Ah but there lies the rub. People do watch it it and terrestrial tv would have bid for it but Sky can outbid them. We have to get it into our thick heads that RL professionally is based on the M62 corridor and no one else is interested. Media coverage is at an all time low unless it’s a bad story. No Sky dosh, no Super League, simples.

Sadly you pretty much sum it up in regards to the sports situation. Whilst SKY are the paymasters its the RFL and Super League (Europe) Ltd that are at fault which is pretty much the clubs themselves.



The promotion of the sport is very poorly done and all the changes with structures, formats the crazy ways they've wasted money and opportunities such as the Stobart and Papa John deals are just prime examples. Its a professional sport run seemingly run by amateurs and no wonder Elston got no where at SL when theres no one in overall charge to make the decisions for the good of the game just all the clubs thinking inwardly.



Sadly until that mindset changes and they structure things at the top differently to allow and enable the sport to grow it will continue to fail. I'm not a fan of the Hearns but you can't deny they have turned darts and snooker from pub pastimes in to main stream sports generating media coverage, sponsorship and revenue. So that shows you what can be done and with RL as a much more exciting and entertaining sport than those two the mind boggles as to why the supposed business men can't see it, but they don't want to let go of any of it and woukd rather keep 100% of very little then give a percentage away for an increase in revenue, exposure and sponsorship.

I agree, Barry Hearn has marketed snooker and darts really well.



Rugby League could also learn from cricket. That’s a sport that keeps re-inventing itself. Most home Test Matches sell out on the first few days; they’ve introduced Twenty 20 to great success; then create The Hundred. Personally I prefer Test Cricket, but I recently went to a Hundred match and they’ve reached out to a new younger audience by holding it each day in the summer holidays, live DJ’s at each match and created a whole new revenue stream. All App based info and ticketing, I now keep get notifications each evening prompting me with that night’s fixture, which sometimes results in me watching some of a game that would normally not have tuned in to.



As others have said, we have one of the best sports, but we also have the worst Administration and Marketing.

For me, snooker and county cricket in recent years are more cautionary tales than examples to follow.

It's all money and power ain't it. Common sense and growing the game sadly comes second, as those who hold the reins fret about losing an ounce of power and a slice of the cake so to speak.



Sky are a double edged sword, without them Rugby leagues screwed, but they've also turned into abit of a parasite in a way, they seem obsessed with getting rugby league broadcasting rights for next to nothing while trying more and more to dictate the structure, with their ideas being a long way from what the general rugby league fan wants.



Didn't BT bid previously for broadcasting rights?



I'd suggest the Rfl, enter discussions with broadcasters like Dazn who are great for the boxing and alternative broadcasters and call Sky's bluff as they seem an abusive partner.



Also if Sky want a better quality product (the reason for the restructuring) (and threats to pull the plug) give rugby league a better broadcasting deal and pump cash into the sport an increase in salary cap would attract better players across the league. And strengthen clubs infrastructures.



I think we're hamstrung by the rfl though, need to be bought out by the nrl and a total revamp. While the rfl have the power this games going nowhere.



Google the board members for the rfl and read the profiles, your wonder how some are sat on a rfl board, making rugby based decisions

they are like watching paint dry

Hit the nail on the head about Sky but they are now a noose around the neck of Rugby League with them controlling us.

I have said previously we may have to take two steps backwards in terms of income to get rid of Sky buts its terrestrial TV that will grow this sport not Sky .Unfortunately as you say until we can get get rid of the current RFL it wont happen.

Yes, great idea if you want viewing figures for games of about 10,000.



We need Sky Sports whether we like it or not but we need a deal that allows some live games on terrestrial TV e.g. Sundays on C4 or ITV4.

Then why isn't terrestrial TV getting involved?



Which is why I've suggested alternatives, at the end of the day, footballs broadcast over several broadcasters BT, Amazon prime, sky TV etc. I dont think its beyond the realms of possibility saying to sky you can have 75% at this price, then selling the rest to BT etc.



I'd even try to negotiate with a broadcaster like Dazn for ppv per match, like our league did in a fashion.



Fact is we need to stand up to sky, and get tough

It's easy when other broadcasters are interested, but they're not, or at least they don't appear to be.

A lot of that is down to a lack of marketing.

I am certain there was terrestrial tv interest during the previous Sky package negotiation and thats were marketing skills should have been applied instead they just rolled over to Sky as the highest bidder.

Terrestrial tv coverage for limited live games together with Sky at that time would have enhanced national TV coverage of the game but of course that would have meant the RFL having a skilled negotiating team and we all know they dont.

That was reported when the deal was announced.