they know what they are doing as opposed to the majority of ex players the NRL hire

On a side note i noticed yesterday Fox sent Matt Russel and Loz over to NZ to call the Warriors game. For as long as i can remember i've never seen Fox use their own callers over there, they just leave it to sky. I'm guessing the move has something to do with that absolute horror show that is the new caller they have this yr. Not sure of his name as it isn't worth remembering, but he's the worst caller i've ever heard in my life

 

[Guest]

I don't think there would be enough demand to justify it.

 

[GoldXR50Leroy]

I don't think there would be enough demand to justify it.

But Willow, whether or not I watch the AFL channel it's still in 'my' package, I would rather my money for the Pay TV subscription going towards a NRL only channel, there must be enough AFL demand so 'why' wouldn't Rugby League have the same demand, we have fans in other states crying out for a footy fix and you are poo pooing the whole concept!.