Yeah just the final though.

So RL to the masses is just about finished

Although the RFL pretend that we are in rude health, the reality is more like an ice cube in a tea pot.

I take your point that ideally the CC would be screened FTA. However, I'm not sure how great a benefit to the game the million-odd punters who sit glued to a TV screen on summer weekends actually are. Although the play off highlights packages don't tick the "live sport" box, I do reckon they serve the game well on account of their timing. While such packages won't replicate the CC coverage, if they could somehow be increased it could serve the game fairly well.

As far as I'm aware, there'll be no RL matches broadcast on terrestrial TV during the next TV contract.

Sky have exclusive rights to everything from 2018. That'll be Super League, Challenge Cup (which includes the right not to exercise those rights as they've a clear history of doing) and internationals.

But how can that be if the CC final is one of the events that, by law, must be screened on terrestrial TV?

From what I remember, there was a proposal for the CC Final to be removed from that list, but it was never adopted.

Earmarked to be punted from its protected status along with Epsom Derby and the Winter Olympics.

As of right now the cc final is still on the protected list and that won't be re addressed until 2016. Nothing in Sky or the RFL'S nor those that they had to drag kicking and screaming in to this deal have mentioned exclusivity on the cc or that the cc final will move to PPV and there had been no announcement re the removal from the protected list.

Whether it is simply coincidence that the protection is re ie we'd I 3016 and the new deal starts in 2017 I don't know.

I must've missed that part about internationals, do you have a link or have you made it up?

I suspect its removal from protected status is a given, perhaps from 2018 onwards? Hence why Sky have exclusive rights from that particular year?

However, let's assume just for arguments sake that the CC Final retains its protected status beyond 2017. There's still nothing compelling the BBC to broadcast the CC Final. Why would they (or any other terrestrial TV channel) when Sky have exclusive rights to broadcasting the rest of the competition rounds?

Go find your own sources.

Oh, and when you do, make sure you select the correct part

rlThe amount being paid for club [i[size"and international matches"[/size[/i will be £182,200,000 in total. For that, Sky Sports will broadcast 71 Super League games per season, 17 Championship games and one Championship one game, while they will also broadcast eleven Challenge Cup games.rl Future Rights Deals Challenge Cup from 2018 - Live Coverage - 11 Ties per Season - Until end of 2021 - SKY SPORTS England Internationals from 2018 - Live Coverage - All Matches LIVE -Until End of 2021 - SKY SPORTS *Source = www.rugbyleagueontv.co.uk/

rlThe amount being paid for club [i[size"and international matches"[/size[/i will be £182,200,000 in total. For that, Sky Sports will broadcast 71 Super League games per season, 17 Championship games and one Championship one game, while they will also broadcast eleven Challenge Cup games.rl Future Rights Deals Challenge Cup from 2018 - Live Coverage - 11 Ties per Season - Until end of 2021 - SKY SPORTS England Internationals from 2018 - Live Coverage - All Matches LIVE -Until End of 2021 - SKY SPORTS *Source = www.rugbyleagueontv.co.uk/

Unless you have a big moral problem with gambling (and I understand and respect those who do), Ladbrokes is a great sponsor, because they have an active incentive to promote the games. More than Stobart anyhow