I doubt Sky were too interested in securing the rights to the RLWC. They already had the autumn Rugby Union international schedule with England RU games against Australia and All Blacks pencilled in for the Saturday afternoon slot, which now clash with England RLWC fixtures on the BBC of course. Sky also have the early Saturday evening slot filled with Premier League soccer so that rules out their usual 6pm-ish kick off times for RL internationals. When would England's RLWC games have been scheduled had Sky shown real interest and secured the broadcasting rights? Thursday evening kick offs at 8pm with no pre-match build up?


Agreed. International RL has gone backwards during Sky's polyfilla coverage since 1996. Much better to have 3 or 4 million watching on a major FTA TV during a prime Saturday afternoon slot as opposed to barely 200K watching on a Sky Sports channel at some weird hour to fill an off-peak gap in the Sky Sports schedules.


Further emphasising Sky's policy of withdrawal from rugby league coverage in recent years. That's international RL, the NRL and Championship RL they no longer broadcast.


Because that's exactly what has happened... duh!

It may surprise you to learn Sky have multiple sports channels. That allows them to show more than one event at the same time. But then you knew that
As for the build up, it depends what was previously agreed with the production company. But then you knew that as well.
Which perhaps poses the question of why you would pretend to be concerned about these ‘problems’ even though you know they don’t actually exist. Perhaps you could spend a year creating a spreadsheet about your fallacious arguments to highlight your faux concern?

Seems strange then that you are desperately attempting to use it as a negative argument.

That would be Sky’s withdrawal from Rugby League over the last few years that so far consists of screening more games as well as more secondary programming and more hours of RL as a total?

was BT Sport in existence when the RLWC TV rights were sold?

Where you getting these figures from? Because as far as I know they're no where near correct. Even at prime time on a Saturday RL pulls around 1 mil or lower from what I've heard, which is why they don't mind moving it around the afternoon as it makes no difference to viewing figures, the same people (and only the same people) will watch it regardless of KO time.

I'm pretty sure BT Sport started bidding for rights last year, getting the Premiership Rugby about a year or so ago.

Sky showed them live, the BBC had highlights.

Why did Nigel Wood commission this joke?

Premier sports is a worthy investment if you like your rl.

Get it now and you can have every world cup game and cancel after 2 months. Get it for the year, tenner a month you get EVERY nrl game (3 live, the rest replayed) state of origin, anzact test, the works. You also get the championship games as well.

Sky sports used to show all that now all they do is the super league. They've really gone off the rl market in the last 5 years. Wonder how long before they decide they simply don't need super league?

I am one of the unfortunate ones who's TV provider is Virgin Media so I'm unable to get Premier Sports on the TV for the World Cup. I know I can probably get it for a tablet or PC but it's not the same to me. With that in mind and for any other poor VM customer then here is a bit of good news. The scheduling of the BBC games live.
BBC World Cup Schedule

Saturday, 26 October
England v Australia: 14:00-16:30, BBC One & HD
Wales v Italy: 16:30-19:00, BBC Two & HD

Sunday, 27 October
Rugby League World Cup highlights: 23:45-00:25, BBC One & HD

Saturday, 2 November
England v Ireland: 14:00-16:30, BBC One & HD

Sunday, 3 November
Rugby League World Cup highlights: BBC One & HD

Saturday, 9 November
England v Fiji: 14:00-16:30, BBC One & HD

Sunday, 10 November
Rugby League World Cup highlights: BBC One & HD

Monday, 11 November
Rugby League World Cup highlights: BBC Two & HD

Tuesday, 12 November
Rugby League World Cup highlights: BBC Two & HD

Saturday, 16 or Sunday, 17 November
Rugby League World Cup quarter-final: BBC Two & HD

Sunday, 17 November
Rugby League World Cup highlights: BBC Two & HD

Saturday, 23 November
Rugby League World Cup semi-final: BBC One & HD

Sunday, 24 November
Rugby League World Cup highlights: BBC Two & HD

Saturday, 30 November
Rugby League World Cup final: BBC One & HD, 1345-1630

Sunday, 1 December
Rugby League World Cup final highlights: BBC Two & HD


Even assuming the highlights programmes may be late night, I'd say it's very good free to air coverage.

Increased coverage on the news, radio and BBC Sport website is a huge boost too. Saturday afternoon on BBC One as the winter rolls in and there's not a lot to do is a brilliant slot.

I presume BBC are showing both Semi-Finals?

That seems to show it is showing a semi-final and a quarter final, which would be a shame.

Im sure both will be shown.England,should they get there, then their Semi will be BBC 1 and the other BBC 2 i reckon.

Yeah...there's rlFArl to do