Mentioned this before, and I confess that like a lot of Brits, I'm only a tennis fan for a fortnight each year, and I have it on the BBC now as I bash this out.
The Beeb really go to town when SW19 comes round, with wall to wall coverage, proving what they're capable of, with ultra professional camera work, commentary, and punditry, but...............
It (in my opinion) also brings to light how poorly they seem to regard / cover the Greatest Game on the Planet!
Is it gonna change? Nooooooooooooooo way, but I'd like your views on it please!
Thank you!
Spelly.
What do you expect Spelly?
They will give it the amount of time/effort they think gives them a worthwhile return in terms of viewing numbers.
Bar maybe the F.A. Cup final or an Olympics Wimbledon is prob the Beeb's crown jewel & will have millions of viewers each day, whereas RL won't get anywhere near that even for Challenge cup or an Ashes test.
Simple economics & also pressure of where/how to spend the T.V tax!
What do you expect Spelly?
They will give it the amount of time/effort they think gives them a worthwhile return in terms of viewing numbers.
Bar maybe the F.A. Cup final or an Olympics Wimbledon is prob the Beeb's crown jewel & will have millions of viewers each day, whereas RL won't get anywhere near that even for Challenge cup or an Ashes test.
Simple economics & also pressure of where/how to spend the T.V tax!
Touché mon ami, but................
As you say, there's millions like me, who'll tune in daily till Sunday week, then almost forget about it for another twelve months, but..............
I (selfishly?) find it galling, to think how the sport we all love, is shown (used?) in such a poor light by the country's national broadcaster.
Am I pushing against a brick wall? Course I am!
Spelly.
@spelly You're ridiculously biased though, as you've admitted many times.
Where do you think League fits in amongst other sports in the country in terms of popularity?
Is it more popular than Cricket, Swimming, Athletics, Snooker and quite a few other sports who are popular but not always high profile? Snooker is fairly easy to put decent coverage on at a reasonable price, but how much coverage do the rest get on BBC?
Unfortunately RL is very limited geographically which doesn't help the International game, and this is one of the bigger problems with the game.
Union internationals help the game financially which helps to produce better players & interest etc.
Even the Welsh RU (Which sounds like it's worse than the RFL) has money from Internationals to help shore up a dying regional game.
RL doesn't usually have this & is completely propped up by some rich owners for a majority of clubs.
@spelly 1) You're ridiculously biased though, as you've admitted many times.
2) Where do you think League fits in amongst other sports in the country in terms of popularity?
Is it more popular than Cricket, Swimming, Athletics, Snooker and quite a few other sports who are popular but not always high profile? Snooker is fairly easy to put decent coverage on at a reasonable price, but how much coverage do the rest get on BBC?
Unfortunately RL is very limited geographically which doesn't help the International game, and this is one of the bigger problems with the game.
Union internationals help the game financially which helps to produce better players & interest etc.
Even the Welsh RU (Which sounds like it's worse than the RFL) has money from Internationals to help shore up a dying regional game.3) RL doesn't usually have this & is completely propped up by some rich owners for a majority of clubs.
1) And proud of it!
2) Not very high at all unfortunately! I love watching snooker on the box, and although the majority is now on TNT, the Beeb retains the big 'uns, inc the crown jewel in Sheff, which they cover with professionalism. The commentators are more than decent as well.
3) I wish we had one at the Lions!
I admit that I'm flogging a dead horse here, but going back to SW19, it really pisses me off seeing what the Beeb can do for some, and don't do for others!
Right - Back to the tennis! 🤣
Spelly.
I'm not a fan of tennis tbh but Wimbledon is the oldest and biggest of the major tournos, I suppose it's both a British and BBC coup to have it. I don't mind it being wall-to-wall for 2 weeks a year. Apart from the lead in comp, there's scant/no tennis on mainstream TV for 48 weeks a year so, fair's fair. Despite the fact that I don't watch it, I wouldn't like it to be lost to Sky.
As for RL coverage, I think given the interest in the game, we actually do OK. The BBC must show 12 or so SL games a season, Challenge Cup games, highlights, we have a decent website presence. If anything, I think we're probably oversold. As for the quality of the coverage, subjective I suppose.
Sky’s coverage isn’t much better. Despite saying watch vegans live, it’s pretty impossible. Especially since Sky Sports plus has started. Lots of the matches are on the red button, which you can’t record, so if you’re out you miss it, and there’s often another match on at the same time either on the red button or another channel.
I wrote to Sky recently asking why so many matches are on the red button, and also why they do an even more stupid thing as they are doing on Saturday, showing a repeat of Friday’s match between Leigh and Wigan on Mix, and showing showing the Wakefield Catalan game on the red button at the same time.
They replied saying they are trying to show all sports fairly, but didn’t mention why they show a repeat of a match on a main channel instead of a live match.
Seems crazy to me, surely they will get higher veiwing figures for a live game rather than a repeat
Vegans live? What channel is that on?
I asked this about tennis a while ago, but I must admit that I've forgotten the answer! 🙄
Some, but not all players, place a bit of rubber / plastic at the base of the strings in their racket, just above the handle. What is its function please?
Thank you!
Spelly.
Interesting that the chap who, for a time, tried to manage and organise the RFL was the organiser of the Wimbledon spectacular.
Luckily we had fat Nige to rescue us and take us to the spectacle that is RL!!!
Interesting that the chap who, for a time, tried to manage and organise the RFL was the organiser of the Wimbledon spectacular.
Luckily we had fat Nige to rescue us and take us to the spectacle that is RL!!!
............... and Nigel is back to inflict even more damage (and ensure Bradford return to SL!!!)
I wonder if he will give back his £35000 severance pay. The RFL are a law to themselves and need prosecuting.Interesting that the chap who, for a time, tried to manage and organise the RFL was the organiser of the Wimbledon spectacular.
Luckily we had fat Nige to rescue us and take us to the spectacle that is RL!!!
............... and Nigel is back to inflict even more damage (and ensure Bradford return to SL!!!)