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Six Nations Rugby going behind a TV paywall

Extremely short sighted if so. Game already struggles to get participation with complaints of safety and other sports competing, should be trying to get more eyes on rugby not just richer ones.
 
Saintjay said:
Only two seasons on Netflix and now possibly this. Money wins over generating interest and participation.
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Sport will be dead by 2040. I know cricket has possible do better than people thought it would after it went fully Pay TV but it doesn't have the dementia and other brain damage issues as well.
 
Problem seems to be more with the BBC than ITV.

Easy to fix. Just bin off Wimbledon. And Strictly.

Might be part TNT / ITV or even BBC as part of a sweetheart deal.

Moving from terrestrial obviously brings issues around attracting new / casual fans. Apart from that I don’t actually mind it going to TNT if that’s going to be the full ‘home of rugby’. But then I already have it. Others may take the same view I’ve done with the European stuff and just say “sod it, I’m not paying for yet another channel”.
 
Rugbyfan564 said:
www.rugbypass.com

Rugby News | Latest Rugby News & Articles | RugbyPass

Global rugby news and analysis from the world of rugby including the Rugby World Cup, Six Nations, The Rugby Championship, Premiership Rugby, United Rugby Championship, Heineken Cup, Super Rugby Pacific and much more!
www.rugbypass.com www.rugbypass.com
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Rugbyfan564 said:
Moving to TNT entirely apparently.
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www.rugbypass.com

Six Nations TV rights soon to be up for grabs

Exclusive free-to-air coverage of the Championship could be a thing of the past.
www.rugbypass.com www.rugbypass.com

TNT Sports could add the Six Nations to their expanding portfolio of international rugby starting next season. RugbyPass understands the subscription channel will weigh up the pros and cons of bidding for the rights once the tender is put out by the Six Nations organisers.
Click to expand...

So completely misleading post.
 
Vieux Talonneur said:
Problem seems to be more with the BBC than ITV.

Easy to fix. Just bin off Wimbledon. And Strictly.

Might be part TNT / ITV or even BBC as part of a sweetheart deal.

Moving from terrestrial obviously brings issues around attracting new / casual fans. Apart from that I don't actually mind it going to TNT if that's going to be the full 'home of rugby'. But then I already have it. Others may take the same view I've done with the European stuff and just say "sod it, I'm not paying for yet another channel".
Click to expand...
ITV already pay almost two thirds so it’s them less willing to pay more than the BBC with slightly more than a third (To cover Women and U20).
 
The current TV deal probably suits ITV & BBC quite well - BBC get the cheaper but more politically-valuable Scottish & Welsh games, ITV get the commercially valuable ones, the public & casual viewer wins.

The two broadcasters went joint in 2015 when Sky had outbid what the BBC could offer.. but with the 2 combined, the gap between Sky's pay offer & the FTA one, wasn't enough to warrant the paywall. I dare say there's similar sums being done now, but I won't be at all surprised if there's a hybrid/shared deal that results. TNT get the full tournament, but with some FTA sharing or simulcasts.

Unfortunately, rugby does have a habit of shooting itself in the foot - look at CVC investment, the EPRC rights deal with Premier, and the RFU board farce for evidence of that!
 
Rugbyfan564 said:
ITV already pay almost two thirds so it's them less willing to pay more than the BBC with slightly more than a third (To cover Women and U20).
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Well the BBC has previously clearly flagged the pressures on its revenues and how that may impact on 6N / other sports. Not sure where ITV currently stands but both those things could be true. I’d have thought the 6N could have attracted some top tier advertisers.
 
Saintjay said:
I've never got why Wimbledon and the annual donkey walloping at Aintree must be on terrestrial.

Yet the six nations nope.
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I think LTA and the Aintree know how important wide reach is for their sports. Horse racing shows little interest in removing itself in terrestrial television (plenty of money in sponsorship).

I'm amazed how well Cricket has done despite its chasing of money but its very much a rich boys sport now and participation in state schools had gone way down.
 
TNT seem a reluctant with their statement today in the updated article. Welsh politicians have been demanding the Six Nations be protected in Wales and it also Welsh language issues (TNT would have to provide p it if they didn’t want it on S4C or face a massive political mess). The Irish government has always hinted it could protect the Six Nations in Ireland as well.

A TNT Sports spokesperson said: "While we think the Six Nations is the best international rugby competition in the world, its important partnership with free-to-air television across the UK and Ireland, but particularly in markets like Wales and Ireland, would make our involvement very challenging."
Click to expand...
 
ncurd said:
I think LTA and the Aintree know how important wide reach is for their sports. Horse racing shows little interest in removing itself in terrestrial television (plenty of money in sponsorship).

I'm amazed how well Cricket has done despite its chasing of money but its very much a rich boys sport now and participation in state schools had gone way down.
Click to expand...
I think Cricket has also has benefits for private schools that Rugby doesn’t in terms of being easier to combine studying and playing as well.
 
Vieux Talonneur said:
Problem seems to be more with the BBC than ITV.

Easy to fix. Just bin off Wimbledon. And Strictly.

Might be part TNT / ITV or even BBC as part of a sweetheart deal.

Moving from terrestrial obviously brings issues around attracting new / casual fans. Apart from that I don't actually mind it going to TNT if that's going to be the full 'home of rugby'. But then I already have it. Others may take the same view I've done with the European stuff and just say "sod it, I'm not paying for yet another channel".
Click to expand...
I'd prefer Amazon, £9 v £30+ per month
 

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