https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... n=sharebar

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... n=sharebar

Not the drop in value as expected but still we are going backwards , Hopefully there are other packages the game can sell to other broadcasters or streaming services .

It’s concerning that the sport continues to be unable to sell itself and again settles for a lower deal with SKY once more. Although the deal isn’t greatly reduced it’s still another reduction and a failure on the part of IMG. Would hope there is more to come from Channel 4 in terms of coverage and more possibilities for income streams to come in to the game.

Yeah think a 2nd broadcaster will help bump up the deal.

Dissapointing, but not surprising.

I guess we'll find out this afternoon if there is secondary rights will be broadcast with other TV companies of non Sky games .

Never been convinced IMG will be the saviours of the game some are making them out to be. Nothing I’ve heard yet from them convinces me otherwise.
They just look to be rearranging deckchairs on The Titanic.

A cut in the TV deal is disappointing, and even though the amount may be material, it still sends out a message.

Sky will continue to prioritise other sports over rugby league for the next few years from the looks of it as well, given the amount they’ve invested into The Hundred and women football.

Looks like the clock is ticking for IMG and SL to sort out a bigger / Better deal for the next TV contract in three years time . If this doesn't happen then I fear for the professional game in this country .

Unless we can interest another broadcaster in becoming the primary broadcaster then I imagine as a sport our bargaining position must be pretty weak.

Too many loop fixtures, a small geographic team base along a single motorway won't help increase a TV deal

I tend to agree with that but it is a smaller reduction than I had anticipated, however, as everyone says it is again devaluing our game when other sports are getting increased offers from Sky and other broadcasters. I'm also a bit disappointed that we haven't heard more from IMG but they did say that 2024 was when we'd see the changes yet by definition for them to be effective we should be hearing now about what's to come. I'm amazed we aren't doing a lot more to encourage and develop young players and that it is not a cornerstone of the grading system to be introduced. At present we are just becoming a dumping ground for many failing, aged NRL players or a good developing ground for their young hopefuls and the standard of our game is suffering..

That said I spent a lot of time looking into IMG's background when they were appointed and deduced that they have a good track record and are are possibly the best organisation in the world when it comes to breathing life into flagging sports. What worries me is as has been said above if this fails in the next three years it could well be down to the failing state of our game and the lack of youth development and participation, if that's the case the TV offer in three years time will be greatly reduced and we are doomed as a full time professional sport.

Also people criticising IMG, it must be difficult for them when the clubs ignore their proposals, they wanted to scrap magic weekend, the clubs ignored this and is continuing next year, so must be difficult for them to come in, try propose changes but the club's self interest still rules the roost

Still think we need a 14 team Super League. 12 teams is too stale and repetitive.
Don’t have the player pool, or ability to split the money further, to make it happen though. Current owners will want to protect their own club before diluting funding.
Also needs to be a bigger emphasis on youth development in any IMG Gradings.

Will be interesting to see where the game is when the latest TV deal expires.

Any figures, Mick G, I think reckons we use to get 40m, went down 24m and this deal is down by 50%. So that makes it 12m, not sure how long that is for though.

No talk of inflation either. With prices going up everywhere club revenues are down even further and players are effectively taking paycuts.

It's not looking great is it?