How (from what she’s written there) has she determined 9Gem is where matches will land? Seems she based it off NRL is Nine’s favorite so Rugby Union couldn’t possibly be on the same level - main channel worthy
3 Likes
That logic doesn’t make sense. However, the ratings Super Rugby matches have gotten on Foxtel over the past few years would suggest that it would drive Nine’s Saturday night ratings if the weekly matches aired on the main channel
2 Likes
Hasn’t stopped them keeping Ray Warren on the NRL coverage all these years!
5 Likes
There is definitely a hint of sour grapes in the article - but she raises a valid point that this appears to be a missed opportunity to reset the code in Australia.
There is a reasonable level of risk (all round) on this deal - Nine’s last foray into Rugby wasn’t very successful and the game sits on the precipice, failure to grow over the next three years could spell the rapid decline of the game at a professional level in Australia. This deal has been borne out of luck rather then good administration (which is something that has been missing from the game for a little while now) - now is time for the game to take the opportunity with both hands and build on it
4 Likes
That was a joint venture between fox and nine, simulcast deals don’t work for minor sports.
1 Like
RA/NZR have announced a Trans Tasman competition post Super Rugby Aotearoa/RA, which will give Nine/Stan six weeks extra of content.
7 Likes
2 Likes
God, I hope not. Though it doesn’t sound like Nine are interested in anyone from the Fox side based on the “fresh commentary team” line in one of the above SMH articles.
1 Like
If that is true, then it will be hard for Nine to find former Wallabies players who will be interested to become expert commentators, given many of them are signed to Fox until the end of the current broadcast deal.
1 Like
Huh? There’s plenty of players who aren’t affiliated with Fox. Drew Mitchell for one, Sonny Bill Williams another. But a fresh commentary team doesn’t mean not hiring anyone from Fox.
I also wonder if they might take the rights to the Aussie Rugby Show and put it on Stan, as well as hiring some of the talent on there.
3 Likes
Nine seem to like using their own talent so Fitzsimmons is probably a shoo-in to get a expert commentary role.
Ray Hadley is another one on the books who can and has done Rugby commentary for Nine in the past.
2 Likes
Which ends in just over a month, doesn’t it?
1 Like
No mention (yet) on Peter FitzSimmons hosting/ commentating on any rugby union for Nine. So he’ll probably just stick to Sports Sunday for now.
1 Like
Seven’s James Warburton has told The Australian that Nine should not have bought the rugby union television rights.
Sounds like someone is jealous over a better deal than his network’s cricket.
7 Likes
Why say anything? Better to work on Seven’s problems than worry about deals with a sport that the network didn’t seem to have an interest in.
9 Likes
Don’t think the network that overspent on cricket, and without any ODIs, should really be saying anything.
6 Likes
I get complaining about driving up prices when it comes to the tier 1 sports to block 7 from being able to come for 9s sport.
But 9 making a legitimate play for more sport like rugby that actually want to acquire isnt “driving up the price”
Sean Maloney could be the main match commentator for Nine. More details about the other commentators Nine is believed to have talked to:
Gordon Bray is not mentioned.
3 Likes