Australian rugby TV deal thread

[Ali's Choice]

Saturday evening FTA game into every household in Australia, and subsequent access to the sponsors that delivers.

Fans would still need to subscribe to Stan to follow their team. So it's not really a FTA sport, it's still a pay per view sport like it currently is.

Thats the reality now neither can you see AFL or NRL in full FTA.

Yeah fair call.

[SFBB]

Foxtel sure aren't doing anything for the game.

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

Stan is worth subscribing to even without the rugby, tbh. Their offering is very good.

[grievous]

Foxtel sure aren't doing anything for the game.

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

You knew the game was being shopped, in fact you gleefully praised Raelene for doing so and said she was on the cusp of the biggest win of the game in modern history and the greatest living RA CEO the game has ever had. Not sure why you haven't thought about your issue till now.

[Ali's Choice]

Foxtel sure aren't doing anything for the game.

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

Stan is worth subscribing to even without the rugby, tbh. Their offering is very good.

I have Netflix and Foxtel. Trying to keep my entertainment cost manageable. I'll get Stan if Rugby moves to it, but I'll complain about it for a few hours.

[SFBB]

Foxtel sure aren't doing anything for the game.

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

Stan is worth subscribing to even without the rugby, tbh. Their offering is very good.

I have Netflix and Foxtel. Trying to keep my entertainment cost manageable. I'll get Stan if Rugby moves to it, but I'll complain about it for a few hours.

What do you watch on Foxtel? I didn't get any value so switched to Kayo and added in Stan. Overall much better for less money.

[Zakar]

Foxtel sure aren't doing anything for the game.

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

I'll bail on Kayo so quick their head will spin.

[Ali's Choice]

Foxtel sure aren't doing anything for the game.

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

Stan is worth subscribing to even without the rugby, tbh. Their offering is very good.

I have Netflix and Foxtel. Trying to keep my entertainment cost manageable. I'll get Stan if Rugby moves to it, but I'll complain about it for a few hours.

What do you watch on Foxtel? I didn't get any value so switched to Kayo and added in Stan. Overall much better for less money.

All sorts of stuff. I'm currently watching Below Deck, a reality show that follows attractive young staff who live and work on billion dollar mega yachts. I watch lots of different sports, mainly Rugby but also the NRL, AFL and American sports. I watch CNN to follow the American election. I season link Selling Homes Australia, Bar Rescue etc. I watch Hells Kitchen and all the Anthony Bourdain seasons. Foxtel has quite a bit of content.

[grievous]

Foxtel sure aren't doing anything for the game.

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

Stan is worth subscribing to even without the rugby, tbh. Their offering is very good.

I have Netflix and Foxtel. Trying to keep my entertainment cost manageable. I'll get Stan if Rugby moves to it, but I'll complain about it for a few hours.

What do you watch on Foxtel? I didn't get any value so switched to Kayo and added in Stan. Overall much better for less money.

Used to have Foxtel years ago and it was bad then. I take a 3rd feed off my folks in Adelaide, you are allowed 3 devices. So I can watch their rugby but wont pay for it. Used to stream a bit but not sure how reliable that is now.
Movies are a complete waste of time.
Its gone full Murdoch with Sky news freaks and even the evangelical channels that have exploded is bizarre, who watches that shit here?
Music channels used to be great, ch V and some great club music but again, its gone all RnB/country/bad 80s

[Ali's Choice]

Just checked, Stan Premium is only $19 per month. I pay $118 per month for my current Foxtel subscription. Fml.

[SFBB]

I'm not wedded to Rugby staying on Foxtel, they have taken Rugby for granted for years and treated it like a 3rd rate sport. But at least they cover all of the Rugby, SR, all tests, the RC, 6N, NZ Mitre 10 Cup etc. As a Rugby fan they provide all the content I want. I will have to pay more under the proposed new agreement because I'll need to subscribe to Stan as well as pay for my Foxtel scubscription.

Stan is worth subscribing to even without the rugby, tbh. Their offering is very good.

I have Netflix and Foxtel. Trying to keep my entertainment cost manageable. I'll get Stan if Rugby moves to it, but I'll complain about it for a few hours.

What do you watch on Foxtel? I didn't get any value so switched to Kayo and added in Stan. Overall much better for less money.

All sorts of stuff. I'm currently watching Below Deck, a reality show that follows attractive young staff who live and work on billion dollar mega yachts. I watch lots of different sports, mainly Rugby but also the NRL, AFL and American sports. I watch CNN to follow the American election. I season link Selling Homes Australia, Bar Rescue etc. I watch Hells Kitchen and all the Anthony Bourdain seasons. Foxtel has quite a bit of content.

You might be the only bloke in Australia getting value out of Foxtel. Surprised you have the requisite time for all that. After sport I watch a couple of movies a week, and thats it.

[grievous]

I had a sub on 50-60 bucks a month when rugby started on Fox and a bit more with Austar in the NT after that but over $100 a month!!!

[Ali's Choice]

You might be the only bloke in Australia getting value out of Foxtel. Surprised you have the requisite time for all that. After sport I watch a couple of movies a week, and thats it.

I don;'t watch much TV at all, but when I do I watch mainly Foxtel.

[Ali's Choice]

I had a sub on 50-60 bucks a month when rugby started on Fox and a bit more with Austar in the NT after that but over $100 a month!!!

Yeah I just checked to be certain. It's in my wife's name. We have the full package but I'm thinking we are still getting gouged. We get our Foxtel through Telstra which might make it more expensive?

[grievous]

Dropping movies helps always found them on high rotation and little new stuff.

[SFBB]

You might be the only bloke in Australia getting value out of Foxtel. Surprised you have the requisite time for all that. After sport I watch a couple of movies a week, and thats it.

I don;'t watch much TV at all, but when I do I watch mainly Foxtel.

I think you need to get rid of it and find shows you like on Stan. Buy your family a steak dinner every week with the spare dosh you'll have.

[Pat the Ex Mat]

Foxtel still sees itself as a premium product which it isnt

[Ali's Choice]

Dropping movies helps always found them on high rotation and little new stuff.

Yeah I might give that a crack. We don't watch Foxtel movies but have them available so that's a waste of money. Very rarely we will purchase a movie via their Store, which costs around $7 a pop.

[mightyreds]

Rather than get mangled up in the SR thread, this one is a bit of clear air to focus on this particular subject

I like the look of this news. Possibly getting the footy on free-to-air.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-unio ... 56386.html

What the hell is 'Stan' when he's home? How can you equate that to free-to-air coverage? Some obscure subscription website is almost worse than hiding it on Foxtel.

[SFBB]

Rather than get mangled up in the SR thread, this one is a bit of clear air to focus on this particular subject

I like the look of this news. Possibly getting the footy on free-to-air.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-unio ... 56386.html

What the hell is 'Stan' when he's home? How can you equate that to free-to-air coverage? Some obscure subscription website is almost worse than hiding it on Foxtel.

The FTA element is Saturday afternoon on Channel 9 every week. Stan is the digital streaming option offered by Channel 9, and will show all the other games via that service.

Stan has 2 million subscribers already, by the way. Thats more than Foxtel.

[shanky]

Looks like the Nine offer is firming up. A few details within

Looks like we need to start being nice to the Saffers though, to woo them back.

Nine offers $30 million for rugby union broadcast rights
Zoe Samios
By Zoe Samios
October 18, 2020 — 7.34pm

Super Rugby union matches could be on free-to-air television live for the first time next year after Nine Entertainment Co lodged a $30 million bid for the broadcast rights aimed at wresting the game away from pay-TV group Foxtel.

Industry sources familiar with Rugby Australia's discussions with media companies who requested anonymity said Nine had offered to pay about $30 million a year in cash and free advertising. The television, publishing and digital company decided late last week to offer more cash than free advertising to sweeten the deal. Nine declined to comment. RA declined to comment.

Under Nine's proposal, one Super Rugby match would be on the network each week. All other games would appear on Stan.

Rugby Australia has struggled to grow the game due to a lack of exposure and poor recent performances by the Wallabies. It wants more matches on a free-to-air television network to build the sport's audience. All Super Rugby games are broadcast on Foxtel and subscription streaming service Kayo, making it difficult for the governing body to reach all potential fans.

Under the deal Nine (owner of this masthead) would broadcast Wallabies Tests, the Rugby Championship and one game a week of Super Rugby on its television network. All other matches would sit behind a paywall on Nine's subscription streaming service Stan. Industry sources said Rugby Australia is likely to make a decision on the broadcast deal at a Board meeting this week.
Former RA boss Raelene Castle was eager to get more free-to-air coverage for the sport to grow the sport's audience. Nine's offer is smaller than the bid incumbent broadcaster Foxtel made nearly two weeks ago. Industry sources familiar with the talks previously said Foxtel had offered between $35-$40 million for the matches despite previous claims the pay TV operator did not believe the sport was worth that much. However, some Foxtel sources indicated they offered less than $35 million. Foxtel pays between $30 million to $40 million a year for the rights but was hoping to renegotiate price in the same way it landed new deals with the AFL and NRL.

Nine is hoping to do a deal with Rugby Australia for the broadcast rights to Super Rugby, Wallabies matches and the National Rugby Championship.

Foxtel has broadcast rugby games in Australia for two decades. The broadcaster, which runs Fox Sports, offered to sign a new five-year deal late last year but discussions fell apart earlier this year over the pricing. Foxtel has also reduced its rugby commentary budget in recent years and no longer has a mid-week show.

When talks first fell apart between RA and Foxtel earlier this year, Ms Castle approached Nine about a bid. A successful bid by Nine would also change the positioning of streaming service Stan, which currently runs international and local drama and film. Stan currently has 2 million subscribers, a large audience base for rugby union to try and attract. Kayo had 600,000 subscribers in September.

Any deal with the Nine would be short-term but if the involvement of Stan proves a success, it could open up the potential for other sports rights negotiations to include the streaming service in future. Such a move would put pressure on Foxtel which is heavily dependent on sport for subscribers.

Nine is the second free-to-air broadcaster to make an offer for the rights. Network Ten bid broadcast the Wallabies Tests last month but offered less than the $3.5 million a year it currently pays. Ten does not want to pay large amounts for the rights because of declining audiences. In 2015, the average audience for international Tests on Network Ten was about 345,000. In 2019 the audience figure was 194,000 and a lack of audience often results in less appeal for advertisers.

Network Ten's chief sales officer Rod Prosser said last week low-rating sport was of no benefit to the broadcaster. "Sport obviously attract advertisers, and particularly blue chip advertisers in droves. What our clients are mostly in now is the audience [a sport] delivers. Having a low rating sport, just for the sake of sport, is of no benefit to me."

One caveat on the value of the rights will be whether South Africa continues to participate in the Rugby Championship next year. South Africa confirmed last week it would not play in this year's tournament but rugby sources have indicated it is considering playing in a Northern Hemisphere competition next year. The Rugby Championship is a highly lucrative competition for the governing body and the absence of South Africa will reduce its value. Interim RA boss Rob Clarke said late last week he was confident that the Springboks would not exit the Rugby Championship for good from next year.

Foxtel, Ten and BSkyB are at the end of a $285m five-year deal with RA signed in 2015. Securing a new deal is crucial for the financial security of the code (a large amount of RA's revenue comes from broadcasters).

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-unio ... l#comments

[Ali's Choice]

shanky,

grievous posted that exact article on page 1.

[Zakar]

Rather than get mangled up in the SR thread, this one is a bit of clear air to focus on this particular subject

I like the look of this news. Possibly getting the footy on free-to-air.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-unio ... 56386.html

What the hell is 'Stan' when he's home? How can you equate that to free-to-air coverage? Some obscure subscription website is almost worse than hiding it on Foxtel.

Obscure

Stan has 2.2 million subscribers and really good growth

[Zakar]

By the way AC - you're getting robbed by Foxtell.

I've got Netflix and Kayo (split the account fees with my brother- maybe $20/month for both). Amazon Prime is about $7/ month and Stan is $10. With those of get way more content, all on demand, than you would. Also get free delivery, music and kindle books from Amazon.

Foxtell is the past, Streaming is the future.

[CrazyIslander]

Yep Foxtel was a rip off. The only problem is people would need to have home internet to have Stan. So despite showing one game a week on FTA, RA may end up depriving it's audience of games. Foxtel have the added advantage of having a pool of sports fans as subscribers. Will Stan be at pubs and clubs?

[Zakar]

Yep Foxtel was a rip off. The only problem is people would need to have home internet to have Stan. So despite showing one game a week on FTA, RA may end up depriving it's audience of games. Foxtel have the added advantage of having a pool of sports fans as subscribers. Will Stan be at pubs and clubs?

Hold the phone.

Who on earth has Foxtel yet no internet at home?

[CrazyIslander]

Yep Foxtel was a rip off. The only problem is people would need to have home internet to have Stan. So despite showing one game a week on FTA, RA may end up depriving it's audience of games. Foxtel have the added advantage of having a pool of sports fans as subscribers. Will Stan be at pubs and clubs?

Hold the phone.

Who on earth has Foxtel yet no internet at home?

Some people do. Not everyone has internet. A lot of long term foxtel subscribers have it on cable.

[Zakar]

Yep Foxtel was a rip off. The only problem is people would need to have home internet to have Stan. So despite showing one game a week on FTA, RA may end up depriving it's audience of games. Foxtel have the added advantage of having a pool of sports fans as subscribers. Will Stan be at pubs and clubs?

Hold the phone.

Who on earth has Foxtel yet no internet at home?

Some people do. Not everyone has internet. A lot of long term foxtel subscribers have it on cable.

Whilst I'm sure there are a couple of people out there meeting that description, I think you're talking about a very very slim minority of people.

[grievous]

Not having internet is like the bloke who doesnt have a mobile. Rare and an endangered species.

[CrazyIslander]

You guys are probably right.

[Zakar]

You guys are probably right.

It's probably people 70+ mainly TBF.

[shanky]

shanky,

grievous posted that exact article on page 1.

My apologies

I was on my phone. I did check to see, but obviously not well enough.

[UncleFB]

Just checked, Stan Premium is only $19 per month. I pay $118 per month for my current Foxtel subscription. Fml.

You could probably get Binge (HBOs Shows etc) along with Stan and Kayo, and I think there’s a reality tv channel out there that might have the other stuff you like and you’ll still be saving crap loads.

[Slim 293]

Just checked, Stan Premium is only $19 per month. I pay $118 per month for my current Foxtel subscription. Fml.

You could probably get Binge (HBOs Shows etc) along with Stan and Kayo, and I think there’s a reality tv channel out there that might have the other stuff you like and you’ll still be saving crap loads.

Yep, Foxtel really only hold two exclusive packages - HBO content and sport, and now both are available via their cheaper streaming subsidiaries...

The same movies they carry are simultaneously uploaded to one of the other streaming services.

Foxtel is an overpriced, redundant model of watching television.

[wamberal]

Foxtel is an overpriced, redundant model of watching television.

And time shifting, we do a lot of that. Foxtel does have content that is not available elsewhere, eg Sky News Uk and CNN. If they lose the Soup, we will rejig everything and give them away.

[towny]

The only ‘quality’ content cable tv has is the content that doesn’t suit the steaming business model. That is, stuff that’s live. A SOO game might be worth $15m live, but the next day it’s worth $15. Netflix and co don’t want it and pour their cash into the other stuff. This means the only good content that FTA and PayTV have left is News, Sport and the stuff they make themselves.

So they’ve been paying whatever they have to in order to get it. Otherwise they’re dead. They’ve been paying much more for sport than it’s worth - making their money on the cheap reality crap. But less people watch FTA and PayTV every day. It’s a death spiral.

I’m glad it looks like rugby is getting off the dying PayTV model; however it’s hard to say what it will all look like in a few years. My bet is that sport content will be bundled into other services, like home/mobile broadband, meaning the Foxtel and their like will be goneskis. Amazon have some crazy ideas though. Who knows?

[towny]

Foxtel is an overpriced, redundant model of watching television.

And time shifting, we do a lot of that. Foxtel does have content that is not available elsewhere, eg Sky News Uk and CNN. If they lose the Soup, we will rejig everything and give them away.

This is exactly why Foxtel and co have been willing to pay overs for sport. I give them 3 years.

[Blackrock Bullet]

The only ‘quality’ content cable tv has is the content that doesn’t suit the steaming business model. That is, stuff that’s live. A SOO game might be worth $15m live, but the next day it’s worth $15. Netflix and co don’t want it and pour their cash into the other stuff. This means the only good content that FTA and PayTV have left is News, Sport and the stuff they make themselves.

So they’ve been paying whatever they have to in order to get it. Otherwise they’re dead. They’ve been paying much more for sport than it’s worth - making their money on the cheap reality crap. But less people watch FTA and PayTV every day. It’s a death spiral.

I’m glad it looks like rugby is getting off the dying PayTV model; however it’s hard to say what it will all look like in a few years. My bet is that sport content will be bundled into other services, like home/mobile broadband, meaning the Foxtel and their like will be goneskis. Amazon have some crazy ideas though. Who knows?

Amazon have been paying for sport alright so who knows what happens.

[Ellafan]

I suspect I am on the same 'platinum' plan, via Telstra, as is AC.Basically I only watch sport, the history channel, cooking type type shows (Bourdain, Masterchef), and some movies these days. I used to watch scifi but I seem to have seen it all, and the new Star Trek series aren't even on Fox. I actually don't bother much with the history channel now, because it is full of shows featuring the ancient aliens guy, and you get better, less generic stuff on youtube.

If foxtel lose the rugby I'll ask Pat to come over and help get my smart TV set up for Stan or whatever.

[towny]

I suspect I am on the same 'platinum' plan, via Telstra, as is AC.Basically I only watch sport, the history channel, cooking type type shows (Bourdain, Masterchef), and some movies these days. I used to watch scifi but I seem to have seen it all, and the new Star Trek series aren't even on Fox. I actually don't bother much with the history channel now, because it is full of shows featuring the ancient aliens guy, and you get better, less generic stuff on youtube.

If foxtel lose the rugby I'll ask Pat to come over and help get my smart TV set up for Stan or whatever.

Stan is easier than you think. However, it might seem like a grind to learn at this stage. Rugby (and its hosting partner) must work out how to convert all the cable guys like yourself to the new world. I hope RA gets innovative with their marketing and doesn’t wait for everyone to work it out for themselves. Maybe have regular spots on the FTA coverage explaining how it works - advertise a hotline for tech support for everyone - mail our step by step instructions.

[booze]

How does the reported value of a new deal compare with the last broadcasting deal that Aus had?