if it is on the other terrestriol/free view channels it will also be promoted better with more adverts, i think i saw one advert for the rugby league on BBC and that was only for the final.

I don't mind it coming off the bbc but it has to go to another free view channel, we need to wider public to see it, especially when they are just flicking through the channels on a saturday/sunday afternoon.

I really hope they get it on another freeview channel. I can't afford sky sports so for me the best thing about the challenge cup is that I can watch it on tv and bbc iplayer. Also we'll get a lot less new fans if it's only on sky sports.

Does this mean the rounds prior to the final will be on?

Seems unlikely. Hope Sky get it. Much better coverage IMO even with Tweedledum & Tweedledee commentating.

its not been removed from the bbc, its been removed from the protected package, therefore the rfl if they wanted could sell the challenge cup rights to sky. however, the challenge cup, in my opinion should be kept on terrestrial television

Im pretty sure that I heard somewhere that the RFL wanted it taking off the protected list anyway.

I think you're missing the point. Yes, Sky's coverage is better but that is not the only factor. As Grimmy says, the cc needs to be on a free-to-view channel as there are a lot of people who cannot afford Sky let alone the extra a month for Sky Sports. It's going to get less coverage for Joe Bloggs to see and so it's appeal will narrow further and we will lose even more ground to RU.

I guess ITV would be a good substitute just to see how they handle it. They've already got the rights to the Guinness Prem so I wouldn't mind seeing how they get on with RL. As long as they get rid of that Craig Doyle bloke Plus I was starting to like the RL team the bbc had with Claire Balding, Nobby and Dave Woods (that Welsh get Davies can go and take a long walk off a short pier for all i care )

100% agree Neil. IMO we need more games live on free to watch TV. It amazing how many people from random areas of the country fall in love with the game when watching a game by chance on the BBC. Its a bad day of that does happen and we could stop our game from expanding further

100% agree Neil. IMO we need more games live on free to watch TV. It amazing how many people from random areas of the country fall in love with the game when watching a game by chance on the BBC. Its a bad day of that does happen and we could stop our game from expanding further

Hardly surprising, given thier continued disrespect for the sport. They did no advertising for the Four Nations matches (that i saw), and no video coverage on the 10 o'clock news the night England got to the final. We need a terrestrial station, bu one that's going to do us justice - p'haps channel 4 or 5 with Clare Balding?

How about Eurosport.

id rather it went to sky than Eurosport

Absolutely. I never tire of talking to people about rugby league, and I always feel proud as punch when people from, say, the south tell me how much they love watching RL and that it's exciting to watch.

But I always feel let down when they tell me that they hardly ever see it - and that is down to the game not being in front of their noses.

I always wonder - although it will never happen - if RL and football had equal press and TV coverage, which sport would be the one of choice? Being a football fan is like being a Westlife fan - often, it comes about due to them not even being aware of an alternative.

WHAT? No one watches it!!!

All this means is that sky & other pay per view channels can also bid for the rights.

If the BBC still want it and they offer an agreeable amount of money they will still keep it

Would be interesting if the cup moved to channel 4 or 5. Don't believe that they would get the same audience but they did ok with the ashes the last time they had them. 2 live games a week plus also a weekly magazine/highlights program in the contract, now that would be a good thing for the sport on national tv