Take your point very valid, i think everyone is as old as me

Yes they were.
They tried to compete with ITV's Wrestling programme which was on at the same time.
And thought that a jolly old northern sport where the participants were non to bright but pretty good chaps (as long as they remembered their place).
Would be just the job for the working chappies to watch on tv in their Working Men's club.
And it was fronted by Eddie(Mr "It's a Knockout" host)Waring
Things have really improved since then
Now sky seem to have adopted that attitude and the BBC show us lots more respect and it shows.
History lesson over

I think you guys need to put it into context a bit.
When I can't attend (due to the 2-3 hour travelling), I just want to see it on any platform.

I agree that both the Beeb and Sky coverage has it's faults but i'd rather have the faults and it shown on the box than not at all!

Beeb cutting to TS or Sims during the play was annoying. I want to see the match, but overall - read above !!

We could always do better, but RL fans just love knocking our sport and the support bodies.
BBC coverage was pretty damn good compared to the filler product it was used between ht and ft football score of the 80s like lefty reminds us, I'll add to that lefty....most games were already 5-10 min into the 2nd half too!

It's been a trend in both Football and Rugby for a few years now. Too many close ups, too many replays, too many shots of the crowd/subs/coach. Just show the game FFS.

The red button has been around for a long time now. You'd think they'd use it for things like no commentary and fixed cameras from behind the post or sidelines.