Quote: Tinkerman23 "Think sky might get rid of stevo if he carries on the way he does, banning the shoulder charge would surely be the end of rl as we know it, I think the biggest draw for getting new supporters is the physical nature of the game, that's why I love it, this great game struggles as it is, we need to keep attracting new spectators, more support , more money from the likes of sky, turning the game softer! In my opinion would be a disaster, think moa's hit out of the 3 mentioned was the only legal one, in my opinion!'"
I think Sky is the classic example of why a monopoly never works, in any walk of life. They're currently paying far less than they should be for RL because nobody else is interested in it, despite it being their second most watched sport. ESPN/Aviva/ITV pay more for RU which less people want but more broadcasters want. Their coverage is based around Eddie who will call the name of the ball carrier wrong three times in each set (on a good night) and Stevo.
Now Stevo has basically morphed into one of those computer games where they get a commentator to record 20 or so stock phrases that play out randomly during the action. All he does now is sit there and recite the following (and a few others) in a different order:
- Time for something different, like a little chip over the top
- I'd be going for the one pointer
- Any youngster out there watching...
- This *insert team name* outfit...
- *Insert hooker's name* is controlling things out there
etc
The whole coverage needs shaking up. Ideally I'd pay money to get some of the Aussie commentators over here (but then that's my solution for the abysmal refereeing too). Failing that, personally I'd sack Stevo off altogether and replace him on the main commentary with McDermott and O'Connor permanently. I'd make Bill Arthur the main commentator as I like him a lot better than Eddie when he gets an outing. I'd get rid of Clarke too. Three years ago he was the best thing about the Sky games but now he just sits there trotting out stats that mean nothing to anybody and noshing off Wigan.
I'd let Carney front the whole thing as presenter and give him 15 minutes before the game, 15 mins at half time and 15 mins afterwards. I don't understand why Sky give half an hour beforehand when there's nothing to talk about except what's gone before and the team sheets, and then they're in a rush to cut off after the game and screen some bloody repeat of a fishing show so all post game analysis and reaction has to be dug out of the red button, which many (like me) don't have depending on platform. Typically the Super League is the last live event of the evening, you've got four channels, why not run it on 30 minutes longer? Is there a huge audience for a repeat of Tight Lines at 10pm that wouldn't watch it at 10.30pm?
Ideally I'd put Carney alongside a professional presenter, not necessarily one with an RL background. One of the SSN guys, or dare I suggest Clare Balding who is always the best bit of the BBC's dreadful Challenge Cup coverage? I'd do the whole thing from pitchside with two guests - one with a link to the game, and one with a link to the next match they're televising. I used to enjoy it when they had the coach of the live Saturday night match on the Friday night coverage, I don't know why they stopped it. And when I say pitchside I mean professionally pitchside, not the weird Whicker Island set up they have now on Monday nights.
I guess most of you gave up at my Clare Balding suggestion, but I do think a big overhaul is needed, and would have happened if monopoly hadn't created laziness.
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