Which is why Premier Sports went to the wall when they dropped RL.

Oh. Wait. That didn't happen.

I'd say that the number of Sky subs that genuinely rely on RL is worryingly small. Around 250,000 watched the first Wigan v Leeds game of the season (the highest rated match of the first four rounds of 2019). To suggest that almost half of those subscriptions rely "purely" on RL is a massive leap to make.

Quote: rollin thunder "Even if that is the case 30k x around £60 a month with sky sports package plus bolt movies and other, would be a loss if around 25 -30 million a year if Sky loose these subscribers due to dropping RL.'" You've just answered your own question. The last TV deal was £182m over five years. (https://www.totalrl.com/ins-outs-super- ... w-tv-deal/). That's £36m pounds a year. Even by your maths, dropping RL is worth between £5m and £11m to Sky's bottom line.

Quote: rollin thunder "Even if that is the case 30k x around £60 a month with sky sports package plus bolt movies and other, would be a loss if around 25 -30 million a year if Sky loose these subscribers due to dropping RL.'" You've just answered your own question. The last TV deal was £182m over five years. (https://www.totalrl.com/ins-outs-super- ... w-tv-deal/). That's £36m pounds a year. Even by your maths, dropping RL is worth between £5m and £11m to Sky's bottom line.

A key point that is brushed aside by Jean's terrible self serving reply that people from France and NA living here will buy dishes in their hundreds!! No offence Jean!! McManus was very clear SKY must have a high English content and that is nine English clubs minimum. Last year SL tried to bring in a 10 club SL, and a 10 club SL has been argued since they abandoned licensing. Shane Richardson said last week SL should be 10 clubs, and as SKY say they are dropping the money there is every chance we will go to 10 clubs so that maximises the share per club of a guaranteed much lower deal.

Do the math everyone, if the SKY contract needs 9 English clubs to sell adequate subscriptions there is no room for the expansion dream is there?. That's exactly why Mr. Perez put the capture of a NATV TV deal high on his agenda. Mr. McDermott admitted there is no such deal nor any prospect of one. The expansion dreamworld we have been in since 2006 is set to end 2021. Wake up ladies and gents!!

Really ??

Just how many of these mythical creatures are there and just how many of those base their decision on whether to subscribe to RL on Sky based on the inclusion of a London side.
Should I point out that London were only back in SL for 1 season and remembering that most of the potential viewers in London dont know who London Broncos are, it makes zero difference.
The whole myth about expansion clubs being of greater importance to Sky was blown out of the water at the last re vamp of the league structure, when it was decided that the inclusion of Toronto and Toulouse wasn't even worth considering, which would suggest that despite all of the froth and hype form certain advocates of expansion, we stuck with the same 12 clubs, albeit with a return to promotion and relegation.

It seems like Mr Elstone will indeed have to work very hard to gain any kind of improved deal and the words from Brian Carney may give an insight as to what Sky are thinking here - very worrying times for the game and it's to be hoped that we have a plan B.

Bang on - Les Catalans are already on SKY - how many ex-pats buy subs here? 10? As for Canadians interested in rugby league enough to buy subs here how many? two or three?.

You can straight away predict SL 2021, Caddick, Pearson, Hudgell, Fulton, Davey, Moran, McManus, Lenigan, Carter and Beaumont. The wild card is Wood at Bradford.

A long shot though is TWP, Barcelona, Belgrade, Perpignan. Ottawa, Toulouse, New York, Boston. Rome and Vancouver. The wild card is Perth (WA)....

I'm puzzled you believe (as a realist) they will stay at 12? I don't see that Elstone has any sort of a hand to play at all?? The penny has dropped with me that Carney's the SKY anchorman for RL so that's probably relevant to the validity of his comments, but there has been a more rounded explanation that SKY were up against newbies BT last time and they flexed their financial muscles. Now BT and SKY are more in harmony and BT are happy to let SKY take the game. I trust that SKY won't shoot themselves in the foot by giving us so little that the quality drops?

How about £2.5M a club for 10 clubs for 5 years = £125M?? We talk about 2021 is it the case the season coming up 2020 is the last season under this deal do you know?

Quote: Donnyman "I'm puzzled you believe (as a realist) they will stay at 12? I don't see that Elstone has any sort of a hand to play at all?? The penny has dropped with me that Carney's the SKY anchorman for RL so that's probably relevant to the validity of his comments, but there has been a more rounded explanation that SKY were up against newbies BT last time and they flexed their financial muscles. Now BT and SKY are more in harmony and BT are happy to let SKY take the game. I trust that SKY won't shoot themselves in the foot by giving us so little that the quality drops? We talk about 2021 is it the case the season coming up 2020 is the last season under this deal do you know?'" The current deal is until the end of the 2021: https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... rship-deal

Quote: Donnyman "I'm puzzled you believe (as a realist) they will stay at 12? I don't see that Elstone has any sort of a hand to play at all?? The penny has dropped with me that Carney's the SKY anchorman for RL so that's probably relevant to the validity of his comments, but there has been a more rounded explanation that SKY were up against newbies BT last time and they flexed their financial muscles. Now BT and SKY are more in harmony and BT are happy to let SKY take the game. I trust that SKY won't shoot themselves in the foot by giving us so little that the quality drops? We talk about 2021 is it the case the season coming up 2020 is the last season under this deal do you know?'" The current deal is until the end of the 2021: https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... rship-deal

Quote: wrencat1873 "The current deal is until the end of the 2021As part of the new sponsorship, Super League and Betfred will continue to support the ‘Gamble Responsible’ campaign, which is currently promoted at Super League games. The partnership will continue to see over £25,000 donated to local charities as part of the Betfred Super League Man of Match initiative, where at each televised match, the player donates to a charity of their own choice. [/i https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54 ... aking-deal

Quote: wrencat1873 "The current deal is until the end of the 2021As part of the new sponsorship, Super League and Betfred will continue to support the ‘Gamble Responsible’ campaign, which is currently promoted at Super League games. The partnership will continue to see over £25,000 donated to local charities as part of the Betfred Super League Man of Match initiative, where at each televised match, the player donates to a charity of their own choice. [/i https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54 ... aking-deal

If you're referring to advertising revenue they aren't going to be losing much of that, and could well see it increase depending what they showed in place of RL.

I think SL needs to be concerned. I don’t think BT want SL and Sky can pretty much offer what they want as SuperLeague have nowhere else to go.

They will get a TV deal but at best I see it being the same as before but likely to be less. The product on the pitch is getting worse and many of the games on tv are played in empty stadiums so it’s not exactly a great look.

Yes I know the NRL has this issue but their actual product on the pitch isn’t declining.

Now of course it’s all about ratings so if the deal offered is less I guess one can assume the ratings are decreasing as well as Advertising revenue and Sky feel the value offered previously isn’t being met.

Would a Superleague network be an option? Personally I would say no as creating a network takes a lot of money and broadcast/Network expertise. I don’t think I could trust SL to be able to deliver such a platform which was actually decent as they would never recruit the know how to get such a platform started.

The knock on effect from any less money generated with the new tv deal is massive. Players are not paid enough as it is.

Whilst ratings are important, it's the revenue generated by those ratings that really counts.