According to an interview with Blake Solly in todays League Weekly the viewing figures for the Grand Final was the highest for ten years.

Interesting. I read in this months 40/20 that the viewing figure is the worst since 2001 IIRC. I'm not suggesting that Blake Solly would indulge in some spin, but the BARB (Broadcaster Audience Research Board) figure is 253,000 which was down from 315,000 the year before. So someone is telling porkies!

(On reflection do you think Blake was referring to the actual match attendance hoping that people would misunderstand his statement?)

No, he definitely states Sky viewing figures which peaked at 500,000

Then he's obviously including figures from Fox in Australia and Sky in New Zealand and others around the world including America and the Middle East - which is disingenuous.

Hang on, though, surely nowadays the BBC have 'extended' highlights of the GF, which is a relatively recent phenomenon, isn't it? So if you include the BBC viewing figures...

[urlhttp://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2015-12-03-liteplan-join-warriors[/url

Not "blue chip", admittedly, but it's a start...

So given it wasn't for 150 vehicles you agree it was a joke? I am not sure what your point is with that deal.

I have no idea if 188 are better than Coral for Wigan money-wise. Coral offered a free shirt deal for a specified bet last year. Maybe that didn't convert into enough paying customers? No idea again but for whatever reason they aren't out sponsors this year.

Anyway despite that I don't think other clubs are coining it from other sponsors such as Emirates or Typhoo. They will pay the going rate for an RL club which alas won't be a great deal.

I've been surprised at the constant change of sponsor at Wigan over the last few years.
With Wigan being one of the biggest and best run clubs I assumed initially it would be a short term thing until a long term partner was found, but it seems as if it's ongoing.

I speak with little knowledge of sports sponsorship but I'd have thought a long term partner would be better? Even if it's a smaller brand.

IIRC Leeds have only had 2 or 3 main sponsors in SL. Tetleys & Leeds Building Society (can't remember if we still had Carling for a couple of years at the beginning of SL).

I find it pretty baffling tbh. Either the club can't find a long term sponsor or they are happy trying to find the best 12 month deal each year. I can't believe it's the 2nd one, because that leads to a delay with the shirts coming out and fans getting peed off. That suggests to me that the commercial team are getting something seriously wrong.

Same here. As I said Wigan are one of the better run clubs and so it's always confused me as to why they couldn't nail down a sponsor. Especially in the last few years since around 08/09 when Wigan have been resurgent and got decent crowds and some success.

Said it before, but....I genuinely don't see what the problem is with this lot. They're a national company (being based in the IoM is purely to do with gambling regulations in the UK [and tax) and if IL's had anything to do with it they will have paid no small amount to get their monika on the shirt.
Additionally, I suspect our recent relative successes will have heightened competition for the main logo spot, and putting it out to tender with short-term contracts is probably fueling something of a bidding skirmish (if not quite a war). Long-term sponsors might be more difficult to bargain with when it comes to renewal.

Although, just be thankful we're not in Wakey, who appear to be sponsored by the local chippy for next year at least [urlhttp://tinyurl.com/ol5wh7r[/url

I don't necessarily have a problem with any individual company, more that Wigan seem to want to change the main sponsor every year. Just being a Leeds fan I've seen the benefits a long term relationship with a sponsor can bring, with Leeds it was Tetley's and now Leeds Building Society.
And it's just surprised me as Wigan's turnover of sponsors has been greater than most.