Re the tv rights, perhaps the RFL should attempt to reach a separate deal with a North American broadcaster to televise all TWP and Ottawa games (and NY when they come in) – and possibly other games. If Perez can be believed, there is a big market there and broadcasters will be fighting to show the games and pay accordingly. It would be better RFL getting any deal direct rather than allowing TWP and Ottawa to agree their own deals. This could be a third element of the invitation to tender for tv rights. It would also require something to be written into UK tv deals to allow this. On this basis, they could agree to give TWP their share of central funding. Of course, it could all be smoke and mirrors and there will be no chance of any substantial tv rights deal in NA (but you can live in hope). This, of course, assumes that the NA expansion continues.
Frank, just out of curiosity and I am not been condescending, I am just curious, why do you as an average fan want a substantial tv deal from America, how does it benefit you?
Rugby isn’t “key” tho is it. Rugby clubs are still signing players and spending money like it’s an open check book so spare me the cries of teams financial woes.
Again I have no idea what point you're trying to make?
You support Widnes yes? You realise curtailing the season would see Widnes in financial peril yes?
Re the tv rights, perhaps the RFL should attempt to reach a separate deal with a North American broadcaster to televise all TWP and Ottawa games (and NY when they come in) – and possibly other games. If Perez can be believed, there is a big market there and broadcasters will be fighting to show the games and pay accordingly. It would be better RFL getting any deal direct rather than allowing TWP and Ottawa to agree their own deals. This could be a third element of the invitation to tender for tv rights. It would also require something to be written into UK tv deals to allow this. On this basis, they could agree to give TWP their share of central funding. Of course, it could all be smoke and mirrors and there will be no chance of any substantial tv rights deal in NA (but you can live in hope). This, of course, assumes that the NA expansion continues.
It would make sense but there's a few complications, first you'd be doing deals with several broadcasters who are split geographically rather than one overarching broadcaster like Sky over here, second I can't see them having much interest unless all those teams were in the same top division and there was little/no risk of losing any of the teams from that competition. Which would be controversial to say the least...
I couldn’t care less about clubs been in financial peril including Widnes, maybe then the RFL would create a game which isn’t a false economy relying on Sky to prop teams up, as the old saying goes “you don’t build houses on sand”.
But yet my point is pretty concise, “player welfare over financial welfare”
I couldn’t care less about clubs been in financial peril including Widnes, maybe then the RFL would create a game which isn’t a false economy relying on Sky to prop teams up, as the old saying goes “you don’t build houses on sand”. But yet my point is pretty concise, “player welfare over financial welfare”
OK cool.
And btw, I am perplexed to why championship clubs get central funding. Clubs like Rochdale offer nothing to the game, attract 600 fans in the championship yet get hands out, why?
Make the game sustainable, do-one with agents, cap directors fees and cut player wages, return to wages for a win and you will probably see a better overall game in this country.
Widnes or any championship club do not deserve central funding.
I think your complaints around sustainability apply to pretty much every professional sport in the 21st century. TV money underpins clubs finances, the TV money arrives because you are selling them a product to put on their screens, to get viewers who buy subscriptions and are an audience to advertisers. Sky don't give the rugby league money every year because they like us, we sell them something they value.
You might say we're too dependent on them, I'd probably agree, but it's not like other sports are different, it's the way of the world.
Is it just amateurism you want? It already exists, people doing it for love of the game without the money side of things. There's nothing wrong with that if that's what you want, it's admirable. But I don't know why you want to turn the professional game into that when it already exists.
I don’t want the game to be amateur but the last few years too many people have endorsed a false view that their is money to be made in RL. Rule extracting hundreds of thousands out of our club epitomises how many directors use the game for “easy money”. I just want rugby league to focus on its roots, a minority sport played for local pride in working class areas.
In terms of sustainability, it is ghastly that Salford could average 2,500 fans during the 2018 season yet still be okay because of the tv deal, clubs don’t need to develop the game locally anymore, staying in SL is all they need to do to protect their business model.