It was around 2000-2001. Presented by Rob McCaffrey and the commentator was Clive Tyldesley if I recall correctly.

As for the Challenge Cup, I'm glad that another network has picked it up, even though it is Sky. None of the other terrestrial television stations were ever going to make a bid, they have to make sure the schedules are free for repeats of Murder She Wrote or the Neighbours Omnibus.

Not so much the national ITV but the local Granada Television which no longer exists.




That was the early 90s league match coverage that he presented with Clive commentated. Stick "granada rugby league" in a search on a certain video website!

You're thinking of Granada's Saturday afternoon games around 1990.

The NFP coverage had John Helm commentating I think.

Is this another saving from the BBC? I'm intrigued as to why the BBC are suddenly having to try and save so much money, is this due to them having 'other' sources of funding other than the license fee dry up? Or is it that they've been bucking the national trend and still affording their employees regular cost of living pay rises whilst the license fee costs has stayed static?

Not quite sure but we aren't the only sport losing coverage. Looks like the Grand National and the other minimal horse racing the BBC show (Royal Ascot, Epsom Derby) are going to shift to Channel 4, ending horse racing on the BBC entirely.

The only reason really the six nations remains on the BBC is because the RFUs choose to have the tournament on free to air rather than pay tv.

Championship level football (10 live games + highlights) is also set to go as well.

Personally if reducing challenge cup coverage by half, but still retaining the big games on the BBC, is a price to pay for keeping local radio commentaries then its a small price to pay.

I'm just hoping the world cup will get Terrestrial broadcast, hiding it away on Sky won't do Rugby League any good

I'm told that Sky, as well as the above, will be showing the two quarter finals that the Beeb don't pick. But everything after that will be on Auntie.

Aye, don't get me wrong it's definitely not a "woe is us" question from me, there are cuts happening all over the place at the beeb and I'm genuinely curious as to how they suddenly seem to have so much less funding and yet we're all still paying the same amount for our TV license.

Ah I see what you mean. It's because the license fee has been frozen completly until 2017. It had previously risen every single year in April (since 198icon_cool.gif by about £3-5(ish) per annum. It had risen by £19 between 2005 and 2010. So basically they had been going on expecting to continue with a £3-5 rise every year and the tories took it off them. Thats a huge hole to fill, no extra money between 2011 and 2016 that they would have expected. Great in some respects for the license fee payers with no rise but ultimately it has to affect output.

To be honest, I'd be quite happy to pay a few extra quid year on year if the BBC continued to put out programs of the quality of Attenborough's documentaries, the stuff with Brian Cox, and so on. But obviously a lot of people are already stretched to their absolute financial limits and you have to draw a line somewhere.

Well slightly more than Granada it was shown on the then Granada stable of channels which showed Rugby League Raw uptil the final and showed the final live.

Shown on Granada, Border, Anglia, Tyne Tees, Yorkshire & Medrian/Channel.

Yes that seems to be it. Sky definetly showing two quarter finals.

With the number of people having Sky sports and pubs and bars too, I wonder whether it being on BBC or Sky makes a difference? Is there perhaps more the BBC and ITV can get out of Rugby League?

BBC Manchester has always been great for Rugby League near me and is always doing interviews with players coaches etc. Thankfully they're not getting cut as its hard to get that type of insight into Rugby League as the papers, news dont really follow it as much as I'd like.

So we are actually getting even more coverage this year? This bad news just turned good!

Well I can only guess going off Sky's listings, as I've not seen any official announcement (what are they waiting for?) or BBC Listings, but it looks as if we are going to pick up, between the two channels, two extra matches in total.