It’s the cost to us that bothers me, I’m a Sky subscriber and I have a very nice discount on it. If BT/TNT win the rights I’m not liking the idea of shelling out £28 to just watch Rugby League, I’m not a fan of football or Union so can’t see the value,at least with Sky I have got NRL,F1 NFL and the Ashes basically a few other sports I can watch. Got to hope Sky will up their current offer.

Need to ditch Sky if possible just to get rid of Thursday matches but can see two or three involved sharing the rights with Sky who will continue as the main TV company but paying less money,so these stupid Thursday fixtures will continue.
The R/L should be pushing for much moreTerrestrial TV coverage which in reality is the only way to put R/L on the map in the whole of the UK
IMG is a costly waste of time and if they want a think tank just ask the supporters

The problem with terrestrial tv is nothing like enough money would come from it regardless of more fans watching it. The sport without the TV money would make the sport go back to the dark ages, semi pro.

Remember listening to a podcast a few months ago where they talked through something that had been said by the IMG guys, which basically said our viewing numbers are good but it just doesn't matter to broadcasters in terms of them offering us more money or getting others interested, as they can't charge well for advertising slots during the rugby. Our entire fanbase is viewed as working class, low disposable income northerners and thus they can't sell advertisement slots to any high end brands or products as we are viewed as not being able to afford them/unwilling to buy and the companies aren't willing to pay for those slots and only low cost/budget brands will.

Very sad and there's literally nothing we can do to shift that perception as you'd have to say that by and large it's fairly accurate. The only hope we have is growing our audience and expanding it beyond that typical tight northerner stereotype. We really do need as much free to air coverage as possible, try and get into the mainstream media more etc. I'm hopeful that IMGs vision of expanding RL and the clubs' digital audience is a step in the right direction on that front. It's going to be a very long, very slow journey to try and grow the sport, if it's even possible at all. But to have any chance we really do need to embrace the digital marketing side of things.

What about the companies selling over 50’s life insurance and low cost funerals, they are on all day on. Often see comments that our sport is an ageing fan base surely these companies would be interested in advertising

I can just see it now, Super League sponsored by Saga, the Help the Aged Challenge Cup......

Someone should tell flat cap manufacturers and whippet breeders that superleague advertising reaches a significantly large amount of their target audience every week on sky sports. They'd make a fortune then. Let's not forget gravy and bovril as well, I mean mushy peas are of course good, but they're not gravy.

That's a very interesting post and point of view on income generation for the RFL.

Saga and Help the Aged are our recruitment consultants

We're stuck with Sky unfortunately, i doubt Super League would change broadcaster as i believe we would lose even more casual viewers. Sky will offer whatever they want and we'll have to lump it and accept it.