Six Nations Rugby going behind a TV paywall

[Vieux Talonneur]

Eurosport being closed down in the UK at the end of Feb so the 'Home of Cycling' moving to sister Warner Bros channel TNT. Presumably the athletics Eurosport shows (quite a bit) will be doing likewise.

So that's moving from 'free' as part of my Sky package to premium TNT…which I happen to pay for anyway so I'm alright Jack. But lots of others are very unhappy.

So that's my 3 main sports likely to be concentrated on TNT. Barely watch Sky Sports anymore, will have to think about cancelling my subscription.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Six Nations: BBC, ITV and TNT rights tender hit by fresh delay

The Six Nations TV tender has been put on hold due to delays in finalising the format of the new global Nations Championship.

www.cityam.com

 

[Weldit]

Rugby on TV is fragmented enough as it is to it's own detriment, so putting the six nations behind a paywall will only exasperate the problem in my opinion. I think it could potentially do more harm too as it's another hit to public awareness and accessibility for people with an interest.

 

[Which Tyler]

Rugby on TV is fragmented enough as it is to it's own detriment, so putting the six nations behind a paywall will only exasperate the problem in my opinion. I think it could potentially do more harm too as it's another hit to public awareness and accessibility for people with an interest.

Yep, it'll be a financial benefit for... the duration of the contract, I guess, and then yet another nail in the coffin of this sport as a professional concern.
Out of sight, out of mind - it'll only attract people who are already into rugby.

If it's got to go behind a paywall, then it needs to be a platform that "everybody" already has, like Amazon or Netflix. The harder (and more expensive) you make it, the fewer eyes it will attract, and the less the contract will be worth next time around.

 

[dirty harry]

Yep, it'll be a financial benefit for... the duration of the contract, I guess, and then yet another nail in the coffin of this sport as a professional concern.
Out of sight, out of mind - it'll only attract people who are already into rugby.

If it's got to go behind a paywall, then it needs to be a platform that "everybody" already has, like Amazon or Netflix. The harder (and more expensive) you make it, the fewer eyes it will attract, and the less the contract will be worth next time around.

You guys use the phrase 'behind a paywall' but it's non sensical.

Rugby is already behind a paywall, a TV license that is dying out.

Also, when SA join the 6N, their pay for tv money will boost things

 

[Which Tyler]

28.4M households
23.9M TV licences (and how many don't have a licence, but watch anyway)
Approx 6M TNT subscribers
Approx 6M Sky Sports subscribers

BBC+ITV peak viewing figures for 2024 (the same football match) 24.2M
Sky Sports peak viewing figures for 2024 (darts) 4.8M
TNT Sports peak viewing figures for 2024 (NBA) 4M

Cost of TV licence £169.50 pa (excluding broadband)
Cost of Sky+Sky Sports £684 pa (excluding broadband)
Cost of TNT+TNT Sports £900 pa (include broadband)

So approximately 4x the coverage for approximately 1/4 the outlay

 

[Rugbyfan564]

28.4M households
23.9M TV licences (and how many don't have a licence, but watch anyway)
Approx 6M TNT subscribers
Approx 6M Sky Sports subscribers

BBC+ITV peak viewing figures for 2024 (the same football match) 24.2M
Sky Sports peak viewing figures for 2024 (darts) 4.8M
TNT Sports peak viewing figures for 2024 (NBA) 4M

Cost of TV licence £169.50 pa (excluding broadband)
Cost of Sky+Sky Sports £684 pa (excluding broadband)
Cost of TNT+TNT Sports £900 pa (include broadband)

So approximately 4x the coverage for approximately 1/4 the outlay

A lot of people used to until recently got TNT as part of a general cable pay package. Stil some on legacy contracts getting that for a few months. TNT subscriber numbers have dropped and will drop further soon.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

You guys use the phrase 'behind a paywall' but it's non sensical.

Rugby is already behind a paywall, a TV license that is dying out.

Also, when SA join the 6N, their pay for tv money will boost things

Except nobody a lot of the time enforces it. (No log in check if you access a match via BBC Iplayer or ITVX). But I'm pretty sure you can't get any access TNT without actually paying for it.

 

[dirty harry]

Except nobody a lot of the time enforces it. (No log in check if you access a match via BBC Iplayer or ITVX). But I'm pretty sure you can't get any access TNT without actually paying for it.

Really?

I would never do it obviously, but TNT, premier sports and sky are easily accessible via pirate websites...


The demographics of the TV license are scary from a rugby POV, U24's run at around 8% buy in, as opposed to Amazon, Netflix and sports channels being around 18%.

The point is, the 'paywall' is a mythical thing people over a certain age of 35 think is restrictive

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Really?

I would never do it obviously, but TNT, premier sports and sky are easily accessible via pirate websites...


The demographics of the TV license are scary from a rugby POV, U24's run at around 8% buy in, as opposed to Amazon, Netflix and sports channels being around 18%.

The point is, the 'paywall' is a mythical thing people over a certain age of 35 think is restrictive

I really can't Imagine many U24's actually paying hundreds of pounds each year for TNT. Many will have access throigh lkving with older people who do but those who don't I doubt many pay.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Also I can't imagine lots of parents having their kids watch pirated material and less kids watching means drop of in numbers, Rugby is particularly affected by that because of the dementia issue (In a way Cricket is not

 

[Weldit]

You guys use the phrase 'behind a paywall' but it's non sensical.

Rugby is already behind a paywall, a TV license that is dying out.

While true, it's a simple paywall. None of this rubbish we're getting in rugby already where different games, tournaments etc on different paywalls. Streaming has took off due to two key factors; price and ease of access. Rugby has neither at the moment and ironically, Netflix etc are going backwards on this too.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

All streamers are losing subscribers. The streaming boom is over.

 

[Amiga500]

The point is, the 'paywall' is a mythical thing people over a certain age of 35 think is restrictive

Rubbish.

If the leagues are on one sub, european games on another the 6N on another, while the autumn internationals are on yet another sub - then folks just won't buy them all and will not view.

I have netflix for the kids and amazon for deliveries. If games aren't on these, I'm not gonna bother acquiring whatever they are on. I already miss out on the Heineken Cup and much of URC. So be it.

I'm absolutely sure there will be others in the opposite positions, with BT sport, or Sky or ANOther.

Ultimately, going behind a paywall will fragment the viewership and will lead to declined mindshare.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Look at the Lions Tour. Nearly 30 years on Sky has made it a lot less important and noticed.

 

[Which Tyler]

Look at the Lions Tour. Nearly 30 years on Sky has made it a lot less important and noticed.

Or the Champions Cup (in England) this year compared to last - which is "just" moving from one pay wall to another.

 

[BrokenWing]

I also begrudge 90% of my subscription going to fund car pointing or the other tripe that takes up most of the channels.

 

[Weldit]

I also begrudge 90% of my subscription going to fund car pointing or the other tripe that takes up most of the channels.

Slightly off topic, but this is part of the problem with the subscription model. They need to keep pumping content to gain new people and keep those they have. The rate they need to do this however is not sustainable and their answer to this (of course) is to drop the quality and hope viewers don't notice. Looks great in a marketing pitch though doesn't it? "30 exclusive shows/films".

For me, Rugby is not in a very healthy position and hiding itself behind paywalls will not help visibility or interest in the sport.

 

[dirty harry]

I really can't Imagine many U24's actually paying hundreds of pounds each year for TNT. Many will have access throigh lkving with older people who do but those who don't I doubt many pay.

Of course they won't, I'm not advocating they do, they will pirate games, we'll the dying number of U24 fans still left anyway.

 

[dirty harry]

While true, it's a simple paywall. None of this rubbish we're getting in rugby already where different games, tournaments etc on different paywalls. Streaming has took off due to two key factors; price and ease of access. Rugby has neither at the moment and ironically, Netflix etc are going backwards on this too.

Because TV viewership is dying...

Luckily rugby has invested in a cutting edge and revolutionary social media strategy hahaha