PopTart wrote:
Sky aren't broadcasting them all.
It'll be C4 and Our League as well.
The Rugby Football League has confirmed all Super League games will be broadcast live as part of their new three-year agreement with Sky Sports. As first reported by Rugby League Live, a new agreement has been reached which will see Sky continue as the competition's lead broadcaster, with a 30-day exclusive negotiating period now underway to formalise the agreement.
The deal has resulted in a marginal reduction to the previous £24 million-a-year agreement but does come with new arrangement. Most notably, it has been confirmed every Super League fixture will now be broadcast live, and all matches will have video referee technology. Here's a breakdown of everything we know so far.
The basics
The new deal is a three-year contract with Sky Sports, which will see the broadcaster remain as the primary rights holder until the end of 2026. The deal is a reduction, financially, on the previous deal, which was worth £24 million. It is expected to get to a figure of £23 million once add-ons are secured.
What are the key changes?
The main change is that every single match across the season will be broadcast live. This is a significant change to the present, when as little as two games per week can be shown. It has also been confirmed to Rugby League Live that as a result, games will be staggered across the weekend and there will be significantly fewer clashes then there are now. Gone will be the days of five matches on a Friday and no weekend games. That will be well received by supporters. Another development which will no doubt be approved by viewers is the fact every game will now have video technology for referees to call upon. As it stands, only televised games, or those shown on OurLeague, have that capability.
Thursday nights to be banished?
Not quite. However, it's believed there will be a move to significantly reduce the number of Thursday night matches, and they certainly won't be as regular as they have been in recent years. Logistically they are unlikely to be gone for good, don't forget many clubs share grounds with football clubs, so there are logistical challenges.
Where will the games be shown?
That's one of the biggest unknowns, at this point. As it stands, Super League, Channel 4 and OurLeague broadcast games but it's unclear if Sky intend to show all the matches on their various platforms, or if some will be shown externally. That, at this stage, is a key question. It's understood that at this stage, Channel 4 haven't reached an agreement, but they have been offered the opportunity to show more games.
How will the Rugby Football League ensure there are enough officials available for video referees across every game?
Fewer clashes, that's the top and bottom of it. And that will be apparent in next year's scheduling. What we don't know is exactly how those in charge plan to stagger the games.
Other unanswered questions?
There are plenty. Will the Championship land a TV deal? The competition's rights are currently out to tender. There's plenty more to get across at this stage.
