The Future for the PRO14 - Part 4 - A Global Club Championship

First topic message reminder :

Following the Union Balldance of the last 12 months, another union has finally joined the party - SARU. The PRO12 league is gone with Martin Anayi's announcement of a global club championship involving conferences of teams from five unions with the potential for more to be included.

At first glance, it looks like a smart play - albeit somewhat fortuitous with SARU having to shed two teams from the Super Rugby competition. It brings together a lot more viewers that are attractive to media companies and business sponsors. Celtic Rugby Ltd still owns the competition with just its three founding shareholders - IRFU, SRU and WRU. No club or franchise owners involved. FIR failed to meet the required performance that would have made them shareholders at the beginning of July. And SARU weren't persuasive enough to get their seat at the table just yet. Rumours of a new company being set up failed to materialise. But they still signed up to a six-year agreement with £6m in funding each year.

It's not clear if this money is coming from SARU or directly from SuperSport, their broadcast partner. It is SARU who have signed the agreement to provide two teams so presumably the financial buck stops with them. It's more likely the £6m is a participation fee paid by SARU, similar to what FIR was charged when it joined in 2010. Media reports have said that the monies will be split equally amongst the 12 teams with travel and logistics costs for SA trips met centrally by Celtic Rugby Ltd since these will vary for clubs depending on whether they play one or both teams in SA.

Next on Anayi's agenda is the negotiation of a new media deal involving PPV and terrestrial TV, and online platforms. SuperSport may have already got their slice - all 20-22 home games involving Cheetahs and Kings plus some/all of the finals stages. Or perhaps not. Sky and possibly other PPV broadcasters such as Eir Sport may be willing to bid more to be the primary broadcaster for a higher profile, expanded Championship. But Anayi will want to keep a slice for terrestrial TV since they have a much better viewership reach. The current deal is for four years. Would a six-year deal be a better strategic move to guarantee increased revenues for a longer period? It would link in with the duration of the SARU agreement. And it would outlast the current participation agreement for the European Cup run by EPCR.

Further expansion is obviously the other key consideration with possibly other teams from SA, US and Europe coming on board. The danger is that Celtic Rugby goes too far and repeats the mistakes of Super Rugby. Better to build slowly to see if they will still come.

The coming season will be a fascinating one to see how the new structure and Championship beds in. Will attendances increase? Will there be more surprise results and potentially another new team to lift the cup next May?

Roll on 1 September.



Further info on PRO14 can be found here:
http://www.pro14rugby.org/2017/08/01/guinness-pro14-championship-qa/

SecretFly wrote:BBC Wales will mostly for some strange reason only show Pro14 games with one Welsh side in it....

Yeah strange that a Welsh broadcaster will only show games that the Welsh public want to watch......

I saw the 'laugh' first and thought good old Lord is enjoying the craic....

..... it all went downhill from there.

Normal service resumes.

I was being sarcastic mind.....

Oh so you are enjoying the craic? Apologies Lord.

SecretFly wrote:

Coz BBC don't do internet and phone packages?... and BBC Wales will mostly for some strange reason only show Pro14 games with one Welsh side in it....

Those games normally have an opposition side in it too I gather.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Coz BBC don't do internet and phone packages?... and BBC Wales will mostly for some strange reason only show Pro14 games with one Welsh side in it....

Those games normally have an opposition side in it too I gather.

So the Irish just drop the Eir deal and watch BBC Wales instead on the night they don't show the Munster v Glasgow game or the Leinster v Ulster game?

Yep.... that sound like a good deal to me and it saves money too because BBC will have to pay for it all...even the games we don't get to see! Brilliant!

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Coz BBC don't do internet and phone packages?... and BBC Wales will mostly for some strange reason only show Pro14 games with one Welsh side in it....

Those games normally have an opposition side in it too I gather.

So the Irish just drop the Eir deal and watch BBC Wales instead on the night they don't show the Munster v Glasgow game or the Leinster v Ulster game?

Yep.... that sound like a good deal to me and it saves money too because BBC will have to pay for it all...even the games we don't get to see!  Brilliant!

You seem a very aggressive poster SecretFly. I'm just trying to get a clearer picture here. I'm not after a date with your wife.

The Eir sports deal is done and dusted. So it's what comes after that that needs to be discussed.

1) There will inevitably be games on Eir sport featuring the likes of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff that will not be on terrestrial tv in the UK no? In that situation, it surely means that a subscription to Eir is an advantage for those who live in the UK. So how does one go about doing that in the UK? Is it through Sky TV? Does this alienate anybody that has Virgin Media cable?

2) Premier sports. The rumour is then that those Saturday games that sky sports had will now be taken over by Premier sports. So that's another sub package that needs to be bought.

Sky - £9.99 per month (HD and SD)
Virgin - £9.99 per month (SD only)
Web player - From £9.99 per month on website. IOS smartphone App. No android available yet.
Unavailable on BT Sports?

So, I will ask again, how much is this deal worth to the Pro14 ?

LordDowlais wrote:So, I will ask again, how much is this deal worth to the Pro14 ?

Nobody knows yet. The Irish press seem totally confused at the current tv income though:
http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/

While the value of the deal remains to be legally agreed and confirmed, it is thought that eir’s arrival onto the scene will boost the coffers of the Pro14, raising the TV rights revenue from its current figure, believed to be around €14 million per season.

That 14m euro figure looks completely confused given we've been told that the Pro14 is currently getting circa £18m per annum in tv income:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/guinness-pro14-journey-been-saga-13416162

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Coz BBC don't do internet and phone packages?... and BBC Wales will mostly for some strange reason only show Pro14 games with one Welsh side in it....

Those games normally have an opposition side in it too I gather.

So the Irish just drop the Eir deal and watch BBC Wales instead on the night they don't show the Munster v Glasgow game or the Leinster v Ulster game?

Yep.... that sound like a good deal to me and it saves money too because BBC will have to pay for it all...even the games we don't get to see!  Brilliant!

You seem a very aggressive poster SecretFly. I'm just trying to get a clearer picture here. I'm not after a date with your wife.

You have a strange concept of Aggression but there you go.... its the new world where 'safe' spaces are needed for everyone it seems, even in banter filled rugby forums.

I was simply laughing at the idea that the BBC could cater for the needs of Irish people on a weekend when 14 sides have to play ball and they (the BBC) are only rightly concerned with (and only pay for) the exploits of teams within the Pro14 that come from the UK. The larger BBC audiences in all the regions wouldn't stand for more rugby than less rugby. The BBC have to prioritse diversity of programming so I was laughing at the notion that BBC Wales would indeed try to be the rights holder to the entire Pro14 League.

SecretFly wrote: I was laughing at the notion that BBC Wales would indeed try to be the rights holder to the entire Pro14 League.

I don't think anyone has suggested anything like that.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote: I was laughing at the notion that BBC Wales would indeed try to be the rights holder to the entire Pro14 League.

I don't think anyone has suggested anything like that.

"So if they can access BBC / S4C feeds in Ireland, why would they pay for Eir sport?"

That, in my opinion, is a suggestion that under the conditions that BBC/S4C feeds in Ireland, why would it be necessary for Irish people to 'pay for Eir sport'.

And I explained why. Firstly Eir is the main telecommunications company in Ireland (provides more than sports coverage).... secondly, BBC wouldn't be interested in showing Munster v Leinster games etc etc.

It's a simple pathway to understanding what we've been discussing...you and I.

RugbyFan100 wrote:Nobody knows yet. The Irish press seem totally confused at the current tv income though:
http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/

That link states that EIR have outbid SKY Sports, given that last time around SKY were paying £5mil per season, I think, then EIR must have bid more than that surely ?

EIR, like BT before them, obviously feel that there is potential both in terms of their growth and in terms of the product that Pro14 provides.

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote: I was laughing at the notion that BBC Wales would indeed try to be the rights holder to the entire Pro14 League.

I don't think anyone has suggested anything like that.

"So if they can access BBC / S4C feeds in Ireland, why would they pay for Eir sport?"

That, in my opinion, is a suggestion that under the conditions that BBC/S4C feeds in Ireland, why would it be necessary for Irish people to 'pay for Eir sport'.

Yes. if Leinster v Ospreys and a whole host of other fixtures are on BBC Wales and Eir sport....why would someone pay for it? I'm not ue how you equated that to "the entire pro14 league".

This is where 'exclusivity' is key. Are Eir sports games exclusive to Eir sports? Or are they also on free to air in Scotland / Wales?

There's also the question of the Saturday afternoon kick offs on the new Pay Tv channel. (Premier sports?) - are these going to be shown on Eir sports too? Or only if they feature a province?

LordDowlais wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Nobody knows yet. The Irish press seem totally confused at the current tv income though:
http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/

That link states that EIR have outbid SKY Sports, given that last time around SKY were paying £5mil per season, I think, then EIR must have bid more than that surely ?  

I think "outbid" in this sense means that they have just got the winning bid. Sky pulled out of the process because the pro14 wanted Eir to be Ireland's broadcster not Sky. So in a sense EIR may have been the only remaining bid on the table. It will definitely be very interesting to see what hapens next both in the free to air negotiation payments and the new Pay tv UK broadcaster arrangements.

LordDowlais wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Nobody knows yet. The Irish press seem totally confused at the current tv income though:
http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/

That link states that EIR have outbid SKY Sports, given that last time around SKY were paying £5mil per season, I think, then EIR must have bid more than that surely ?  

Eir only bid for the Irish rights so you'd hope that whatever they may get for the UK rights combined with what Eir are paying would top 5m. Given Sky were looking for exclusive rights I think you can guess they were looking to significantly increase what they were paying

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote: I was laughing at the notion that BBC Wales would indeed try to be the rights holder to the entire Pro14 League.

I don't think anyone has suggested anything like that.

"So if they can access BBC / S4C feeds in Ireland, why would they pay for Eir sport?"

That, in my opinion, is a suggestion that under the conditions that BBC/S4C feeds in Ireland, why would it be necessary for Irish people to 'pay for Eir sport'.

Yes. if Leinster v Ospreys and a whole host of other fixtures are on BBC Wales and Eir sport....why would someone pay for it? I'm not ue how you equated that to "the entire pro14 league".

That Irish audiences would need SOME of the games that BBC wouldn't or couldn't broadcast...means that they'd willingly pay for Eir?  

Irish people will need Eir..or Sky..or BT...or RTE to broadcast their section of the Pro14 that concerns more them than the Scots or the Welsh.  They have in the past and they'll do so again..pay for it.

I assume, Eir will concentrate mostly on the Irish Provincial angle of the competition and leave the Welsh and Scots to take care of their coverage on BBC or whatever.  If Leinster v Ospreys is on BBC Wales then the likelihood might be that Eir would concentrate on a different game.. or, if they have the rights to it, televise it anyway for the audience that has already paid them so won't be worrying too much that the game is free on another channel.  The interconnected rights to individual games in individual territories must, I'm sure, be dealt with in an overall structure handled by the Pro14 organisers.

Again, it's not difficult to understand.  IF Eir wants to offer broadcasting opportunities for followers in England then yep...that's the complexity of dealing between borders/Unions/clubs and Communication platforms.  But Irish people will want to pay for Eir in their own territory... if Eir broadcast most of the games that have meaning for them.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Nobody knows yet. The Irish press seem totally confused at the current tv income though:
http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/

That link states that EIR have outbid SKY Sports, given that last time around SKY were paying £5mil per season, I think, then EIR must have bid more than that surely ?  

I think "outbid" in this sense means that they have just got the winning bid. Sky pulled out of the process because the pro14 wanted Eir to be Ireland's broadcster not Sky. So in a  sense EIR may have been the only remaining bid on the table. It will definitely be very interesting to see what hapens next both in the free to air negotiation payments and the new Pay tv UK broadcaster arrangements.

So SKY pulled out because they were told they weren't wanted? That's a good time to pull out, sure enough. If they pulled out, then my guess is that they were part of the bidding process. That they pulled out because the Irish 'market' was perhaps denied to them? ...well, it kinda proves a few points I've always been making over the seasons.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Nobody knows yet. The Irish press seem totally confused at the current tv income though:
http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/

That link states that EIR have outbid SKY Sports, given that last time around SKY were paying £5mil per season, I think, then EIR must have bid more than that surely ?  

I think "outbid" in this sense means that they have just got the winning bid. Sky pulled out of the process because the pro14 wanted Eir to be Ireland's broadcster not Sky. So in a  sense EIR may have been the only remaining bid on the table. It will definitely be very interesting to see what hapens next both in the free to air negotiation payments and the new Pay tv UK broadcaster arrangements.

You think that maybe Pro 14 wanted Eir to be the broadcaster because they bid the highest amount?

Just to let you all know, some of the games on SKY were on S4C at the same time. But only if it involved a Welsh side.

So Leinster V Ospreys might have been on SKY at 5pm on a Saturday, but it would also be on S4C at the same time.

PS. I am only using that fixture as an example as it was used above, we could be talking about any fixture involving a Welsh side

LordDowlais wrote:Just to let you all know, some of the games on SKY were on S4C at the same time. But only if it involved a Welsh side.

So Leinster V Ospreys might have been on SKY at 5pm on a Saturday, but it would also be on S4C at the same time.

PS. I am only using that fixture as an example as it was used above, we could be talking about any fixture involving a Welsh side

Happened with plenty of games, Sky only had exclusive rights to a fixture once a season so if Sky showed Ospreys v Leinster they couldn't get the exclusive rights to Leinster v Ospreys but could show it but it could be simulcast with another broadcaster such as S4C/BBC Wales/TG4

marty2086 wrote:

You think that maybe Pro 14 wanted Eir to be the broadcaster because they bid the highest amount?

I think Pro14 wanted Eir to be the Irish broadcasters and Sky to be the UK broadcasters.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

You think that maybe Pro 14 wanted Eir to be the broadcaster because they bid the highest amount?

I think Pro14 wanted Eir to be the Irish broadcasters and Sky to be the UK broadcasters.

And you base that on?

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Nobody knows yet. The Irish press seem totally confused at the current tv income though:
http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/

That link states that EIR have outbid SKY Sports, given that last time around SKY were paying £5mil per season, I think, then EIR must have bid more than that surely ?  

I think "outbid" in this sense means that they have just got the winning bid. Sky pulled out of the process because the pro14 wanted Eir to be Ireland's broadcster not Sky. So in a  sense EIR may have been the only remaining bid on the table. It will definitely be very interesting to see what hapens next both in the free to air negotiation payments and the new Pay tv UK broadcaster arrangements.

So SKY pulled out because they were told they weren't wanted?  That's a good time to pull out, sure enough.  If they pulled out, then my guess is that they were part of the bidding process.  That they pulled out because the Irish 'market' was perhaps denied to them? ...well, it kinda proves a few points I've always been making over the seasons.

No, Sky pulled out because Sky wanted both Ireland and UK coverage. As soon as Eir got the Irish rights, sky weren't interested. Whether the tv deal will be improved or reduced due to this, we may never know.

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

You think that maybe Pro 14 wanted Eir to be the broadcaster because they bid the highest amount?

I think Pro14 wanted Eir to be the Irish broadcasters and Sky to be the UK broadcasters.

And you base that on?

Based on the articles I've read.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

You think that maybe Pro 14 wanted Eir to be the broadcaster because they bid the highest amount?

I think Pro14 wanted Eir to be the Irish broadcasters and Sky to be the UK broadcasters.

And you base that on?

Based on the articles I've read.

Well I'd go back to school if I were you, everyone is working off one article which states

The42 understands that eir has outbid Sky Sports for the rights to the Pro14 for the 2018/19 season.

after they muscled in ahead of Sky

While the value of the deal remains to be legally agreed and confirmed, it is thought that eir’s arrival onto the scene will boost the coffers of the Pro14, raising the TV rights revenue from its current figure, believed to be around €14 million per season.

Hard to see how you can get that they wanted eir as the Irish broadcaster for any other reason than the bid the most.

Given only a few hours ago you thought the Irish rights were for games played in Ireland Im not surprised

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

You think that maybe Pro 14 wanted Eir to be the broadcaster because they bid the highest amount?

I think Pro14 wanted Eir to be the Irish broadcasters and Sky to be the UK broadcasters.

And you base that on?

Based on the articles I've read.

Well I'd go back to school if I were you, everyone is working off one article which states

The42 understands that eir has outbid Sky Sports for the rights to the Pro14 for the 2018/19 season.

after they muscled in ahead of Sky

While the value of the deal remains to be legally agreed and confirmed, it is thought that eir’s arrival onto the scene will boost the coffers of the Pro14, raising the TV rights revenue from its current figure, believed to be around €14 million per season.

Hard to see how you can get that they wanted eir as the Irish broadcaster for any other reason than the bid the most.

Given only a few hours ago you thought the Irish rights were for games played in Ireland Im not surprised

Hmm. More agresisveness. ok.

I'm not working from 1 article. I'm working from informed rugby journalists who state that:

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland. So, having lost out in the Emerald Isle, they will now not be involved at all.

and

From what I've heard deal has been done and it's not SKY or BT Sport

and

It's not Eurosport

Nobody knows what the final deal will be like so pointless speculating. But to NOT have BT Sport and Sky Sports involved in the final bidding process for your UK TV deal is hardly a great place to be, given their huge accessibility, success and established track record. But I'm sure you'll come back with more aggressive remarks about how I'm talking complete garbage.

I'd kind of agree with RugbyFan here in thinking there must have been something in the idea that Sky only wanted to increase their offer IF they held onto the Irish bit of the deal. Maybe Pro14 said then that Eir was in the market for that section. We know Sky of old.... if the number don't add up for them.
I'd assume they pulled out because they didn't want to add too much more to their current investment (ie - weren't going to get in to a bidding war over it)

I'd think it strange that Pro14 would dissuade Sky from even bidding for the whole deal (Ireland + UK). It wouldn't make too much business sense to tell a bidder he doesn't have a chance without even knowing what his highest bid might be.

YOU ARE TALKING COMPLETE GARBAGE

The42 were the ones to break the story, all other journalists have been getting their information from there

There has been nothing written to suggest that Pro14 wanted Eir to have the Irish rights and Sky the UK other than you making stuff up

SecretFly wrote:I'd kind of agree with RugbyFan here in thinking there must have been something in the idea that Sky only wanted to increase their offer IF they held onto the Irish bit of the deal.  Maybe Pro14 said then that Eir was in the market for that section.  We know Sky of old....  if the number don't add up for them.  
I'd assume they pulled out because they didn't want to add too much more to their current investment (ie - weren't going to get in to a bidding war over it)

I'd think it strange that Pro14 would dissuade Sky from even bidding for the whole deal (Ireland + UK).  It wouldn't make too much business sense to tell a bidder he doesn't have a chance without even knowing what his highest bid might be.

There are legal frameworks in place for it all, Pro14 can't show favouritism and can't try and inflate bids. If Im not mistaken they can't know what someone has bid until the deadline passes for bids

marty2086 wrote:YOU ARE TALKING COMPLETE GARBAGE

The42 were the ones to break the story, all other journalists have been getting their information from there

There has been nothing written to suggest that Pro14 wanted Eir to have the Irish rights and Sky the UK other than you making stuff up

It's called reading between the lines. The pro14 giving Eir sport the contract, meant that Sky bailed.

Now if you think that the pro14 aren't fussed about one of the biggest sports broadcasters on the planet bailing from the bidding process, then it would be great for you to confirm that in writing.

Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up on an already dwindling rugby package.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Then in your opinion marty.... and we're all only looking for details here. but in your opinion, why or how could Sky pull out and be outbid in a process where they already have the UK and Irish market.... to a group that, as it seems, only wants the Irish market?

How could Eir offer more for quite a bit less coverage and advertising revenue etc?

It's just a little peculiar at the moment. I'm sure flesh will be put on the bones of the deal in time. But for now, I suppose the curiosity is understandable.

I know SKY were never happy about some of the Pro14/Pro12 games being on free to air TV, they always wanted it all to themselves.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:YOU ARE TALKING COMPLETE GARBAGE

The42 were the ones to break the story, all other journalists have been getting their information from there

There has been nothing written to suggest that Pro14 wanted Eir to have the Irish rights and Sky the UK other than you making stuff up

It's called reading between the lines.  The pro14 giving Eir sport the contract, meant that Sky bailed.

Now if you think that the pro14 aren't fussed about one of the biggest sports broadcasters on the planet bailing from the bidding process, then it would be great for you to confirm that in writing.

They didn't give them it, Eir put in the highest bid. You aren't reading between the lines you are just making stuff up out of nowhere, you say outbid doesn't mean outbid but something different.

Sky bailed because the costs likely would be excessive for them since that would mean rather than one broadcast they would have to have separate ones in each market but again you just made stuff up, I never said Pro14 weren't fussed about Sky pulling out merely you were talking complete rubbish

Oh sorry...I forgot BT. Is BT getting involved in the UK bit?

SecretFly wrote:Oh sorry...I forgot BT.  Is BT getting involved in the UK bit?

Not according to sports journalists on Twitter.

LordDowlais wrote:I know SKY were never happy about some of the Pro14/Pro12 games being on free to air TV, they always wanted it all to themselves.

But sure none of those Private Platforms want us watching anything for free. Christ, you can't even get a good illegal match stream these days! And they call this progress???

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:YOU ARE TALKING COMPLETE GARBAGE

The42 were the ones to break the story, all other journalists have been getting their information from there

There has been nothing written to suggest that Pro14 wanted Eir to have the Irish rights and Sky the UK other than you making stuff up

It's called reading between the lines.  The pro14 giving Eir sport the contract, meant that Sky bailed.

Now if you think that the pro14 aren't fussed about one of the biggest sports broadcasters on the planet bailing from the bidding process, then it would be great for you to confirm that in writing.

They didn't give them it, Eir put in the highest bid. You aren't reading between the lines you are just making stuff up out of nowhere, you say outbid doesn't mean outbid but something different.

Sky bailed because the costs likely would be excessive for them since that would mean rather than one broadcast they would have to have separate ones in each market but again you just made stuff up, I never said Pro14 weren't fussed about Sky pulling out merely you were talking complete rubbish

What am I making up? I am of the opinion that the pro14 thought that Sky would still be in the market for the UK pro14 matches even if they are not awarded the Irish rights. They are not however. Because sky pulled out of the bidding process.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

Well they could have bid for the UK rights. They chose not to.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

Well they could have bid for the UK rights. They chose not to.

The provinces are the only games worth showing for SKY I'd imagine. Look at the crowds each team in the pro14 gets. It doesn't take a genius to see where the tv money is.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

What rugby package? From next season will they not just have the Championship which they show 3 or 4 games a season

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

Well they could have bid for the UK rights. They chose not to.

The provinces are the only games worth showing for SKY I'd imagine. Look at the crowds each team in the pro14 gets. It doesn't take a genius to see where the tv money is.

It would definitely be difficult to show matches with only Sco, Wal, Italy, SA teams in when so many of the top matches include the likes of Munster and Leinster. This is why I mentioned exclusivity before. I can see why Sky bailed.

This might mean the tv deal is vastly improved by new players into the market, who knows. It just seems a bit worrying not having the big 2 involved at all at this stage.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

Well they could have bid for the UK rights. They chose not to.

The provinces are the only games worth showing for SKY I'd imagine. Look at the crowds each team in the pro14 gets. It doesn't take a genius to see where the tv money is.

It would definitely be difficult to show matches with only Sco, Wal, Italy, SA teams in when so many of the top matches include the likes of Munster and Leinster. This is why I mentioned exclusivity before. I can see why Sky bailed.

This might mean the tv deal is vastly improved by new players into the market, who knows. It just seems a bit worrying not having the big 2 involved at all at this stage.

Why? They could have still shown matches with the Irish provinces

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

Well they could have bid for the UK rights. They chose not to.

The provinces are the only games worth showing for SKY I'd imagine. Look at the crowds each team in the pro14 gets. It doesn't take a genius to see where the tv money is.

It would definitely be difficult to show matches with only Sco, Wal, Italy, SA teams in when so many of the top matches include the likes of Munster and Leinster. This is why I mentioned exclusivity before. I can see why Sky bailed.

This might mean the tv deal is vastly improved by new players into the market, who knows. It just seems a bit worrying not having the big 2 involved at all at this stage.

Why? They could have still shown matches with the Irish provinces

But less of them, right? So I can see why they weren't interested in trying to sell a watered down product

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Eir have made no secrets about wanting to break into the rugby market and have already had exclusive rights to big games (Ireland v New Zealand in america) and big tournaments (women's world cup and this year's sevens world cup). Perhaps they have over bid for these rights hence why SKY were so quick to give up an already dwindling rugby package.

Sky’s strategy was based on having the rights for both the UK and Ireland.

Now they've lost both. Another blow to their rugby package and more lost subscribers from Ireland...

Well they could have bid for the UK rights. They chose not to.

The provinces are the only games worth showing for SKY I'd imagine. Look at the crowds each team in the pro14 gets. It doesn't take a genius to see where the tv money is.

It would definitely be difficult to show matches with only Sco, Wal, Italy, SA teams in when so many of the top matches include the likes of Munster and Leinster. This is why I mentioned exclusivity before. I can see why Sky bailed.

This might mean the tv deal is vastly improved by new players into the market, who knows. It just seems a bit worrying not having the big 2 involved at all at this stage.

Why? They could have still shown matches with the Irish provinces

But less of them, right? So I can see why they weren't interested in trying to sell a  watered down product

No they just couldn't show them in Ireland

New article on it just been released:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/little-known-pay-tv-channel-14157733

Premier sports confirmed. BT Sports not bidding