Would be interesting to see what clubs backed it, who didn’t and their reasons why.
St Helens Rugby League Football Club
£750k abortive fee payable
I think the most important bit of that article is buried in the last sentence: Sky’s broadcast offer now up to £30m.
Here is my guess
Definitely For Private equity:
Cas
Wakey
HKR
Salford
Leigh
Possibly for
Huddersfield
Wigan?
Definitely Against:
Saints
Wire
Cats
Possibly against
Leeds ( never too sure when slippery Gary is involved)
Hull
The way it has been explained to me Dux is Elstone was in effect placed in post by SKY. It was they that demanded pulling away from the RFL which I get, and it was instrumental in the removal of Wood. My feelings on SKY are well known, however this is pretty crass. Its almost like going to your employees with a 5% pay cut and saying that is the deal folks. Then the reaction begins and its fight or flight. Then you walk in and say OK after discussions with your union we will keep you on the current rate. The shop floor forget the initial 3% pay rise demand and the union tells them we saved your jobs boys, before walking away with a brown envelope from the business.
I would have thought that the most important bit of that article is actually - Elstone doesn't get backing of the clubs before embarking on a £750,000 capital venture.
How in gods name do you start down the road that has a possible £750k price tag if it doesn't work without agreeing it up front with your stakeholders
Aaron Bower had tweeted a piece suggesting the deal is shorter than the initial 20m offer though I've not actually read it.
https://twitter.com/AaronBower/statu...597967873?s=19
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Yes we are not the Premier League, £750k is a lot if money given the RFL was strapped for cash not so long ago. One problem with our sport seems to be that there is no-one amongst it with any negotiating skills; Id like to assume the SL clubs knew about a termination fee but surely £750k is way too steep? Who agreed that was ok especially given as you say there was no guarantee if this going ahead?
Its like those that run the sport think everyone who follows RL are some sort of mecca bingo, drink 10 pints at t’ Working Mans club Northern stereotype and won’t notice their complete idiocy.
That's probably a good thing. I've no idea on the length of the contract but a 2 year £30m a year deal would be ideal with the World Cup coming up.
RL needs to put everything into the World Cup and make it a big success. Hopefully the England team can do well too. That could really raise the profile of the sport and put us in the driving seat when we come to negotiating the next TV deal.
Originally Posted by Despondent Dave
And buy time to:
1. Build rapport/relationships with other broadcasters.
2. Investigate the streaming opportunities - another 2 years allows that market to mature a little more.
The sport needs to stop acting as if they need SKY; there are times when they behave like Oliver Twist in the orphanage: 'please sir, can I have some more.' Rugby League needs a media profile and SKY are just one of many in that particular sector. As I've said before SKY's presentation is becoming an embarrassment to the sport and the communities where it is played.
That sounds pretty much spot on; get the big games broadcast terrestrially and let viewers decide if they want to tune in for the smaller fish. I don't think it really helps the game if the casual sports fan sees the smaller games not sold out. It would cast a shadow over the perception of the success of the event. I think the organisers have got the venues right this time. They just need to attract good crowds to the venues.
The problem is the people who run the sport or who head up the SL teams seem oblivious to the fact that the presentation of their sport by SKY is abysmal. I bet if you asked Eamonn he'd probably think people still thought that ridiculous try music was dead cool, Baz n' Tez were funny and Bill Arthur was RL's Bill McClaren.
There can't be a sport that is so out of touch with its supporters in this regard. For a sport that prides itself on 'community' that is shameful, moreso as the TV deals for our sport have much wider ramifications than money alone. You only need to look at how the Challenge Cup has been debased and the messing about with the League format durings SKY's tenure of broadcasting rights to understand that.
The rub here is that surely something has to give. As Gray77 has said before it's likely SKY sees RL as cheap little placeholder that it can use to fill quiet slots in the schedule whilst holding a stable (but captive) audience amongst the games supporters who have been steadfastly loyal. If this is true, surely the fact that more of us bemoan their woeful coverage that belongs in 1991 not 2021 is a threat. I'm seriously thinking of jibbing SKY off and I wouldn't be surprised if others are.
At the same token, the current presentation is unlikely to attract new followers, especially those outside the 'core areas.' Whils Stevo was allowed to carry on for about 5-10 years too long many mates from the SW found SKY's coverage risible to say the least and their cheap hyperbole something that should accompany WWE not a serious, self respecting sport.
I totally despair that Elstone and Rimmer through to Lenagan, McManus don't seem to articulate a better vision of how our sport should be presented more appropriately. At the moment its declining to Eddie Waring like commentary in the 70's.