I know that Sky often put some events on Sky Sports 2 such as Champions League Semi finals to boost the numbers of people subscribing to both channels, but surely the final next week should be on Sky Sports 1 instead of European Rugby Union.

The audience figures are always enhanced when on Sky Sports 1.

Also any rumours on the International/ Challenge Cup TV Rights for next season?

We need as many internationals on the BBC as possible IMO.

Are they?

Is it on proper 5Live or is it just another ruddy phone-in?

Hold on... you can subscribe to the SS channels separately? Really? Im not convinced.

Who cares what channel it's on. When ever I turn Sky on I look at all 4 SS channels and both ESPN channels and then I make up my mind. I dont think, oh, the Rugby League is on Sky Sports 2 so it's not worth watching.

You can subscribe to Sky Sports 1 only on Virgin Media.

You can subscribe individually.

If you look at the BARB figures, there is usually a considerable difference in viewing figures when the game is on SS1 than the other channels.

If you have BT Vision, you can subscribe to Sky Sports 1 only or Sky Sports 1 and 2. You can do it on Sky, but it's not something that they really offer, I doubt many people do it.

You live and learn

Don't be silly, they are not going to move Alan Green and Robbie Savage for Rugby League.

why is the final not being played on a Saturday and on BBC?

It is being played on Saturday in the UK (Sunday am for us).

SKY TV have the rights to the RL games in the UK with the exception of the Challenge Cup, which I believe is on the protected, crown jewels of sport, list that means it must be on FTA.
Given the BBC have the rights to a highlights package of ESL, but only show it in the north at a normal hour and at 3am everywhere else, I can't see them busting a gut to get this game on FTA.

Personally, I'd have [uALL[/u RL internationals on FTA, but I suspect Ruperts Millions matter more than my opinion

But don't the BBC have the right to show 1 game?

If true (not sure), why do they always show one of the round robin games instead of the final?


Are they allowed too?

With the Sky sports 1 thing, I know for a fact that the NRL was on Fox 1 for years and they bumped it for AFL that rates less, a lot of people for a few years couldn't get certain channels and a lot of pubs n clubs just leave the same channel on 24/7, usually Sky/Fox 1.

Even if they were allowed, I doubt they'd bother. It would clash with Strictly Come Dancing which gets 10,000,000 viewers.

So a class thing eh?

Hehe, just being a smart

I don't think words can describe how much I hate Alan Green.

Makes you wonder what it is worth to the sponsor of the 4nations? 200k on Sky or 2million watching on BBC. I'd love to know how much Skysports pay for exclusive rights to the final and if that money could be covered by increase sponsorship of the tournament if it had a much bigger TV audience.

This is what I never understand about Sky. Surely, their best marketing ploy to attract more Sky subscribers would be to give over the rights to international RL to the BBC.

given that Leeds Met Uni sponsors the Challenge Cup on the BBC, I think that it is unlikely that we would suddenly attract a load more blue chip sponsors.

Also, where does the money go? Presumably the sponsorship goes to the RLIF - where does the TV revenue go? i.e. is there an incentive for the RFL to undersell the TV rights to earn the RLIF more money??

The BBC has rights for two live games in the round robin section and highlights for the other games.

If the final was on the BBC only it would be moved to a 2:30pm start or put on BBC2 at teatime.

Full live radio commentary on 5Live has been confirmed by Dave Woods. Gives that miserable b'stard Alan Green something else to whinge about.