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/

It seems evidently most of Sky's audience for Pro14 was in Ireland...or else the loss of the Irish bit wouldn't have moved them to pull out of the pursuit for UK rights.  

But it also seems that somehow, Pro14 was able to do the numbers and come up with the result that Sky was perhaps inflating their notion of the importance of the UK bit to their overall investment plan.... therefore in the process, trying to pretend most of their investment came because of the returns in the UK market.

Since the UK market would be relatively small - considering the Aviva premiership draw on BT - I guess Sky based their offers on that market.  Pro14 then must have said well it's the Irish bit you should be basing your offer on and we value it higher and so does your competitor.

That to me is roughly the only way Sky would cut loose on both.  Not prepared to go too high for the Irish bit and not really seeing the numbers stack up to keep a foot in the UK bit.

It seems coverage across the UK is going to suffer now for the Pro14? But is it really going to have a negative effect given that Sky walking away proved the UK bit was already taken care of by terrestrial/free coverage.

LeinsterFan4life wrote: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.

OH, here we go.

You do realise that the biggest TV audience is in Wales don't you ? Rugby is not even in the top 5 sports in Ireland, it is behind football, GAA ect.

You might have the bums on seats, but in Wales, we have the biggest TV audiences.

I knew it would not take long for this old chestnut to come out.

From the WO article it seems Skys bid was for both, once they lost the Irish rights they were out of the running for the UK rights. Could well have been a screw up by Sky thinking they had no real competition

LordDowlais wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote: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.

OH, here we go.

You do realise that the biggest TV audience is in Wales don't you ? Rugby is not even in the top 5 sports in Ireland, it is behind football, GAA ect.

You might have the bums on seats, but in Wales, we have the biggest TV audiences.

I knew it would not take long for this old chestnut to come out.

And what are the viewing figures in Wales and Ireland?

LordDowlais wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote: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.

OH, here we go.

You do realise that the biggest TV audience is in Wales don't you ? Rugby is not even in the top 5 sports in Ireland, it is behind football, GAA ect.

You might have the bums on seats, but in Wales, we have the biggest TV audiences.

I knew it would not take long for this old chestnut to come out.

For SKY their biggest market is the provinces when it comes to the Pro 14. There are 1 million Irishmen/women in London alone that don't have access to RTE and TG4. That's why the provinces were almost never on the red button when SKY had all the HC games.

LordDowlais wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote: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.

OH, here we go.

You do realise that the biggest TV audience is in Wales don't you ? Rugby is not even in the top 5 sports in Ireland, it is behind football, GAA ect.

You might have the bums on seats, but in Wales, we have the biggest TV audiences.

I knew it would not take long for this old chestnut to come out.

course this is about bums on seats.... you think Sky plan their investments on anything else? This is an investments v bums on seats debate, Lord.

BBC Wales killed off Sky's interest. Thank you for depleting the coffers

marty2086 wrote:From the WO article it seems Skys bid was for both, once they lost the Irish rights they were out of the running for the UK rights.

Isn't...............that...............like................what.............I've been saying................for the last.........4hours?

LeinsterFan4life wrote:For SKY their biggest market is the provinces when it comes to the Pro 14. There are 1 million Irishmen/women in London alone that don't have access to RTE and TG4. That's why the provinces were almost never on the red button when SKY had all the HC games.

I think you will find, that the trouble for SKY, was the fact that BBC and S4C were televising the games, why would people in Wales/Scotland/N Ireland pay for SKY when they could watch their teams on BBC ?

This has nothing to do with Ireland having a bigger TV audience, because they don't.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:From the WO article it seems Skys bid was for both, once they lost the Irish rights they were out of the running for the UK rights.

Isn't...............that...............like................what.............I've been saying................for the last.........4hours?

No, you said they pulled out. You can't pull out when your bids already up in smoke

Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

RugbyFan100 wrote:Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

Seems only to you

RugbyFan100 wrote:Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

Easy RugbyFan..... the disguise might be lifting.

LordDowlais wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:For SKY their biggest market is the provinces when it comes to the Pro 14. There are 1 million Irishmen/women in London alone that don't have access to RTE and TG4. That's why the provinces were almost never on the red button when SKY had all the HC games.

I think you will find, that the trouble for SKY, was the fact that BBC and S4C were televising the games, why would people in Wales/Scotland/N Ireland pay for SKY when they could watch their teams on BBC ?

This has nothing to do with Ireland having a bigger TV audience, because they don't.

They were a bigger TV audience for Sky! Geddih? You've just admitted... as we all know, that there was little reason why Welsh, Scots and Northern Irish fans would need Sky. So who were Sky there for?
Why didn't BBC Wales show the bloody Irish derbies and then we'd all have been happy paying nothing for nothing and getting very little back to the competition we all want to be better funded.....

I watched all the Irish derbies on SKY, and if they were ever on the BBC I would watch them on that as well.

Unfortunately though, not all people in Wales have a wife who is as understanding as mine. I watch far too much sport, rugby being my favourite, and the social side of that comes of it. But I will watch any sport on TV. I spent almost the whole of Christmas watching the darts, with a lot of rugby, and a bit of football jammed in as well.

Watched Rangers in the Florida Cup on Premier Sports at buddy’s house the other day and the coverage is fine. If they get the Pro14 I’ll happily subscribe.

They seem to have ice hockey, rugby league and all the GAA games. Although I can’t claim to be a fan of any of these sports adding some rugby union to that list might be enough to tempt some existing Sky Sports subscribers away. I’m sure there are plenty of you like me who will compulsively watch any sport on telly or in person. A tenner a month on a rolling basis is also pretty good as you’re not locked into some Mad year long contract. It’s an extra 2 quid a month for access to the full back catalogue of previous games.

I'll be very happy to ditch the Sky for this, its got the potential to save me about £30 quid a month.

Sky is all about football, cricket and golf these days, none of which interest me very much at all.

Good man BeeGee.., keep the faith (in being nonplussed by football, cricket and golf).

I never thought I'd say this but out of that lot, Cricket is probably the most honest sport of the three.  The saturation levels of football (especially the 'What the manager says' press conferences is nauseating stuff - much too much too much too much.  Stop giving people who love things so much of what they love!  Take a few years off Premiership and give us a fecking breather)
Golf.... does my bum look big in these lovely pink trousers and obligatory white belt?  Oh and where's me girlfriend for the photoshoot before I try to pot this ball.  Golf is the new Tennis.... all frills and gushing love beats for the heart throb poster boys of jet set air miledom.  God, I still hate Tennis though, even though it's the new Golf.
Cricket may be an eternal summer fun sport where there is far too much time devoted to tea and buns and waiting for the rain to stop the sunbathing.  But there is something a little more workmanlike and humble about it.  Can't watch it coz I don't understand a word of it but it just has a little bit more dignity than the other two party pieces... I think.

Being Scottish I have felt obliged to follow Andy Murrays career in some detail.

That does seem to be coming to its natural conclusion though, after some crushing disappointments mixed with a few extraordinary high points. Sky have done the decent thing and binned that to and there is no way I am getting an Amazon Firestick, not with Jeremy Clarkson advertising them.

Role on next season and Premier Sports then. I did watch a few games when they were screening the League WC a few years back, it was free as they were trying to get an audience signed up. It all seemed fine and I loved the Aussie commentators for the games who made no pretence of impartiality and called it how they saw it 'great punch' and all that sort of stuff.

Certainly no moralising from them, which might appeal to a few people contributing to the Basteraud thread!

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

Easy RugbyFan..... the disguise might be lifting.

?

I think this tv deal news just further alienates rugby fans in Wales from the Pro14 (not sure about the Scots) and proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

Easy RugbyFan..... the disguise might be lifting.

?

I think this tv deal news just further alienates rugby fans in Wales from the Pro14 (not sure about the Scots) and proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

Really Phil?

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

Easy RugbyFan..... the disguise might be lifting.

?

I think this tv deal news just further alienates rugby fans in Wales from the Pro14 (not sure about the Scots) and proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

Really Phil?

My name is not Phil. Or Phillip or Philip.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

Easy RugbyFan..... the disguise might be lifting.

?

I think this tv deal news just further alienates rugby fans in Wales from the Pro14 (not sure about the Scots) and proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

Really Phil?

My name is not Phil. Or Phillip or Philip.

Walks like a duck....

So you are claiming the tender system was rigged?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:Ah just realised Premier Sports is an Irish owned company.

All makes sense now.

Easy RugbyFan..... the disguise might be lifting.

?

I think this tv deal news just further alienates rugby fans in Wales from the Pro14 (not sure about the Scots) and proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

Are the Irish responsible for the BBC killing off the interest of Sky/BT etc in Pro14 rugby? Maybe the rugby loving licence fee payers of Scotland and Wales (and Northern Ireland) should just write letters to the BBC and request that they end their interest in televising free matches for their people? Would that help?

marty2086 wrote:

So you are claiming the tender system was rigged?

No.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

So you are claiming the tender system was rigged?

No.

Then how can you claim it's set up for the Irish before anyone else?

SecretFly wrote:

Are the Irish responsible for the BBC killing off the interest of Sky/BT etc in Pro14 rugby?  Maybe the rugby loving licence fee payers of Scotland and Wales (and Northern Ireland) should just write letters to the BBC and request that they end their interest in televising free matches for their people?  Would that help?

No idea where you're going with this.

What seems to be certain is that the Irish viewers have got an amazingly good deal out of this. Whereas viewers in Scotland and Wales have not.

What a surprise.

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

So you are claiming the tender system was rigged?

No.

Then how can you claim it's set up for the Irish before anyone else?

Because it's just another in the long line of convenient happenings for Irish rugby. I genuinely think Eir's bid was above Sky Sports bid. But as soon as that happened everything fell into place to make it like it is. Very convenient.

You can't deny that the viewers in Wales and Scotland have been shafted by this deal. If you do deny it, then you are completely in cloud cuckoo land.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

So you are claiming the tender system was rigged?

No.

Then how can you claim it's set up for the Irish before anyone else?

Because it's just another in the long line of convenient happenings for Irish rugby. I genuinely think Eir's bid was above Sky Sports bid. But as soon as that happened everything fell into place to make it like it is. Very convenient.

You can't deny that the viewers in Wales and Scotland have been shafted by this deal. If you do deny it, then you are completely in cloud cuckoo land.

How is it convenient? You say they had the highest bid how is that anyones fault but Skys for not bidding more?

How has anyone been shafted?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Are the Irish responsible for the BBC killing off the interest of Sky/BT etc in Pro14 rugby?  Maybe the rugby loving licence fee payers of Scotland and Wales (and Northern Ireland) should just write letters to the BBC and request that they end their interest in televising free matches for their people?  Would that help?

No idea where you're going with this.

What seems to be certain is that the Irish viewers have got an amazingly good deal out of this. Whereas viewers in Scotland and Wales have not.

What a surprise.

You know exactly where I'm going with it. Answer the question. The BBC, and their 'free' delivery of games to UK citizens in Wales, Ulster and Scotland have made the bidding process for the UK section of the Pro12 Unviable in the eyes of these big money dedicated sporting platforms. You blame the Irish audiences for the existence of the BBC?

marty2086 wrote:

How is it convenient? You say they had the highest bid how is that anyones fault but Skys for not bidding more?

How has anyone been shafted?

Irish viewers get to see all their provinces in league and Europe on Eir Sport and BT Sport on 1 single subscription.

Welsh (and presumably Scottish) viewers have to pay extra for BT Sport. And extra for Premier Sport to see all their regions in league and Europe.

No?

SecretFly wrote:

You know exactly where I'm going with it.  Answer the question.  The BBC, and their 'free' delivery of games to UK citizens in Wales, Ulster and Scotland have made the bidding process for the UK section of the Pro12 Unviable in the eyes of these big money dedicated sporting platforms.  You blame the Irish audiences for the existence of the BBC?

Why have they made it unviable? What are you talking about? There is at least 1 exclusive live game per weekend up for grabs, (sometimes 2) to be shown in the UK.

Phil... your logic always seems to go AWOL when caught. SKY do not want to be involved because the UK bit of the Pro14 broadcasting package doesn't interest them. if they thought it would make them sufficient money to please them in terms of advertising etc...they'd keep bidding. It obviously in their eyes doesn't fit the picture. Not viable in their eyes to even attempt to hold on to the Uk bit without the Irish bit.

Back to the BBC and their role.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

How is it convenient? You say they had the highest bid how is that anyones fault but Skys for not bidding more?

How has anyone been shafted?

Irish viewers get to see all their provinces in league and Europe on Eir Sport and BT Sport on 1 single subscription.

Welsh (and presumably Scottish) viewers have to pay extra for BT Sport. And extra for Premier Sport to see all their regions in league and Europe.

No?

You left out Ulster

You also forget that most games will be free to air something most Irish fans won't be getting

Still doesn't explain how its setup for the Irish above everyone else

SecretFly wrote:Phil... your logic always seems to go AWOL when caught.  SKY do not want to be involved because the UK bit of the Pro14 broadcasting package doesn't interest them.  if they thought it would make them sufficient money to please them in terms of advertising etc...they'd keep bidding.  It obviously in their eyes doesn't fit the picture.  Not viable in their eyes to even attempt to hold on to the Uk bit without the Irish bit.

My name is not Phil. I don't disagree with any of that.

Back to the BBC and their role.

Yes, as you keep saying........with absolutely no meat on the bones of your argument. What on earth are you talking about?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Phil... your logic always seems to go AWOL when caught.  SKY do not want to be involved because the UK bit of the Pro14 broadcasting package doesn't interest them.  if they thought it would make them sufficient money to please them in terms of advertising etc...they'd keep bidding.  It obviously in their eyes doesn't fit the picture.  Not viable in their eyes to even attempt to hold on to the Uk bit without the Irish bit.

My name is not Phil. I don't disagree with any of that.

Back to the BBC and their role.

Yes, as you keep saying........with absolutely no meat on the bones of your argument. What on earth are you talking about?

Phil, you are the Carlsberg of irony

marty2086 wrote:

You left out Ulster

I'm unaware of Eir sports availabilty in Ulster so can't comment.

You also forget that most games will be free to air something most Irish fans won't be getting

Nope. Incorrect. A tiny amount of the 3pm Saturday kick offs are also free to air, as you can see on the Pro14 website broadcast schedule.:

https://www.pro14rugby.org/fixtures/

Those sky sports fixtures are what Premeir sports will be broadacsting. But the ones involving Irish sides will be on Eir sports.

Still doesn't explain how its setup for the Irish above everyone else

So hopefully now you understand that the Irish will be getting all this via Eir sports. The UK has to pay (twice) for it.

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Phil... your logic always seems to go AWOL when caught.  SKY do not want to be involved because the UK bit of the Pro14 broadcasting package doesn't interest them.  if they thought it would make them sufficient money to please them in terms of advertising etc...they'd keep bidding.  It obviously in their eyes doesn't fit the picture.  Not viable in their eyes to even attempt to hold on to the Uk bit without the Irish bit.

My name is not Phil. I don't disagree with any of that.

Back to the BBC and their role.

Yes, as you keep saying........with absolutely no meat on the bones of your argument. What on earth are you talking about?

Phil, you are the Carlsberg of irony

My name is Phil as much as yours is Englebert.

[quote="RugbyFan100"]

SecretFly wrote:

Yes, as you keep saying........with absolutely no meat on the bones of your argument. What on earth are you talking about?

??

Phil, Phil Phil...... try better.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

You left out Ulster

I'm unaware of Eir sports availabilty in Ulster so can't comment.

You're unaware of a lot of things still doesn't stop you talking crap Phil

RugbyFan100 wrote:

You also forget that most games will be free to air something most Irish fans won't be getting

Nope. Incorrect. A tiny amount of the 3pm Saturday kick offs are also free to air, as you can see on the Pro14 website broadcast schedule.:

https://www.pro14rugby.org/fixtures/

Those sky sports fixtures are what Premeir sports will be broadacsting. But the ones involving Irish sides will be on Eir sports.

What has this years broadcast schedule on one rights contract got to do with next season which will be on whole other contract? Seems to be you're trying to cover for the fact that you missed that little point

RugbyFan100 wrote:

Still doesn't explain how its setup for the Irish above everyone else

So hopefully now you understand that the Irish will be getting all this via Eir sports. The UK has to pay (twice) for it.

Im well aware of that, yet you still can't seem to explain how the whole thing is setup to benefit the Irish

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Yes, as you keep saying........with absolutely no meat on the bones of your argument. What on earth are you talking about?

??

Phil, Phil Phil......   try better.

My name is not Phil.

I can do this all day if you want.

marty2086 wrote:

You're unaware of a lot of things still doesn't stop you talking crap Phil

My name is not Phil.

What has this years broadcast schedule on one rights contract got to do with next season which will be on  whole other contract? Seems to be you're trying to cover for the fact that you missed that little point

Because Premier Sports are taking over Sky's remit in the UK.

Im well aware of that, yet you still can't seem to explain how the whole thing is setup to benefit the Irish

Just explained. Irish have an option for a single subscription to all provinces matches in Europe and the league. Welsh and Scottish viewers don't have this option and have to spend a greater amount per month on 2 different subscriptions. Do you deny this?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

You're unaware of a lot of things still doesn't stop you talking crap Phil

My name is not Phil.

Thou doth protest too much

RugbyFan100 wrote:

What has this years broadcast schedule on one rights contract got to do with next season which will be on  whole other contract? Seems to be you're trying to cover for the fact that you missed that little point

Because Premier Sports are taking over Sky's remit in the UK.

You really don't have a clue what you're talking about, just because Premier will get the UK rights it doesn't mean they'll be doing what Sky did. Sky didn't do what the BBC or Setanta before them did did they?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

Im well aware of that, yet you still can't seem to explain how the whole thing is setup to benefit the Irish

Just explained. Irish have an option for a single subscription to all provinces matches in Europe and the league. Welsh and Scottish viewers don't have this option and have to spend a greater amount per month on 2 different subscriptions. Do you deny this?

No it wasn't, you said it 'proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.' how does a tender process do that?

There was a poster in the recent past who said that sky or bt would bid whatever it took to get hold of rights for a joint British and Irish league. This sort of decision by sky seems to show that these companies have clear aims and clear budgets though.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Yes, as you keep saying........with absolutely no meat on the bones of your argument. What on earth are you talking about?

??

Phil, Phil Phil......   try better.

My name is not Phil.

I can do this all day if you want.

You talk EXACTLY like a man called Phil. EXACTLY. Let me repeat, EXACTLY like this guy I refer to. Do you know how difficult an exercise that is to achieve in the real world? Do you know spy analysts make decision of identification based on things people can't disguise despite their best efforts?
You're an amazing individual. You're Welsh, (same nationality as Phil) - you are extremely interested in the nitty gritty of peculiarly the financial management of the League... just like fixated Phil was... and you make the EXACT same asides when the discussion gets a little intense.

You should let MI6 know that you have these skills to PERFECTLY mimic another humanbeing in all facets.

SecretFly wrote:

You talk EXACTLY like a man called Phil.  EXACTLY.   Let me repeat, EXACTLY like this guy I refer to.  Do you know how difficult an exercise that is to achieve in the real world?  Do you know spy analysts make decision of identification based on things people can't disguise despite their best efforts?
You're an amazing individual.  You're Welsh, (same nationality as Phil) - you are extremely interested in the nitty gritty of peculiarly the financial management of the League... just like fixated Phil was... and you make the EXACT same asides when the discussion gets a little intense.

You should let MI6 know that you have these skills to PERFECTLY mimic another humanbeing in all facets.  

That's your perception. My name is not Phil. Never has been and I have never purported to be a person online called Phil. Sorry to disappoint.

marty2086 wrote:

No it wasn't, you said it 'proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

The Irish have an option for a single subscription to all provinces' matches in Europe and the league. Welsh and Scottish viewers don't have this option and have to spend a greater amount per month on 2 different subscriptions.

Do you deny this?

[quote="RugbyFan100"]

marty2086 wrote:

Just explained. Irish have an option for a single subscription to all provinces matches in Europe and the league. Welsh and Scottish viewers don't have this option and have to spend a greater amount per month on 2 different subscriptions.

WHY? Where woz the Welsh and Scoittish Pro14 negotiators ....again?? Silent.... again? Powerless to say they ain't happy....again?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

No it wasn't, you said it 'proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

The Irish have an option for a single subscription to all provinces' matches in Europe and the league. Welsh and Scottish viewers don't have this option and have to spend a greater amount per month on 2 different subscriptions.

Do you deny this?

Why? Who is to blame? Everybody not happy...again? But didn't speak out....again?

SecretFly wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

No it wasn't, you said it 'proves its a league set up to benefit the Irish before anyone else.

The Irish have an option for a single subscription to all provinces' matches in Europe and the league. Welsh and Scottish viewers don't have this option and have to spend a greater amount per month on 2 different subscriptions.

Do you deny this?

Why?  Who is to blame?  Everybody not happy...again?   But didn't speak out....again?

The Irish have an option for a single subscription to all provinces' matches in Europe and the league. Welsh and Scottish viewers don't have this option and have to spend a greater amount per month on 2 different subscriptions.

Do you deny this?

What tv rights did the league put out for bids?