Sky Sports to cover RDP12 for 4 seasons from 2014

CardinalJ

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15180/8684039/Sky-Sports-strikes-deal-with-RaboDirect-Pro12

30 live games + the semi final and final.

Opinions?

durkadurka

Not exclusively, thank god.

Thanos

durkadurka wrote: »

Not exclusively, thank god.

Are you sure? Don't have sky sports myself and did not see it mentioned anywhere that it was exclusive or not........

JustinDee

Its not a replacement. Its an addition to the regional networks.

lertsnim

So long as it isn't exclusive and other channels don't see a reduction in the amount of games shown I don't mind

coolisin

Not happy.
But not like setanta killed the ge when it was exclusive on there.
We have being spoiled watching it free to air over last few years.

But I guess it's good for the unions or teams to get extra money in.
Which I imagine sky are paying a nice bit for.

The only reason it won't be exclusive is due too Wales having freeview rights to games involving there teams.

CardinalJ

coolisin wrote: »

Not happy.
We have being spoiled watching it free to air over last few years.

I never buy the free to air argument. I pay a stupidly expensive TV licence almost exclusively to watch rugby.

coolisin

CardinalJ wrote: »

I never buy the free to air argument. I pay a stupidly expensive TV licence almost exclusively to watch rugby.

Yeah but if you don't pay a lienece fee you can still watch it, stop paying sky and they cut you off sharpish!!

sweetthing

Wonderful news! espn are reporting that the deal will work alongside additional contracts, so it's not an exclusive deal, and more importantly, it will mean a 50% increase in revenue for pro12 teams. And most importantly of all (especially if you're a connacht fan!) more games will be broadcast overall. 125 out of 135 in fact.

http://www.espnscrum.com/rabodirect-pro12-2012-13/rugby/story/181865.html

molloyjh

Seeing as it isn't exclusive and is operatin alongside the other broadcasters this is actually very good news IMO. Although I'm assuming the games they'll show will tend to be Munster or Leinster games which could be bad news for anyone in those provinces that don't have sky. Will have to wait and see.

totallegend

Don't see the down side of it tbh but I don't know if it will mean any additional games being shown. Presumably Sky will cherry pick the most attractive games which would be on anyway.

But more cash and more exposure for the league has to be a good thing.

irishbucsfan

I didn't realise this would be an option. Delighted!

RuggieBear

groovy...

I'll be happy as long as no Leinster games are part of the 10 not going to be televised.

irishbucsfan

Do Sky Italia own the Italian domestic rights?

Bogota

This is brilliant news. Rabo is still FTA and yet more games are shown and a 50% increase in revenue for the Rabo teams!!!

There is no way anyone could be against this!!!

lologram

I have to say that this sounds like a pretty good deal. I don't see much of a downside given the rights will be shared with the domestic broadcasters and more games will be shown.

Think of the financial angle though; more money to the teams (every team, especially the Welsh, could use that) means an incentive to stay together as the Pro12. Given the long-running debate over the future of European rugby (and the lengthy thread on this board), a bit more certainty over the league's future and that the countries will stick together is welcome.

sweetthing

I think the debacle over the HC has worked in the Pro 12's favour here...as Sky are without a definite rugby union competition to broadcast after next season.

thomond2006

So one or two games will be broadcast every weekend by Sky with the rest going to the FTA channels. I assume Sky will have first refusal on the games they'll show, in that case expect the Irish interpros to be on Sky.

Great news regarding the money increase, the league badly needs it.

justsomebloke

this deal makes no sense to me, especially as I can't see really a down side for the League.

I'm gathering Sky will get to cherry pick the games and so a lot of Leinster, Munster and Ulster games will probably move to it which will be slightly annoying as I was hoping to ditch sky sports.

justsomebloke

Any word of us getting a dedicated highlights show on sky?

thomond2006

justsomebloke wrote: »

Any word of us getting a dedicated highlights show on sky?

The league badly needs one, both the Premiership and Top14 have dedicated shows. Plus all the highlights are put online.

The Rabo has caught up somewhat but uploading the tries as they happen but hopefully Sky will do a weekly wrap-up show.

Something that has yet to be mentioned is what time/day Sky will want the games to be held, we could be in for more afternoon games.

totallegend

justsomebloke wrote: »

this deal makes no sense to me, especially as I can't see really a down side for the League.

I'm gathering Sky will get to cherry pick the games and so a lot of Leinster, Munster and Ulster games will probably move to it which will be slightly annoying as I was hoping to ditch sky sports.

I don't know if that's the case; I haven't seen anything which says that any of the games will be exclusive, i.e. I'd imagine we'll see a lot of duplication.

Bogota

I think Sky are confident that with their standard of coverage they can persuade many people to turn over to them. I can't imagine many people sticking with the likes of TG4 if they have Sky and they're showing the same game.

Larbre34

They failed to mention non-exclusivity on today fm sport, just about calm again! If it improves the english language coverage of Leinster games and makes more TV money to spend in the league then fine. A good magazine programme would be welcome as well, thats badly lacking from the domestic coverage

Noffles

I pay a small fortune to Sky every month, if it means more stuff to watch on Sports and the league gets more cash then great..

Quin_Dub

Hopefully this will generate more money and help the Welsh especially hold on to their players. The loss of the majority of the front-line welsh players to France/England is a huge problem for the league - So if this brings more cash in the it can only help keep the quality up.

jamiedav2011

Absolutely excellent deal. When I heard it first, presumed it was exclusive, but 125/135 is amazing!

We've seen it happen in so many sports, from Prem Football to Heineken Cup to F1, the prestige and marketing, and downright hype that Sky use can be great for the profile of a brand.

Must be some happy faces in Rabo HQ this morning.

justsomebloke

Actually this is starting to all make sense now. Leinster being the show ponies that they are have been waiting for Sky to start showing the finals before they actually start winning the final :pac:

Larbre34

justsomebloke wrote: »

Actually this is starting to all make sense now. Leinster being the show ponies that they are have been waiting for Sky to start showing the finals before they actually start winning the final :pac:

Two more years to wait so. Visualise Matt O'Connor and Zane Kirchner parading around the partially complete Royal Dublin Liberty Insurance Arena with the Wonga.Com Pro12 trophy..........

Thanos

While this does sound good (too good almost) I would wonder if this is the start where they get the foot in the door, start splashing money around, then say they want exclusive rights (obviously with more money) or they walk with their money............

You can be sure there is another reason also. (could be a two fingers to the Aviva Prem also.)

yum

justsomebloke

Thanos wrote: »

You can be sure there is another reason also. (could be a two fingers to the Aviva Prem also.)

This is actually pretty much the only reason for this deal. Sky are now left with no home club rugby and need something to help keep the HEC subscribers. If they hadn't lost the Aviva Premership rugby this would never have happened

Larbre34

justsomebloke wrote: »

This is actually pretty much the only reason for this deal. Sky are now left with no home club rugby and need something to help keep the HEC subscribers. If they hadn't lost the Aviva Premership rugby this would never have happened

They'd better help to ensure there is a HEC to keep so.......

freyners

Not going to affect me too much, cant see sky clamouring to televise Connacht games so there is probably going to be a lot of our games not televised

Which is absolutely no change from what is happening currently

CIARAN_BOYLE

freyners wrote: »

Not going to affect me too much, cant see sky clamouring to televise Connacht games so there is probably going to be a lot of our games not televised

Which is absolutely no change from what is happening currently

I would imagine that RTE and TG4 will maintain their one match a weekend policy but might not want to directly compete with SKY.

So if Sky are televising Leinster a trip west into Connacht will be more attractive for RTE/TG4.

freyners

freyners wrote: »

Not going to affect me too much, cant see sky clamouring to televise Connacht games so there is probably going to be a lot of our games not televised

Which is absolutely no change from what is happening currently

Only 10 games in the entire season won't be televised.

That's phenomenal.

Robbo

Larbre34 wrote: »

Two more years to wait so. Visualise Matt O'Connor and Zane Kirchner parading around the partially complete Royal Dublin Liberty Insurance Arena with the Wonga.Com Pro12 trophy..........

I'd have some interest in Wonga coming aboard as sponsors. Approximately 1412%...

bilston

More money, more exposure beyond Ireland, Scotland and Wales (which might be good for attracting sponsors) while it appears ensuring that FTA coverage remains on the likes of RTE and BBC. It sounds too good to be true.

freyners

Deleted User wrote: »

Only 10 games in the entire season won't be televised.

That's phenomenal.

Didnt see that bit,:o

wow thats some turnaround

Grimebox

I don't get this...

Seems great for the league: Extra money for teams etc

We will have a choice to watch a game on Sky or on RTE/S4C/TG4?

What do Sky get out of it? Seems a bit fishy. Could terrestrial channels lose viewers and eventually be forced out of the equation in the long run?

.ak

I'm happy out. 30 games, presumably high profile saturday games, getting the Sky treatment will do wonders for the league.

19543261

Grimebox wrote: »

I don't get this...

Seems great for the league: Extra money for teams etc

We will have a choice to watch a game on Sky or on RTE/S4C/TG4?

What do Sky get out of it? Seems a bit fishy. Could terrestrial channels lose viewers and eventually be forced out of the equation in the long run?

As far as I'm understanding this, individual games are exclusive on the day; so if Leinster is being shown by Sky, another broadcaster wont be. Is this correct?

There's definitely some kind of long term plan going on here, you're right. And knowing Sky, it's tightly linked with world domination.

totallegend

No mention of the 125 games per season in the official pro12 release, is it possible someone looked at how many games were televised this season, added 30 and came up with 125?

Last sentence is interesting too.

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/16485.php

The agreement will commence at the start of the 2014/15 tournament and will last for 4 years. Sky Sports will broadcast 30 live matches per season as well as the Play-Offs and Final.

John Feehan, Chief Executive said: "The RaboDirect PRO12 features the top teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy. Our competition is thriving with increased numbers going through turnstiles as well as increased TV audiences.

"The quality of our competition is such that 24 out of the 37 players selected for the 2013 Lions Tour to Australian play in the RaboDirect PRO12.

"We believe that this agreement with Sky will allow us to bring our Tournament to an even bigger television audience.

"This is a milestone for Celtic Rugby as it is our first ever Network coverage deal in the UK and Ireland.

Celtic Rugby are still in negotiations with other broadcasters and will be announcing further agreements in due course.

totallegend

19543261 wrote: »

As far as I'm understanding this, individual games are exclusive on the day; so if Leinster is being shown by Sky, another broadcaster wont be. Is this correct?

I haven't seen that anywhere.

justsomebloke

Grimebox wrote: »

What do Sky get out of it?

weekly rugby untill the BT aviva premership deal runs out

thomond2006

Sky will show their 30 games exclusively I'd say.

justsomebloke

totallegend wrote: »

No mention of the 125 games per season in the official pro12 release, is it possible someone looked at how many games were televised this season, added 30 and came up with 125?

Last sentence is interesting too.

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/16485.php

Ye I have a funny feeling the 125 games is a made up number,as I don't think any other broadcaster has actually signed up yet to show the Pro 12 past the 13/14 season, which is also the reason for the last sentence in that release

Digifriendly

Still don't understand what this means for RTE/TG4/S4C/BBC2W/BBCNI/BBC Alba/Sky Italia. Will they show matches not covered by Sky?
Edit - This article suggests that deal is in conjuction with present broadcasting deals. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/news/10031777/RaboDirect-Pro12-boosted-with-Sky-Sports-television-deal.html

Badabing

Rabo Pro 12 website says that they are still in talks with other broadcasters about renewing the deal frm 2014/15, the Sky deal might been Setanta might bid for the rights aswell.

eyeball kid

I'd imagine that Sky will get first pick of the games and the FTA channels can't show that one live. This could be good for Connacht as Sky will hardly want to show too many of our games but RTE/TG4 may have to show it if Sky are showing the Leinster/Ulster/Munster game.

Loafing Oaf

Digifriendly wrote: »

Still don't understand what this means for RTE/TG4/S4C/BBC2W/BBCNI/BBC Alba/Sky Italia. Will they show matches not covered by Sky?

I'm guessing the semis and final will be exclusive to Sky?

There's plenty of group games to round, Connacht games are often not shown anywhere, it's a question of who gets first dibs. If Sky did I'd imagine Munster/Leinster/Ulster games would be near the top of their list...