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Rested AB's sees ratings dive
Article Published: Sunday 1 April 2007
Editor: Sports Digital Media
The Rupert Murdoch-owned media monolith, News Ltd, has revealed that there have been consequences to the 22 All Blacks having been rested from the opening rounds of this year's Super 14.
And it could be that the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) could reap those repercussions in terms of legal action. And lawsuits aside, there could be an even greater negative impact for SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) collectively.
News Ltd, who have the rights to broadcast all SANZAR rugby in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom (Supersport broadcasts in South Africa), help to keep the SANZAR unions afloat, with the fee they pay to retain those rights.
And now the corporation is not happy with the fact that the NZRU's decision to pull 22 of their frontline players from the opening stages of this year's Super 14 has caused a significant dip in the number of people tuning in to watch the competition.
Added to this is the report that the NZRU compensated their franchises for
losses they would incur in ticket revenue, dishing out first NZ$750 000, and now a further NZ$770 000 for their five franchises.
This, according to New Zealand newspaper the Sunday Star Times, is being seen as an admittance that their actions were devaluing the spectacle of the tournament.
"We argued that resting so many players would affect public interest in the competition and it has," told Greg Baxter, an executive of News Ltd.
"We'll talk with our broadcasters before forming a definitive view on what action might be taken," said Baxter.
A particularly insightful statistic demonstrates just exactly what the dip in viewing ratings has been: last year's opening match between the Blues and the Hurricanes saw 323 000 New Zealanders tune in, while this year's opening match between the Blues and the Crusaders drew an audience of only 188 000.
SANZAR's contract with News Ltd runs out in 2010, and it may be News Ltd decide that they no longer intend on doing business with SANZAR. If News Ltd pull out, it may not prove easy for SANZAR to find a successor as lucrative as News Ltd.
"Anything can happen in business, especially when money is involved," said Baxter.
Added to this issue is the fact that Australian viewing is in decline due to a slump in the performance of their sides.
The two traditional bastions of Australian provincial rugby, the Waratahs and the Reds, are both languishing at the bottom of the log.
Last edited by AndyS; 02-04-07 at 10:38.
Blind Freddie could see this coming back when the policy was announced.
Even so, that is an amazing drop off on Round 1 television viewing in one year!
The NZRU will be really up against it if SARU and ARU counter sue them for their part of the potential News Ltd settlement!
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Dunno what they're bitching about. This has been the most widely contested Super season yet.
Scary when they have put real numbers to it, and they are NZ viewerships alone. Makes it hard for them to argue that poor performances elsewhere have skewed the numbers. I would have thought that it should be worldwide viewer numbers that matter though - what percentage change with european viewers etc included.
Is this showing that Kiwi’s support only the players in the teams and not the teams?
Maybe it is the Kiwi public’s way of showing their disappointment with NZRU’s plan and have boycotted the games as a protest.
NZ$750,000 is only worth about three fiddy Australian![]()
Chuck Norris has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.
Three fiddy, they must be Loch ness monsters...![]()
But seriously, NZRU should be stung for this as it is a selfish position they took, and it looks like a few of these refreshed fellows are getting pretty messed up, ie. injured...So much for having a break...
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
Yet another distraction for the NZRU - apart from this impending lawsuit which will leave them broke and make most of the players head North - I wonder what other distractions we can devise to put em of their game !
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Take the 2011 RWC hosting from them... please...
Crusaders losing their first home game in 25 matches might help the distractions...![]()
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
It will happen!Originally Posted by Coach
I thought all the media stuff had been nutted out between the NZRU and News Ltd before the season started....obviously not I guess. But was there not some stuff about News Ltd threatening NZRU with legal action before the season?![]()
Just happy to be here
I recall that as being the case...
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
[QUOTE=Flamethrower]Is this showing that Kiwi’s support only the players in the teams and not the teams?
Got it in one mate. This punitive action was out in the press 6 months ago. NZ rugby knew damn well that there was going to be some financial pain with their decision. No point in bleating. Goes to show that the All Blacks are the team that matters and all stops have to be pulled out for RWC glory and the general well being of Kiwis.
What about the angst regarding getting Eden Park sorted out for the RWC in 2011. Aint gonna happen as all interested parties are not on the same page.
Better book accomodation in Sydney around November 2011.
the punters friend..... stick with me and you will be wearing
We will continue to focus on the field , not the politics off the field.They will take care of them selfs.
You had better believe it.Originally Posted by Coach