Why pay for England matches ?

[Howzy]

Hello guys

i dont know if this is the correct section so if it isn't I'm sure a moderator can move the thread.

anyways the internationals are in full swing and after watching the matches live on the bbc I began wondering why is it you can watch Scotland and Wales on the bbc domestic tv without paying (minus TV liscence etc) and as for England matches you have to pay a fee, now I have no problems paying a one off fee of say £9.99 just to watch it not tying me into a contract of monthly payments. But why is there this payment in the first place ?

 

[Patchey]

Because Sly bought the rights for more money than the BBC could offer.

I can't remember the exact details, but I think the 6N games have to be shown on some domestic TV while other internationals don't. I'm assuming the market for England games is bigger so Sky were prepared to pay a lot more than the BBC could offer. Presumably for Scotland and Wales the demand wasn't deemed so high so Sky didn't bother bidding.

The lack of rugby on free to view TV is a bit of an outrage to be honest.

 

[goodNumber10]

It's worth reading this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ofcom_Code_on_Sports_and_Other_Listed_and_Designated_Events

Essentially the 6nations is semi-protected by Offcom as is the Worldcup. the out of comeptition internationals are not protected. and Sky basically don't want the other countries (maybe they'd like wales but you get the point...)

 

[Patchey]

Don't get me started on Offcom...

Although this is something they sort of did okay.

 

[Big Ewis]

paying to watch England play Rugby, just what is this world coming to...

 

[TheSaffycen]

@Ewis do you pay for French intl's or is it on domestic tele ?

 

[Peat]

Because Sly bought the rights for more money than the BBC could offer.

I can't remember the exact details, but I think the 6N games have to be shown on some domestic TV while other internationals don't. I'm assuming the market for England games is bigger so Sky were prepared to pay a lot more than the BBC could offer. Presumably for Scotland and Wales the demand wasn't deemed so high so Sky didn't bother bidding.

The lack of rugby on free to view TV is a bit of an outrage to be honest.

There's been a bit of chat recently about increasing the amount on free to air to increase the audience.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Pretty sure ITV or CH4 will be going in for some Euro rugby at some point.

 

[goodNumber10]

@Ewis do you pay for French intl's or is it on domestic tele ?

All France home games are on free to air. Think canal+ have the summer tours.

Also some Euro rugby on free to air.

 

[Tony Manx]

I would suggest when the bidding comes up for the England AI's, BT will be bidding big.............!!

 

[ratsapprentice]

They already lost out to Sky.

 

[Tony Manx]

They already lost out to Sky.

Obviously as Sky have it on tonight..............but if you read my post it says "when the bidding comes up"!

 

[ratsapprentice]

The bidding came up a month or so ago and BT lost to Sky.
I think the rights go back up in about 6 years.

 

[Tony Manx]

Correct....new deal starts 2015 and covers up to 2019-20 season!

 

[Big Ewis]

@Ewis do you pay for French intl's or is it on domestic tele ?

you only tagged half of me, and so as an arrogant reply I'll do the same to you in turn. @The yeah we get all the 6N games (all of em, not just France games) and the November tests on national TV. The 3 annual summer ones Canal+ airs em, it's the one encrypted channel in France that you have to pay for. They're also the guys airing Top 14 matches, it's a network declined over a few channels (Canal+, Canal+Sport, Canal+movies, etc..).

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

In NZ the only free to air rugby is the World Cup. Everything else is paid and you're looking at at least $50 a month.

 

[Big Ewis]

and yes of course the France matches of the RWC*
forgot that in my previous post.