Sport Today

by **John Drak** » Tue, 28 Oct 1997 04:00:00

Quote:

> >> Can anyone provide positive reasons for going to watch the forthcoming
> >> Super League tests between Great Britain & Australia, other than
"because
> >> they are there"?

> >> As usual, the RL promotions people (do they exist?) have failed
> >> spectacularly to tell anyone about the series,
> >> --

> Missed the beginning of this thread.
> I would have thought a good reason to go is purely and simply to keep
> the faith.

That was the original point of the thread - that the RFL, as ever, are
relying on the faith of the existing pool of support to turn up at Wembley
just because they always do. They are making little or no attempt to
provide anyone with any positive reasons for going, which will explain why
there will inevitably be more empty seats than full ones on Saturday.

Quote:

> Sky have been running promotional material on the Sports channels for
> months now - OK, sothey only want you to tune in rather than go to the
> games, but at least it ups awareness. I've given up believing that the
> RL will ever do anything to actively promote the sport beyond the bounds
> of the faithful.

Even the Sky stuff is remarkably low key IMO, compared to the way they
blitz their other programmes.

Quote:

> >Most worryingly of all the damned game is not on the BBC except for a
ten
> >minute summary on Grandstand
> Sky have got the rights. That's all there is to it.

Not really. Sky had exclusive rights to the England v Italy World Cup
Qualifier, but following (technically and contractually unjustified)
pressure from the FA and, indirectly, the Government/David Mellor, they
allowed ITV to broadcast the whole game within an hour of the final
whistle.

In contrast, the RFL presented the 10 minute Test fillers on the Beeb as
some kind of success, which it isn't. Why didn't they follow the FA's
example and/or get David Mellor on the case as well.

I think we all know the answer to that one...

John

by **Lloyd J. Barkha** » Wed, 29 Oct 1997 04:00:00

pam.btinternet.com> writes

Quote:

>> >> Can anyone provide positive reasons for going to watch the forthcoming
>> >> Super League tests between Great Britain & Australia, other than
>"because
>> >> they are there"?

>> >> As usual, the RL promotions people (do they exist?) have failed
>> >> spectacularly to tell anyone about the series,
>> >> --

>> Missed the beginning of this thread.
>> I would have thought a good reason to go is purely and simply to keep
>> the faith.

>That was the original point of the thread - that the RFL, as ever, are
>relying on the faith of the existing pool of support to turn up at Wembley
>just because they always do. They are making little or no attempt to
>provide anyone with any positive reasons for going, which will explain why
>there will inevitably be more empty seats than full ones on Saturday.

Has anyone noticed how many free tickets are being given away? In todays
Mirror there is a competition giving away 1,000 tickets to the Old
Trafford Test plus a watch this space for the Elland Road test. If the
Mirror are giving away tickets how many are being given by the other
papers?

Quote:

>> Sky have been running promotional material on the Sports channels for
>> months now - OK, sothey only want you to tune in rather than go to the
>> games, but at least it ups awareness. I've given up believing that the
>> RL will ever do anything to actively promote the sport beyond the bounds
>> of the faithful.

>Even the Sky stuff is remarkably low key IMO, compared to the way they
>blitz their other programmes.

In their defence while watching Eddie & Stevo, Eddie has been saying
"try to go to the matches and if not tune in".

- Show quoted text -

Quote:

>> >Most worryingly of all the damned game is not on the BBC except for a
>ten
>> >minute summary on Grandstand

>> Sky have got the rights. That's all there is to it.

>Not really. Sky had exclusive rights to the England v Italy World Cup
>Qualifier, but following (technically and contractually unjustified)
>pressure from the FA and, indirectly, the Government/David Mellor, they
>allowed ITV to broadcast the whole game within an hour of the final
>whistle.

>In contrast, the RFL presented the 10 minute Test fillers on the Beeb as
>some kind of success, which it isn't. Why didn't they follow the FA's
>example and/or get David Mellor on the case as well.

>I think we all know the answer to that one...

--
Lloyd

by **<a..** » Wed, 29 Oct 1997 04:00:00

pam.btinternet.com> writes

Quote:

>> >> Can anyone provide positive reasons for going to watch the forthcoming
>> >> Super League tests between Great Britain & Australia, other than
>"because
>> >> they are there"?

>> >> As usual, the RL promotions people (do they exist?) have failed
>> >> spectacularly to tell anyone about the series,
>> >> --

>> Missed the beginning of this thread.
>> I would have thought a good reason to go is purely and simply to keep
>> the faith.

>That was the original point of the thread - that the RFL, as ever, are
>relying on the faith of the existing pool of support to turn up at Wembley
>just because they always do. They are making little or no attempt to
>provide anyone with any positive reasons for going, which will explain why
>there will inevitably be more empty seats than full ones on Saturday.

OK. But - given that we all agree that the organisational and marketing
skills of the RFL are virtually nil, the choice that I face is - do I go
and watch a game that IMO GB are almost certain to lose (i thought that
in 94 too!) or do I just say bollocks to it and not bother, in the
knowledge that if all RL supporters feel that way then the sport in GB
is ultimately destined to die. That, I feel, is the key dilemma facing
British RL fans at the moment. Its as clear as day that the RFL are
panicking due to the commercial failure of SuperLeague, and I don't
think Jim Quinn will be the only club chairman to pull his money out.
It's highly unlikely that Sky will continue to fund the sport after the
current contract runs out, and I can't see anybody else waiting in the
wings. So - as a fan - do I call it quits now and start going to Ikea
and B&Q on Sunday afternoons, or do I stick with the sport I love till
the end? Answers on a postcard, please.

Quote:

>> Sky have been running promotional material on the Sports channels for
>> months now - OK, sothey only want you to tune in rather than go to the
>> games, but at least it ups awareness. I've given up believing that the
>> RL will ever do anything to actively promote the sport beyond the bounds
>> of the faithful.

>Even the Sky stuff is remarkably low key IMO, compared to the way they
>blitz their other programmes.

...or even compared to the way they've plugged RL in the past. One
senses that Rupert is starting to get a touch impatient with the
occupants of Red Hall.

- Show quoted text -

Quote:

>> >Most worryingly of all the damned game is not on the BBC except for a
>ten
>> >minute summary on Grandstand

>> Sky have got the rights. That's all there is to it.

>Not really. Sky had exclusive rights to the England v Italy World Cup
>Qualifier, but following (technically and contractually unjustified)
>pressure from the FA and, indirectly, the Government/David Mellor, they
>allowed ITV to broadcast the whole game within an hour of the final
>whistle.

>In contrast, the RFL presented the 10 minute Test fillers on the Beeb as
>some kind of success, which it isn't. Why didn't they follow the FA's
>example and/or get David Mellor on the case as well.

>I think we all know the answer to that one...

Cos Maurice ain't got suckable toes?

Quote:

>John

--
Andy Dawson

by **John Drak** » Wed, 29 Oct 1997 04:00:00

Quote:

> >Even the Sky stuff is remarkably low key IMO, compared to the way they
> >blitz their other programmes.

> In their defence while watching Eddie & Stevo, Eddie has been saying
> "try to go to the matches and if not tune in".

But again, to me this is the problem. If you are watching Eddie & Stevo,
then you are already interested in RL, and will already know the Test
series is on, and will already be deciding whether or not to go. And if you
don't, you can see the whole game on Sky anyway.

It's like the RFL advertising in League Express and the Rugby Beezer.
Nothing wrong with that, as far as it goes. But they are preaching to the
converted. they never try to attract anybody new, or try to educate the
wider sporting public about why they should want to see GB play Australia
at Rugby League.

Like the point made in League Express recently about Martin Offiah being
the only panel member of either team to recognise a clear picture of GB RL
captain Andy Farrell on Question of Sport recently, but they can all
recognise RU players with bags on their heads, or obscure horsey types or
Oxbridge rowers, boxers, useless tennis players and Moldovan soccer
goalies.

Ok, I exaggerate, but not much.

Just how low are the RFL's expectations of the attendance at Wembley on
Saturday? I've heard they are "hoping" for more than 20,000. For
chrissake!! That's pathetic!!! They should be trying to fill the ***y
Stadium to its rafters, and with a bit of effort on their part, they could
do it too.

We'll end up being *glad* there's only 10 minutes of it on the Beeb at this
rate.

John

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