Heard this today.

Do you think anyone on here will be bothered Dick? They're ok - got more money next year. Besides, there is no game outside of super league, so nothing to show. Won't be able to see it with their heads buried in the sand anyway!

What a shame. It's more interesting to watch than SL.

Viewing figures to strong for it not to be picked up somewhere IMO. Decent sponsorship behind it too.

There is always Time Team on History and More 4 if you want the look at the past.

If true,i can cancell my sky sports subscription.Only reason i have it,is for championship rugby.

I guess that if this is true and I heard the rumours a few weeks ago. That is down to sky not willing to pay for the product. Even though its ratings beats certain other sports that sky show.

I didn't think Sky paid for the Championships. I really hope someone picks it up as it's usually a good watch. Last night's game wasn't of the highest standard skill wise but highly entertaining.

Me too. They can stick SL. I won't pay just for that.

Yeah they dont but maybe they have been told to cough up for it now as they are make a fortune for showing it.

Where've you all been?

This has been known for several days now, word on the street is that Championship games are going to be shown by Premier Sports.

Which street?

The way the SL/RFL is now run there may not be any clubs to watch in the championship due to a severe lack of aiming to win anything, apathy and possible reduction in income from central sources as the "big boys" want to get their collective snouts into the trough even if they are totally incompetant and have no realistic chance of winning anything either.

SLE/RL the only sport that tries (and sometimes succeeds) in rewarding failure and mediocrity!!!

Have heard this as well from a decent source. Should be good for the championship clubs. Might get away from Thurs night games also.

Just as happened with british tennis when a certain someone was in charge. That worked out well too didn't it. Boy we learnt from that eh?

I hope it goes to Premier sports as it will give me abit more to watch as I have it already for the NRL & just maybe they will show it on saturday afternoons now that would be good.

Nobody watches Wimbledon and the media, especially the BBC, pay no attention whatsoever.

I have been really enjoying the Thursday games and we should as a game insist they continue.

This weeks was a belter and so much better to watch then many SL matches served up this and other seasons

whoosh, point missed.
Please don't think I'm the only person on the planet who doesn't think Wimbledon is a phenomenal success! Jesus

My point was, British tennis players earnt good money regardless of their achievements. Their mediocrity was handsomely rewarded with no fear of this being changed! Sound familiar? It should do!

As an aside, Murray excepted, was Wimbledon a roaring success for the aforementioned British players? Who's the plum now eh?

The Thursday night games are decent for RL purists, but awful for everyone else. If I tried to get my non-RL supporting mates who have attended Grand Finals and Challenge Cup finals to watch them, they'd be staggered at how bad they are. If I were Sky I wouldn't pay 10p for them, they are awful.

That's what happens when you fail to properly put forward your point.
British tennis players earned good money? Really? Which of our mediocre players and how much is 'handsomely'?
Many British tennis players had other interests and/or came from comfortably well off families.
The LTA didn't financially reward tennis players, except those that were successful at Wimbledon and how many Brits does that include?
With regard to your aside I don't think any open-age British players had a roaring success at Wimbledon this year. Murray is a top four player who made it to the last four, where he was handed his backside. He did what, according to his official world ranking, was expected of him.

You are Richard Lewis and I claim my five pounds

Let's just be thankful Quins aren't on the TV much then!

I'd disagree , they are more entertaining for the general public apart from the lack of atmosphere , then again you know all about that , it is the ' purist 'that will spot the slower pace and the less intensity

Either way , if they aren't attractive enough to draw any monies , then fine time to give that one up , as they cost clubs money they can ill afford at the moment

Just out of interest , why don't these ' mates '. Not watch Quins ?

The LTA have funded a lot of juniors - you have to, it's far too expensive a sport not to. However, as with so many sports in this country the standard of coaching within the home grown system, the ability to develop a coherent strategy and the desire and need by the players to compete at the highest level just isn't good enough. A lot of the players who are succeeding now (e.g. Murray, Laura Robson and Heather Watson) got where they are through massive parental support and by learning the game abroad.

We might also note Liam Broady, who is playing in the U18 singles final today.

It will be interesting to see how the Burgesses and Widdop develop by basically adopting a similar strategy.

To some extent we are speculating on what is happening and I don't think anyone outside the RFL, the clubs and Sky knows the real situation as to how much of the handout to Championship clubs is funded by the TV coverage. Thursday nights are great for the TV viewer but not great for the clubs or live spectators. However even if the games moved to a different channel and time they'd either be up against SL coverage or there would be other issues in getting viewing figures (e.g. Saturday afternoons) or inconvenience for clubs (Sunday nights are possible but not ideal).

God, there's some absolute crap posted on here at times. It's been in the papers that Premier Sports are likely to show it, but I suppose it's hard to read anything with your head in the sand.