I think that is assumed as Nine as all the rights. The story on the official rugby website states “streaming services”, meaning more than one.
My emphasis.
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The potential good news is that for next year it will be a domestic only competition due to travel restrictions so there will be (AFAIK) the 5 Australian teams in a double round robin format and final again, potentially followed by a post-season NZ cross-over (borders allowing).
So with fewer teams, they’re all playing each other in that early part of the comp so we should see variety there.
Once it converts into its post-Covid form in 2022 (fingers crossed), the challenge will be then ensuring marquee games on Saturday night and whether they show Aus V NZ/Pacifica fixtures.
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The big question is if any members of Fox Sports and 10’s commentary team (especially former Wallabies players) will go across to Nine? Will we see the return of former Wallaby Andrew Slack, who was part of Nine’s rugby union commentary team in 2011-2012?
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He was a reporter on Nine’s staff then (long ago retired) and is now 65 so I’d venture to say probably not the fresh look Nine would be after.
Perhaps Sean Maloney calling with Drew Mitchell and maybe a Gregan type to round out the team.
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I’m guessing that Peter FitzSimons will appear in some capacity.
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That’s been the issue with Rugby and basketball and football (soccer) here. They won’t put in the effort to grow their share. They expect FTA coverage of one or two games with random teams to be enough.
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Early on its life the NBL had local coverage on commercial stations and the ABC, then Ten bought the rights nationally and continued that local coverage. But it was ultimately unsuccessful as the ratings were always poor in the major east coast markets.
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The NBL is an interesting one - the ABC built a decent fanbase then the NBA exploded in popularity here attracting Ten. Ten rode it into the ground after the support for the game faded.
I assume that the deal includes the rights for Super Rugby Aotearoa for next year? The quality of the NZ comp was light years ahead of the Australian one this year
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It does!
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Jessica Halloran in The Australian has deduced that the Saturday night Super Rugby will end up on 9Gem.
Halloran thinks it is a dud deal for rugby.
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Oh course News.ltd (Murdoch) press would be saying that…
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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
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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
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Hasn’t stopped them keeping Ray Warren on the NRL coverage all these years!
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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
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That was a joint venture between fox and nine, simulcast deals don’t work for minor sports.
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