Sky in talks to buy RaboPro12 rights from 2014?

[munstermuffin]

Yeah matches will still be shown on other channels.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/sky-sports-signs-deal-show-3316079

I'm not sure if sky get first dibs on specific matches though.

Should be a good thing overall more money for the unions and one thing sky can definitely do is hype.

In Ireland in seems TG4 will hold some games with RTE left out

 

[Tony Manx]

I do not want to knock the Rabo but I am not sure that this in any way compensates for the loss of the Premiership sufficient to make me want to pay the money Sky want for their Sports Channels.......I only want it really for club rugby. I can live without live International rugby or can even find it by other means like going to the pub?!

It has always seemed to me that the Rabo clubs tend to see it as a training gorund for their European games and International players rather than a competition that they really want to win. Consequently, we often see matches with almost the second strings playiing, or at least a lot of senior players rested, and, to be fair, although the French clubs can be guilty of this too in parts, they do have far greater strengh in depth due to the money. This can only get worse where there are six teams in a play off as you only have to do enough to get into the top six and, with respect, I reckon most of us could decide who they are every season before it starts!!

In addition, I would comment on the difference in atmosphere that come across when you see games like Leinster v Biarritz, Clermont v Munster where there are big crowds to that at Wembley where Saracens were tonked by Toulon (Hurray!!) in front of a big crowd but less than a third capacity. Every game I have watched Rabo games, other than Ulster, the crowds are dwarfed by the empty seats. Maybe I have not waatched enough but it certainly takes away a lot from the enjoyment as does some of the woeful commentators but then, they are all over all the channels pretty crap!!

 

[psychic duck]

TV money has been doubled apparently. Hopefully this can be a much needed boost to the Welsh regions.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Sky's involvement adds legitimacy to the league. It there's one thing Sky do well, it's hype things beyond all recognition. The Pro 12 will finally be talked up instead of sneered at by broadcasters such as RTE.

 

[big ginger 8]

I do not want to knock the Rabo but I am not sure that this in any way compensates for the loss of the Premiership sufficient to make me want to pay the money Sky want for their Sports Channels.......I only want it really for club rugby. I can live without live International rugby or can even find it by other means like going to the pub?!

It has always seemed to me that the Rabo clubs tend to see it as a training gorund for their European games and International players rather than a competition that they really want to win. Consequently, we often see matches with almost the second strings playiing, or at least a lot of senior players rested, and, to be fair, although the French clubs can be guilty of this too in parts, they do have far greater strengh in depth due to the money. This can only get worse where there are six teams in a play off as you only have to do enough to get into the top six and, with respect, I reckon most of us could decide who they are every season before it starts!!

In addition, I would comment on the difference in atmosphere that come across when you see games like Leinster v Biarritz, Clermont v Munster where there are big crowds to that at Wembley where Saracens were tonked by Toulon (Hurray!!) in front of a big crowd but less than a third capacity. Every game I have watched Rabo games, other than Ulster, the crowds are dwarfed by the empty seats. Maybe I have not waatched enough but it certainly takes away a lot from the enjoyment as does some of the woeful commentators but then, they are all over all the channels pretty crap!!

Leinster, Ulster and Munster all get excellent numbers.

 

[Tony Manx]

Leinster, Ulster and Munster all get excellent numbers.

I imagine that could well be very true but have only seen games on BBC Ulster, Scotland and Ulster or SC4 so very few games in the Republic....!

 

[profitius]

The league is still growing. This season has produced the highest number of attendance figures and TV viewers since the league begun.

The biggest problem the league has is the over the top negativity which surrounds it. Sky will do the opposite, as we all know.

Another problem area with the league is its a bit disjointed. A 'match of the day' format would be ideal. Show hightlights of all the games on one program.

 

[Amiga500]

and one thing sky can definitely do is hype.

fukkin WHOOOOOSH!


Is the BIG ONE... we've ALL been waiting for. This saturday LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1 the Pro12 equivalent of le Crunch... ZEBRE versus the DRAGONS. And you can see it EXCLUSIVELY LIVE on SKY SPORTS


fukkin even bigger WHOOOOOOOOOOOOSSHHHHH!


Press the red button and you can get Player-Cam, Stadium-Cam, Referee-Cam, Touchjudge-Cam, Mascot-Cam, Bertthebartender-Cam and of course, Norathetealady-Cam. LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE on SKY SPORTS!!!!


fukkin completely massive bigger-than-the-Big-Show WHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!



...and while we know its impossible for you to have forgot, in-case you've been on Mars or somewhere, next weekend its the 7 vs. 8th head-to-head...


fukkin bring the tv to the point of explosion WHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







Sky? Hype? What are ye on about? :huh:




:lol:

 

[profitius]

I reckon the financial benefits to the teams could increase by 200%. In other words they could get 3 times more money.

I'll explain. Skys offer is OVER 50% more than what they currently have. That sounds like half again but thats all the sky money. So sky will be paying 150%+ for the 30 matches. That doesn't include RTE, BBC etc. I know RTE, BBC etc won't have some of the top matches available but the value of the league is going up anyway so you'd think they'll offer the same as they're currently offering. Thats another 100% on to skys 150%. If the 'free to air' channels offer more (which is likely) then you're talking 100%+ & 150%+. Add in the increased sponsorship and advertising etc and you could be talking 3 times more money.

At the moment the the teams are not getting much for TV money so they're still going to be the poor relations of Europe but a 3 times increase is a another step in the right direction and will take pressure off the struggling teams.

 

[big ginger 8]

I reckon the financial benefits to the teams could increase by 200%. In other words they could get 3 times more money.

I'll explain. Skys offer is OVER 50% more than what they currently have. That sounds like half again but thats all the sky money. So sky will be paying 150%+ for the 30 matches. That doesn't include RTE, BBC etc. I know RTE, BBC etc won't have some of the top matches available but the value of the league is going up anyway so you'd think they'll offer the same as they're currently offering. Thats another 100% on to skys 150%. If the 'free to air' channels offer more (which is likely) then you're talking 100%+ & 150%+. Add in the increased sponsorship and advertising etc and you could be talking 3 times more money.

At the moment the the teams are not getting much for TV money so they're still going to be the poor relations of Europe but a 3 times increase is a another step in the right direction and will take pressure off the struggling teams.

The money will go to the unions first so not definite the teams will see all of it.

 

[dullonien]

Are the BBC, RTE etc. likely to pay the same amount for possibly the dregs of the league?

S4C's coverage is the only one likely to be unchanged due to its protected status, and as such will probably show a similar amount and quality of games, possibly alongside Sky for some of the bigger games involving Welsh regions.

More money is good though. The unions need to make sure this increase is transferred directly to the teams though. I'm hoping for a big increase in funding for the Welsh regions over the Summer.

 

[psychic duck]

Are the BBC, RTE etc. likely to pay the same amount for possibly the dregs of the league?

S4C's coverage is the only one likely to be unchanged due to its protected status, and as such will probably show a similar amount and quality of games, possibly alongside Sky for some of the bigger games involving Welsh regions.

More money is good though. The unions need to make sure this increase is transferred directly to the teams though. I'm hoping for a big increase in funding for the Welsh regions over the Summer.

The regions desperately need a funding boost to keep the likes of North, Hook and Lydiate etc.

However no doubt the WRU will spend it on portraits of the monarchy and topping up Roger Lewis' wages though.

 

[profitius]

Are the BBC, RTE etc. likely to pay the same amount for possibly the dregs of the league?

S4C's coverage is the only one likely to be unchanged due to its protected status, and as such will probably show a similar amount and quality of games, possibly alongside Sky for some of the bigger games involving Welsh regions.

More money is good though. The unions need to make sure this increase is transferred directly to the teams though. I'm hoping for a big increase in funding for the Welsh regions over the Summer.

I'd say they will. They might miss out on half the derbies but in the few years since the last deal the leagues value has gone up. TV audiences are up too by 25% this season, which is a massive jump. Taking that into account and projecting it into the future, I think the TV companies will find its good value.

I'd say the Welsh unions will hand over the money or there'd be war! lol Not so sure about the IRFU since the provinces are going alright at the moment and the IRFU are trying to limit NIQs.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I'm just glad they've sorted out kick-off times. Constant evening games are rubbish. A few more 2PM Saturday afternoons would be grand.

 

[LoShaw]

I see that this dealwill be of benefit to the tournament overall but I don't think everyone will want to get Sky sports to watch the Pro12 matches (not even all of them!)

 

[dullonien]

I see that this dealwill be of benefit to the tournament overall but I don't think everyone will want to get Sky sports to watch the Pro12 matches (not even all of them!)

I've had a look, and I can't see me being able to afford it/prepared to pay for it. I don't watch any live tv other than rugby, but you have to pay over £20 a month for sky TV + an extra £22 for Sky Sports, that's £42.50 p/m just to watch Pro12 and HC matches. I can't justify that!

 

[j'nuh]

I've had a look, and I can't see me being able to afford it/prepared to pay for it. I don't watch any live tv other than rugby, but you have to pay over £20 a month for sky TV + an extra £22 for Sky Sports, that's £42.50 p/m just to watch Pro12 and HC matches. I can't justify that!

Throw another ~£150 in for the license fee.

 

[dullonien]

Throw another ~£150 in for the license fee.

The license fee is kinda unavoidable unfortunately (not that it's at all value for money).

The problem for me with Sky is that they charge over £20 for their basic tv package, but the only decent channel extra over freeview is Sky1 (which isn't great in itself). Add the £21 extra for sports and that's over £500 just so I can gain access to rugby (and only some of it at that).

How do people justify forking out for the full sky package? It costs over £60 p/m, and 90% of it is still sh*t!

 

[j'nuh]

I know, it's a rip off. Sky Atlantic is just about the only channel that has shows on Sky that I watch. Even then, most of those shows are years into the programming that it's not useful. It's made 100% worse that your money is going to bloody Murdoch. But I just do away with television altogether. You don't need a TV license to access iplayer or 4od, you just can't watch anything live. Not too many issues with the license tbh, love the BBC website and ain't no documentary like an Attenborough documentary, just that what graduate can afford that?

 

[djwizard84]

if sky buys it, they should show the games aswell in all europe!!! in Austria, we need more rugby!!!