0
O'Neill wants Super 15 coverage on free-to-air
Greg Growden | March 3, 2009
A BID to screen Super rugby on free-to-air television will be part of Australia's push to expand the tournament.
SANZAR officials will meet in Dubai on Wednesday, with Australian delegates calling for a Super 15 tournament from 2011, which would involve an expanded season running from March to August, and a six-team finals series. This would dramatically increase the number of Super matches, which ARU chief John O'Neill said would open up the tournament to free-to-air coverage.
"One of the criticisms we've had levelled at us for a long while is the lack of free-to-air," O'Neill said yesterday. "One of the reasons for that is because we have a scarcity of content, we've tended to sell it exclusively to pay-TV to maximise the revenue so that we can pay the players.
"If you go from 91 games to 130-140 games, you can potentially have one or two games on free-to-air every week. When people say, 'Why does AFL and NRL have free-to-air and pay-TV matches', the fact is that they have a lot more content and they can get that trade-off between revenue and public exposure. We know the majority of Super games will remain on pay TV, but if you had an element of free-to-air with that additional content, it's not a bad outcome for rugby."
O'Neill also believes it is imperative the Super 14 starts a month later because of the stifling conditions. On Sunday, Cheetahs and Springboks breakaway Juan Smith collapsed due to heat stress and concussion after playing against Queensland in Brisbane. Smith required a saline drip to restore fluids.
"Late February, early March in Brisbane is a very humid, hot place - and an afternoon game to boot," O'Neill said. "People haven't their minds into football codes at this time of the year. When it starts to get a bit cooler and you're off the beach, then you're into rugby mode."
O'Neill is also pushing for a fifth Australian Super team in Melbourne, the Gold Coast, western Sydney, Newcastle or even Japan.
"The meter is ticking. We need to have a proposition before the broadcasters by June 30 and I hope this SANZAR meeting really narrows down the differences," O'Neill said. "There are differences, which include issues over whether Springboks continue playing in the Currie Cup. The reality for all three unions is that we can only afford one level of professional rugby, which is Super rugby. Currie Cup, NPC and Premier Rugby in Australia is not the professional game."
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...842328910.html
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...842328910.html
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by James
Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
