I take it your not in sales then?

If I went in to my boss and said forget my sales target..given the current ecomonic climate and government spending cuts..it will be hard to get any increase in sales this year. Can you forget my sales target and accept ' a modest increase' instead...I can tell you I wouldnt be in a job for very long.

You seem to have disappeared up your BARB statistics manual and have formed a view that the viewing stats are the only tool on which we can argue for an increase. Yes this is an important element in the mix, but its not the only element. Competition is key to driving up prices as is the 'value' the broadcaster place on this element (SL) in their sport portfolio.

The RFL need to develop our brand better than they have been doing, and get some competition into the mix ASAP.

In Oz there is talk of a $1 Billion TV deal for the NRL - the main reason is competition between chennels, 9, 10 and Fox. I'm not saying we can come near theat sort of price, but we have to improve on current levels, or we're dead in the water.

I think your looking at this the wrong way to be honest. From what it seems, ESPN and Sky have a very good relationship. ESPN are smart and not doing what Setanta did and that was instead of working with Sky Sports they tried to go against them. Nobody is gonna beat the biggest Sports Broadcaster in Europe!

It is more likely that ESPN and Sky would get a split deal working together. Now the clubs and RFL wouldnt want this as it will mean less money.



BBC has dropped Football League coverage for 2011/2012 season. They showd no interest in any kind of live or highlights package.

Dont think i disagree with you. In fact that was similar to the point I was making, just the opposite way round. No sponsor or advertiser is going to be swayed an even smaller percentage of the audience switching on because Wakefield are playing instead of Crusaders.

Crusaders are part of the expansion in to Wales, they are part of something much bigger than themselves and acting as the pinnacle of the welsh RL pyramid. Whilst in and of itself the 4/5k going in Wrexham is only a small part of what the RFL can take to the broadcasters, the much broader, wider and bigger growth of the game in Wales (and other areas) is an important aspect.

AG Barr(Irn Bru) -- not even third tier?
International brand,well established name,1000+ employees,turnover £200m+.

Thats nearly as funny as your BMW example.

Yes, compare AG Barr to McDonalds, Coca-cola, Barclays, Molson-Coors, Natwest, Diageo, Aviva, Nationwide, Vauxhall, Ford, RBS, total, DHL, UPS, Allianz, Carlsberg, Samsung who are all heavily involved in sport in this country and it looks kind to describe AG Barr as 3rd tier.

www.skysports.com/opinion/story/ ... 36,00.html

www.skysports.com/opinion/story/ ... 36,00.html