Ratings show NRL dudded in rights deal

[Kimlo]

RUGBY league continues to dominate pay TV ratings, seizing 64 spots in the top 100 of the most popular programs this year, adding further support to the widespread view the code has seriously undersold its broadcasting rights to its part-owner, News Ltd.

The AFL has improved its ratings significantly since the last time the Herald gained the confidential data, but even with four exclusive pay TV games per week - part of Channel Seven's deal with Fox Sports to defray the massive $780 million outlay for the rights - AFL's popularity on subscription television is dwarfed by NRL.

Soccer took the top spot with Australia's World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Melbourne and came in fourth for their match against Iraq in Brisbane, but the only A-League match that made the top 100 was the grand final between the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets in 83rd.

Rugby union won third spot for the Super 14 final between the Crusaders and the Waratahs, but that competition produced only two other entries in the top 100 - the Waratahs' semi-final against the Sharks (87th) and their match against the Highlanders (95th).

Super 14 games are shown exclusively on pay TV and their unpopularity rings serious alarm bells for those negotiating the next TV contract, particularly whether the figures will justify expansion into Melbourne.

Cricket, the first sport shown nationally to Australians on free-to-air TV, has made no impression on subscription TV, with only one program in the top 100 - the domestic Twenty20 final between Western Australia and Victoria in 26th.

Two years ago, NRL games took 73 of the top 100 spots, while the AFL won only two.

The AFL has taken 23 positions this time, while rugby league has dropped nine, suggesting a trend that justifies Fox Sports' outlay of $50m a year for four AFL games and $42m for the NRL's five games.

However, this ignores the major readjustment to AFL programming to win improved TV ratings: four higher quality, exclusive games were scheduled per week, and the NRL was shunted from Fox Sports 1, the network's premier channel, in order to accommodate AFL.

NRL was moved to Fox Sports 3, forcing some subscribers to pay extra for that coverage, and this year it was shifted again, to Fox Sports 2.

Furthermore, Fox Sports splits its signal for the AFL, telecasting different games to different states, something it refuses to do for the NRL in Melbourne, where the match of the round on Friday night's is shown from 11.30pm.

PAY TV'S TOP 100 SPORTS SHOWS

RUGBY LEAGUE
64

AFL
23

RUGBY
7

FOOTBALL
5

CRICKET
1

read the rest @ http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/ra ... tml?page=2

I think gallop should be sacked ASAP!

 

[Alec]

When does the contract finish? Hopefully they'll get something better for us Free TV viewers next time..

 

[Kimlo]

2011 it finishes, they better get a nationwide deal which is shown in every state + atleast double what's it on atm.