I suspect that the union lobby are not far behind this, they have long held the belief that it should never be on the "list" due to its narrow area of support.

This will now devalue the comp as many people watch the cup final every year regardless of supporting RL or not, it has become a national tradition.
The RFL will find it difficult to get quality sponsorship if it has lost the protected status and the union wallahs with the BBC heirachy will soon kill it off.

Don't kid ourselves any of the other channels will do as agood a job as the Beeb over the years or keep the sports profile high has it has been.

Well that would be the end of me watching Rugby on TV. I'm no-way going to pay the £40 a month or whatever it is for Sky sports. I'm not subsidising soccer, cricket, rugby Union etc. when I am only interested in Rugby League. You could say go to the pub but I don't enjoy drinking in the daytime.

Just to cear matters up but if it is removed it means that bidding is open to FTA and pay tv so the CC final could end up on BBC, ITV 4 or Sky Sports.

At the moment it is important to know that its ONLY the challenge cup final that has to be FTA.

The other games could be on any all tip pot channel but the RFL has sold it as a package.

Which ever way we spin it this is bad news for RL - As some pundit mentioned on 5live last night when this was discussed RL has got exactly what it deserved for getting into bed with Sky right from the outset .

Yeah, we're unique pariahs for that one. WTF, seriously? How has RL got into bed with Sky any more than soccer, cricket, RU etc?

For every con there's a pro. I really don't think it's going to make much of a difference.

If Sky wanted the Challenge Cup before they could have had it anyway. They would have just had to put the Final on one of their free to air channels like Sky 3 or something.

It's not going to make a difference.

again, why is it that only RL fans see bad news not to be on the "list"?

every other sport would be delighted that it can sell the rights to whoever it wants. If the RFL have any sense, they will keep it on the BBC - but at least they now have the option of selling the rights to whoever they want.

Couple of other points to note - the changes are not definate anyway, this is just a recommended list, it has to go through Parliament yet - which probably wont be completed until after the General Election, and probable new Government. Also, the recommendation is to change the "list" from 2016 onwards.

I think that people are also forgetting that by 2016, "free to air" will be much more than BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, C4 and C5.

By that time, there will be 30+ channels defined as "free to air" when the digital switchover is complete. That's a lot of airspace to fill.

The CC Final being on, for example, BBC Three or ITV4 tomorrow would be a problem, it won't be in 2016.

rlRL doesn't matter - Officialrl

No they couldnt as its a digital FTA channel. Not everyone has digital yet.

Just as a side note:

The original purpose of the list, iirc, (pre cable and satellite TV and silly money being offered for exclusive live TV rights) was that the 'crown jewel' events had to be made available to all broadcasters (ie both the BBC and ITV in those days). Though it was rare for both channels to choose to broadcast the same event (again iirc, it only ever happened for the FA Cup final)

This has certainly raised a few talking points across the country. It is firstly only a recommendation which will probably not get through Parliament this side of any general election next year.

It certainly raises the question about where the Beeb spend their cash. When you think of the milions spent on F1 which is not on the list. Should a public funded corperation be spendng that much on F1 when they should be showing / bidding for the "crown jewels" of sport.

I think for RL in the long run we have to have exposure on natinal free to air TV. Be that the BBC or ITV. We want , well the authorities running the game want it to be more of a national sport. By being stuck on Sky it does not reach a large audience and will never spread. Yes we can point to large viewing figures for SL. But who are the viewers ? Are they only dedicated RL fans who are loyal to the sport ? Or are they genuinely people out there who view the games on Sky and have bought into the sport simply because of Sky. I am sure there are a few , but not nearly as many as there are if games are on the Beeb or ITV.

For the good of the game we need the CC on free to air TV. Even when we all get digital I am sure BBC 1,2 and ITV 1 will still be the main channels to watch.

Does it mention digital? Genuine question. From what I've read it just says terrestrial. Nothing about analogue or digital.

I understand we're not going to get any comment from the great and good, or the RFL till after the 4N Final's out of the way. But then it will be the SL launch, won't it?