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?

as someone posted on twitter, another 3 years of games on mute!

Really hope Sky RL have a clean sweep with the current presenters/commentators, too much favouritism with certain clubs!

Saw on twitter that the four games not on sky will be available for streaming, so there could be some good to come out of it

I spend the first few minutes of each game syncing the sky video with th radio commentary. Johnny "Tough Guy" Wilkin makes the game unwatchable.

Three more years of Barry and Tez taking the mick out of each other. I can't wait.

I am a bit shocked that the tv deal has dropped in monetary value but I’m waiting to see all the details before I pass comment.

There is a rumour all games will have video referees.

Hypothetically, if the monetary value of the deal dropped but more money went into the production costs and we have video ref at all matches. As well as C4 getting 15-20 matches and an our league streaming service.

I would be pretty content with the deal but time will tell.

I’m a big believer that teams should have less say and use their money in short sighted ways. E.g. over the hill quota signings.

Maybe IMG have thought that they’d rather take the money out of SL clubs pockets and ensure if goes into strategic development rather than an Aussie pension pot.

Just sad that it will be championship clubs that get hit. I think I would pay for viewing rights of all championship games on our league if it was cheap. Probably best they’ll get.

Probs could raise over a mil even if it was £30

said several times on here that IMG is just a think tank and to remove promotion/relegation to S/L is the most backward step i have ever seen.
A big name that has pulled the wool over the eyes of the RFL.Statistics dont get fans into grounds or improve the game.
Have they come up with anything positive NO
Doomed to failure is my opinion with IMG coming away with a nice payout when reality kicks in and the RFL cancel the contract

https://twitter.com/TheGameCaller/statu ... oDyrA&s=19

https://twitter.com/TheGameCaller/statu ... oDyrA&s=19