Many boxers were household names in the 80's and 90's before that sport whored itself to sky, now its profile as a sport is down the pan.

Ok, the sky money kept the game from going bust, but the challenge cup on the Beeb showcases it to a wider audience. Its a nice balance.

I would disagree that it is not a nationally important event, I think it is, it is still one of the UK biggest spectator sports oldest cup competition and it is played in the national stadium (and has been for majority of its history). And also, is that what the government is still saying? It sounds like they are talking about keeping certain sporting events on TV to inspire young people into these and other sports through these large sporting spectacles remaining accessible for all to see on free-to-air TV. Why should we let the many young people who do play RL in schools and clubs throughout the UK (and in particular the North) not be inspired by RL and let RU six nations have that right instead because they don't have Sky!

I admit that the BBC do not do a great job of covering the CC in comparison to Sky and that is clearly born out of complacency but I think to let the government tell us that they do not consider our great sport worthy enough to inspire our young people to participate in sport but RU is... come on!

BBC Breakfast just led the 'rugby' segment of their sport section with a clip of a try from the Kiwis game and and interview with Tony Smith. Only a passing reference to the Rah Rah game.....I'm off for a lie down



More seriously, I wouldn't be that bothered if ITV picked up the Challenge Cup. I know their production values often leave a bit to be desired but they'd have 'magazine' shows on ITV2, 3 or 4 with live coverage of early rounds on ITV4.
We'd maintain 'free tv' coverage and, for the first couple of seasons, they'd want to show the Beeb how to do it right.
Since the season shift the CC has suffered and the decline in the status of the cup is largely down to the teams' attitude and supporter apathy, not the tv coverage.

I'd certainly be open to teh CC moving to another channel. For prime sports time entertainment you get a lot of bang for your buck, at a time when football is our of season

I agree with you about ITV. If they just showed the Semi's and/or Final on ITV1 as you said they could show early rounds, even the very early rounds, on ITV4. I understand that the BBC get around 3 to 5 million viewers for RL on Saturday/Sunday afternoons and that goes up above 5 million for the final, so those figures are not too shabby. I also understand that the six nations games don't attract a significantly bigger amount of viewers per-say!

ITV used to cover rugby league with Clive Tyldesley as the commentator & he was IMO very good. Mind you that was in comparison to Ray French.
If it was Ch4 I'd have no qualms since their cricket coverage was an improvement on the BBC so see no reason why they couldn't do the same with RL.
All this shows the need to become a fully national sport.

put them both together and you're still arguing against the challenge cup!

Don't back track. Argue your viewpoint.

As Cala has demonstrated, your viewpoint is very negative towards the CC.

you havent answered my question

its in the wrong part of the year, it should be moved and it is scheduled badly in its current format (month between rounds)

it shouldnt be scrapped but it needs its sparkle back

Just been confirmed on the BBC Sport breaking news that the CC final is to be taken off the "protected list" for free to air along with the Winter Olympics and the Derby.

What BBC have done to their Horse Racing coverage is disgraceful, thank god we have Channel 4