www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... -la38.html "Judging by the figures, that appeal is growing in Sydney, despite the litany of off-field problems rugby league has endured this year. Across all competitions, rugby league had an aggregate audience of 128.5 million this year, compared to the AFL's 124.3 million. In Sydney, rugby league ratings grew by 12 per cent over 2008 figures. All of which gives the NRL even more clout when officials sit down with TV executives to thrash out the next broadcasting deal. The current arrangement expires at the end of 2012." australias number 1 sport just goes from strength to strength

www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... -la38.html "Judging by the figures, that appeal is growing in Sydney, despite the litany of off-field problems rugby league has endured this year. Across all competitions, rugby league had an aggregate audience of 128.5 million this year, compared to the AFL's 124.3 million. In Sydney, rugby league ratings grew by 12 per cent over 2008 figures. All of which gives the NRL even more clout when officials sit down with TV executives to thrash out the next broadcasting deal. The current arrangement expires at the end of 2012." australias number 1 sport just goes from strength to strength

"What the figures do for the expansion plans of Perth and Adelaide, who recorded aggregate NRL ratings of 610,000 and 670,000 for 2009 respectively, is another question. While expansion plans for the NRL are for now on hold, Gallop was still convinced that both cities, along with the Central Coast and south-east Queensland areas, had merit.

''We've got our eye on a number of places,'' Gallop said.

''But the lessons of the past are that they need to be strong in their own area and add a benefit to the overall competition and existing clubs and players.

''The AFL's expansion to Perth and Adelaide was supported by very strong grassroots competitions. We're not quite there yet, and the ratings show it.''

TV ratings = PAY TV ratings.

Not everyone has PAY TV. That's why the news (Who Dally hates) lackies keep on going on about it. It's their masters. Look at me, daddy, look at me!!!

TV ratings = Channel 9 & Foxel for Rl.

Foxtel get double the viewers for RL and pay for more AFL coverage

Foxtel is part owned by news ltd.

the NRL rejected a higher TV offer from a Pay TV network linked with channel 7 earlier.

The guy is a fricking idiot! here's an idea Gallop, get the game on FTA before 1am, get some funding in to develop the "grass roots", get off your collective backsides and translate those TVviewers into $'s so the game can grow.

he can be like the AFL boss who just puts in teams where nobody wants them and waste $100 million dollars on a vain bid to match RL.

it was really funny seeing AFL react to the success of the GC titans

even funnier was making hunt one of their highest players

so much for competing with RL then.

When the NRL can generate the financial revenue through the turnstiles, for corporate spend and television funding then all this crap about TV viewers is frankly hyperboil. Maybe if all these people who sit on their backside and watch the game actually got of it and attended a game the NRL might be in a healthier state than it currently is

Hmmm would I rather have (an alleged) 4 million extra viewers or an extra $250million in the bank. geez tough one! I am sure the AFL are having sleepless nights after this report!

its not even 4 million, it more

the article doesnt include regional FTA viewers ie its only capital cities.

the real figure is 30 million more viewers

AFL had a big chance after the SL war to dominate australian sport. with loads more money it failed to do that

as RL gets what it deserves from TV, AFL will be like union, it wont matter.

capital city figures dont include around 40% of RLs viewers.

places like newcastle, wollongong and much of queensland arent included in the figures.

regional viewers add around 400,000 extra viewers per game, on channels like NBN 9 and WIN TV.

RL has been beating AFL on TV for decades.

but at least this article is getting a good message out

as usual though it underestimates RLs strength

very simply RL with 15 teams is bigger than AFL with 16 teams

The problem Gallop has is the NRL's desperate need for the TV cash

The AFL has significantly greater revenue streams - excluding TV monies - than the NRL.

The AFL can afford to play hardball with the TV companies - sadly the NRL is not in that fortunate position - they have to take what is on offer

I would be very surprised in the next TV deal is even equal to that of the current AFL deal

I'm predicting it will be about $20mill a year more if Gallop and the NRL nufties are still in charge. It will be just enough to bung the clubs a mill each to keep them quiet and cover the NRL's expenses with CPI increase.

IF we get an INDEPENDENT commision it may be significantly higher. Gallop has already talked it down so the signs are not great.

Despite Dally's love of regionals the advertisors go off capital city viewing, it's one of the reasons AFL can get alot more sponsorship $'s and why they have and will spend hundereds of millions getting the game on Tv in Sydney and Brisbane. I'm pretty sure the AFL aren't too worried about Woolongong or Gosford.

think your all lucky to have nrl or even afl as top 2 sports in aussie land. in uk its a joke with football which unfortunately is worlds greatest game then we got likes of yawnion and cricket.

well get between $50 - $100 million more PA.

regionals do matter. fox for example include all regionals.

60% of all advertsising revenues is from nsw and queensland, including regionals

thats the worst trolling ive ever seen

heck you even make ER sounds intelligent

what the f..k is wrong with that comment????

you are talking to Dally a man incapable of reasoned argument don't waste your time

just reading the article again, the following has come to me :

RL has beaten AFL despite the following not being included :

1. NZ TV ratings. ie only 15 nrl clubs vs 16 AFL clubs
2. ignoring 40% of RL viewers in regional areas

More than half of the entire population of Australia live in 2 states. NSW and QLD. ie. the ones were RL is far more popular. Does that bear any significance with the figures?

It's a bit like saying that in the UK, more people in England watched the EPL than people in Wales watched Welsh Rugby Union isn't it?

if more than half of aussies are in RL areas then we are number 1.

60% of all TV advertising on sports is in nsw and queensland

So there should be no real surprises that it's Number One then.

So why do people harp on about it all the time?

It gives Dally a hard on! He has a serious inferiority complex re other sports and needs to trumpet whenever a story of this nature comes out!

As a film once said:

AFL fans and admin people lie

if RL people dont correct them it carries over

a few years ago i was emailing journos telling them RL beats AFL on TV and we should get better TV deals. i also emailed russell crowe and the RLPA.

now it seems the message is getting out

any real RL fan would get happy over this news.

andrew demetriou isnt afraid to talk his sport up, even to the point of lieing.

im sick of people lieing about other sports vs RL.

demetriou says AFL is australias number 1 sport despite having less fans.

he should stop lieing

Do you not think we've lied in League?

Let he who is without sin etc. etc.