Sadfish is right, there where muttering's several years back about being part of the "crown jewels."
Rugby League has a huge support inside Parliament, for the life of me I cant see how the CC has been removed from the list, unless the RFL wanted it that way.

Given we've just taken a huge step forward in finally getting an international back live on the BBC, I couldn't agree more.

all its about is certain people not wanting to give a minority sport (as they see it) air time. but boost the level at which rugby union is given.

just because its not on the "list" doesnt mean that it wont be on FTA.

The RFL are now free to choose which platform it is broadcast on, if SKY want to pay silly money for it then great. I suspect that SKY will bid something, as will the BBC - who need to keep some sport on their channels.

I've not seen any media reports discuss the reasons why the CCF is coming off the list. They just mention that it and the Derby are getting the chop and move on.

I'm guessing the RFL is happy with this but doesn't want to be seen to be happy with it. Have any journalists asked them for a comment?

its funny how other sports are upset that they are being put onto the list, while RL fans are complaining that we are not on the list.

any excuse for a whinge.

Best are the ones complaining that the Six Nations (an international competition) is on the list thereby depriving the competing nations the right to sell it to the highest bidder, while our domestic Cup competition isn't, thereby allowing it to sell itself to the highest bidder.

Personally, I prefer the [iLondon Evening Standards[/i's take on the story:


It's all about Brown personally taking the cricket Ashes off Sky as a personal revenge against Murdoch for turning against him. Straight up, guv!

Has no interest for me.
An inevitable home landslide victory against an amateur club then an inevitable landslide crushing by Super League club either home or away. Thats all it means to myself and lots of other lower league clubs these days.
Long gone are the days when you could draw a 'big' club at home and have reason to be optimistic of a romantic, shock victory.
That was 80% of the fun with the Challenge Cup.

rlhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/8356391.stmrl

England's home Ashes Tests are set to return to free-to-air television following a review of sport's "listed events", BBC Sport understands.

But flat racing's showpiece, the Epsom Derby, and rugby league's Challenge Cup final are both expected to be removed.

Who said anything about axing it, its maybe being removed from free to air only coverage, if the BBC want it, they bid for it with Sky, ITV etc.

I hope it stays on BBC, I just wish they would get shut of Ray French and stop bringing in the Welsh git to analyse, surely we have other people associated with the game that don't sound like morons.

OK so axed was the wrong word, but it might be removed from the BBC's live TV listings. I don't know what the BBC's viewing figures are like, but to remove it will take rugby league out of the public's eye unless you've got Sky Sports.

Whoops already a topic !
rlhttps://forums.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?t

I think it's important we maintain coverage on FTA TV to attract new people to the game and to give sponsors, ground, shirt etc a chance of some national TV coverage (and thus make it more valuable).

If Sky get 3rd choice of a game to show on a friday then so be it, it would be funny to watch the U-turn from Eddie, Stevo etc who currentley ignore the CC and any significance it has in order to big up the SL. If they got the rights to the final, then overnight it would become 'the greatest most historical competition in the world again' lol.

bad news if true IMO

people may moan about the BBC's coverage, but nearly 2 million watched England-Australia the other week...whereas the game would have got around 200k on SKY.

we need the publicity and coverage a national broadcaster can provide

even if the local LEEDS presenter says the final is at the Rhino's ground