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?

Sadler's just rung into 5 Live! David Davies is justifying Winter Olympics being dished. Have I missed his comments on RL?

The whole "Rugby" world cup will be free to air, so I can only assume that means us.

from the report

• However, despite the suggestion of including regional sporting events it was felt that the rugby league Challenge cup final did not meet the criteria of being of national importance or of major importance to society; there was a strong perception that rugby league was, on the whole only of importance to the North West of England.

The people who took part in the review

Interested in sport
Yes 47
No 46
Access to subscription based TV in the home
Yes 53
No 40
Children under 18 in household
Yes 41
No 52
Age range 18-34 29
35-49 26
50-64 23
65+ 15
Gender Male 47
Female 46
Ethnicity White 76
BME/ Other 17

12 group discussions took place across the UK:
Brighton x 2
Nottingham x 2
Rochdale x 2
Glasgow x2
Swansea x 2
Belfast x 2

I love that logic.

Only important in the North West of England.

Well that could be because ten of your twelve review panels were held in areas with no professional rugby league side, and you didn't even bother to include a whole swathe of the country from the Scottish Borders down to Nottingham on the eastern side of the Pennines.

You ask the right questions to the right people, you'll always get the answer you want.

cant's be bothered to read all 6 pages of this, but by 2016 does anyone think the internet may play a much more dominant role in sports braodcasting rather than tv?

also there may be advances in cetain areas we are no even aware of yet - including perhaps a dedicated RL channel

Has anyone yet managed to make a convincing case as to why the Challenge Cup final should be treated any differently in regard to its protected status than the Heineken Cup or Anglo-Welsh Cup which are its nearest sporting counterparts?

History? They haven't got a Don Fox moment, or the three quarters of a century at Wembley.

Yeah, not massively convincing, but that'd be the key difference.