bbc cutting 15 % from their sports rights budget,could this spell the end for the relationship between the challenge cup and the beep and would it be a good thing or a bad thing for the game

bbc still has the challenge cup for the foreseeable future

when is the contract up for renewal ? and at that time do you think the bbc would consider dropping the event and focus on more profitable events

If we lost what little national coverage we have on the bbc, it could be nothing but bad news for the game. Despite how awfull their coverage can be. It's all we have on free to air TV for neutrals and potential new fans to see the game.

well it was renewed earlier this year.

and no i don't think they would, they don't have much left tbh

Hmmm. Not so sure. Far as I'm aware their is no deal in place for the cup next year so far. I did hear the BBC wanted to reduce its coverage to 1 match per round with possibly another broadcaster taking the second match but who knows.

I'm sure the BBC could shave 15% from their costs without shedding any of their sports portfolio.

Fewer pundits would save a few quid, and every time they develop a new set of titles or graphics, they spend money, so money can be saved by simply using last year's.

A non-story, in my opinion.

I wouldnt be suprised if the Formula 1 coverage bares the brunt of the cost cutting measures, Surely if any more money where to be stripped out of the RL coverage then you might as well use a camcorder and a few loyal spectators as commentators.

For what its worth the superleague show should be canned as showing it at 3am in the morning nationally is a joke

I'm sure I read that cuts would mean an end to radio commentary from outside the region. If that is true then rugby league wouldn't be as badly affected as other sports because there's a game played in the Radio Manchester area every weekend. Itd be similar in Yorkshire with maybe only Cumbria and Hull having commentaryless weekends.

they could always stop the annoying dwarf from doing his silly sports on a saturday morning

The flip side though is that the woman doing sign language at that time made more sense than Gary Schofield.

True, but do you want to listen to that thin tanya bird with the really deep voice at 3am in the morning ?

P.S. i dont want to know your fantasies

As a cyclist the coverage of cycling on ITV4 has been really good this year. I'd be more than happy to have a similar level of coverage on one of the 'lesser' channels.

Their coverage of the BTCC is extremely good

They're not supposed to be profiting from it they're supposed to be providing a public service plus we are on that free list so either BBC itv1 channel 4 or 5 must show the challenge cup.