0
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Last updated 11:47
25/10/2013
The New Zealand Rugby Union are trumpeting a late experiment to broadcast last weekend's Bledisloe Cup test on the internet via YouTube.
The high-profile international between the All Blacks and Wallabies in Dunedin went out free to 45 countries and only attracted "around 22,000 viewers" but the NZRU believe it was a good pointer for the future.
"Technically it worked very well. The quality was really good and it was an opportunity to test a different way to deliver our top product," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said, adding that experimental element was the main purpose of the broadcast.
The NZRU only decided to go ahead with the broadcast the day before the Saturday test. That had been a factor in the relatively small audience, given that their only form of notification had been last-minute postings on their social media sites.
Internet viewers were given the Fox Sports feed that had an Australian commentary.
The game went out to markets where the game had not been sold to broadcasters. These included the United States and Italy.
More than 12,000 viewers logged on to the streaming either live or as play-back during the match on Saturday night. By Thursday morning the on-demand views had taken the total number of views to over 22,000. The numbers were strongest in the United States where roughly 45 percent of views came from on the night of the test.
Countries in central Europe and central America made up most of the regions that were able to view the test, won 41-33 by the All Blacks.
This internet broadcast brought no revenue but "that's in the future", according to Tew, adamant that this key market was vital in their long-term thinking.
Yesterday's NZRU board meeting had been filled in on the broadcast details which they felt were positive.
The meeting also heard that the private licencing of the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise was close to being completed.
"If the ink is not dry, it's not a done deal. But it's largely in place," Tew said.
That left the Highlanders as the only franchise without private backers and a process to bring them into line with the four other franchise would begin next year.
"We are talking to people in that part of the world," Tew said.
The NZRU were also in the process of working through an anti-corruption process being implemented globally by the International Rugby Board.
While there was no evidence of a problem in this area in New Zealand, "you can never be complacent in this area, especially with rugby becoming an Olympics sport".
ON the financial front, Tew revealed the national body was bracing for the possibility of a deficit budget for the 2014 result.
This was in line with their long-term plans given that over the last six months they had agreed a new collective with their players and made some key provincial funding decisions.
Tew said while there was disappointment in missing out on the signature of Sonny Bill Williams, they were looking at a process around him for 2015 and 2016.
The national union was "very pleased with where we are in the retention of senior player contracts".
He suggested an announcement was imminent on one further player that will mean they will have "tied up all the players we wanted for 2015".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/9...adcast-of-test
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by palitu
