Probably will be on BBC1 but if the grand prix is on and practice overruns expect the RL coverage to be cut short...AGAIN!!!

Isn't the BBC HD channel different to BBC1 anyway? The game could be on BBC2 and still in HD.

Regards the promotion I agree. BBC have the odd advert in between programs. Around January/February this will be about the 6 nations or FA Cup. What is stopping them advertising the upcoming CC game?

Normally I hate sport on ITV but at least they'd advertise it.

It's not that long ago with one match, they had the first half on BBC1, and the second half on BBC2.



The BBC are dire where RL is concerned.

None of the RL matches will actually be in HD, even if they are on a BBC HD channel - they will still be in SD.

not a problem.............much better than delaying the 2nd half because the 5-15 from Ascots running late

Is it tragic when RL is on Sky Sports 2,3 or 4?

Does it matter that much.

Everyone has BBC1 and 2.

This


Oh and on the Horse racing and F1

Both of those are BILLIONAIRE sports

we are a small sport, yes it is the greatest game but it just doesn't have the coverage and finance it deserves, we are were the market dictates unfortunately and until the oil barons and steel magnets start taking an interest then that's were we'll be.

BBC 2 does have a HD Channel it's 169 and 143 for BBC 1.

Of course it matters that the games are only being shown on BBC2.

BBC1 has more viewers, its brand is mainstream and popular. BBC2 is for quirky, minority interests. Casual viewers are therefore less likely to tune into the CC on BBC2 than they would be if the game were being shown on BBC1.

This also has important effects on sponsorship because the lower viewing figures that come with BBC2 exposure means lower sponsorship payments.

There is also the issue of RL being relegated to lesser importance than other major spectator sports. That's the signal the BBC are sending to the public when they put a semi-final on BBC2.

And finally, BBC HD isn't BBC2 HD. There is no BBC2 HD. BBC HD is the original BBC HD channel and preceded BBC1 HD. BBC HD does show some BBC2 programmes but will not show the RL.

Agree.

Then again, given that some of us are suggesting that the CC has lost some of it's mystique, it's hardly surprising that the Beeb has relegated it.

It doesn't matter a jot really. Those who wanna watch it will watch it and those who want to watch cars will watch cars. If RL had been on BBC1 and cars on BBC2 then we would all have just switched cannels?

Personally, I'm not bothered. The BEEB have never treated our game as anything more than a filler so I'm just happy to see some rugby!

I don't see the problem. The BBC is massive and everyone has it, whether it is one BBC One or BBC Two is in most ways irrelevant. Sure, there'd be a bit more exposure on BBC1, but BBC2, at the end of the day, is still an absolutely huge channel.

My only gripe is the lack of HD. But that's something that can always change over the next few years.

I had this arguement on the Wire site, when our recent game's details were announced.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE A WHINGE, DON'T THEY

It's being televised, isn't it.
It's no more difficult to press 2 (or 102) than it is to press 1 (or 101).

You know what time and date it's on (as well as the rest of the RL watching community)
For those who don't, I dare say they'll see it in their rolling programme planners on their screens, or in their daily papers/tv listings magazines. I don't see a problem.

Oldmywinkie has it spot on (for once). There's v little whinging when a Friday night's game is shown on SkySports 4, is there. Yet when the BBC put a game on BBC2, toys are out of the pram

The TV channel doesnt matter.

FWIW, I think the BBC coverage has been good this year, its certainly no worse than Sky's. The final will be on BBC1, as long as they promote the semi finals, viewers will follow.

The sooner they allow it to go to Sky the better. BBC's coverage is poop. Only 15mins build up, no HD, no 3D, no marketing, and bleeding Jonathan Davies !

If being on the BBC was the way to promote the game it would have happened when we had the Challenge Cup and the John Player Cup free to view. Twice the games we have now and I can't recall an influx in new players and spectators then; and I don't expect it now.

I dont mind the game being on SKY I pay for my RL coverage and still go to the games. If I could pay SKY for the RL only I would as I pay for Aussie RL and enjoy a few GAA games on premier. The BBC does the game a disservice by its poor coverage; the one redeeming factor being Claire Balding who puts some of the RL pros to shame with her enthusiasm for the game. If people had the option of TV licence payments or a TV with no BBC i have a feeeling that the BBC would be gone

Quote ="green machine"BBC 2 does have a HD Channel it's 169 and 143 for BBC 1.'" www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broa ... 58.article

Quote ="green machine"BBC 2 does have a HD Channel it's 169 and 143 for BBC 1.'" www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broa ... 58.article

A few programmes from BBC2 are shown on the BBC HD channel though, despite there not being an actual BBC2 HD. Dont mind whether or not its on BBC1 or 2 but starting with this years final they should all be in HD.

A part from the final none of it is shown in HD. Even on the BBC1 HD channel just upscaled from SD.

The Rugby coverage is at present, thats because they only take SD cameras to the matches, but that will soon change. Take wimbledon tennis, it was glorious in HD, and awesome in 3D on the BBC. They even showed some replays in 3D that were not transmitted in 3D.
Not even sky 3D is true HD.

If it was shown on BBC1 I think it would attract more non rugby league supporters to watch it imo. Other than that I don't see a problem with it being shown on BBC2. Though it would be nice to get some HD coverage for the cup games. (other than the final)

I was at the game, so not bothered which channel it was on - but I don't think the channel makes a difference anyway. Some wendyball lover from Birmingham is going to change the channel if he doesn't want to watch. And some rah rah fan from Barth will change to the channel if he does want to watch.

its on free to air television so, personally, i couldnt care less if the coverage/commentary is rubbish or not. As long as I can see the action on the pitch im happy

Errm, when they had semi finals in those days they couldn't fit them into the HJ stadium in Warrington !

Our attendances for RL matches have gone down ever since the late 1950's. Never mind the nonsense that Eddie and Stevo come out with. RL attendances are down.

But now 20,000 attendances are quite rare and apart from the odd one at Wigan when was the last 20,000+ attendance ?

The BBC seem to be downplaying RL yet again. So of course it makes a difference. Sponsorship will also decline and we then get into a downward spiral. No doubt all this affected Crusaders ?

Then there's the issue that as a BBC licence payer should get 'equal treatment' to their 'favoured' brand of Rugby who have sponsorship coming out of their orifices due to greater exposure from the BBC.

They also had many more players in those days. The amateur game in the last 20 years has virtually disappeared to what it was right across our heartlands of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

I don’t think it matters if it’s on BBC1 or BBC2 tbh. I still think it needs to be on what was called terrestrial tv – BBC1/2,ITV,CH4/5. If it were to move to say BBC4 or ITV3 then yes, we would all watch it but would anybody else watch it on the off chance. What we need, and I think that this may have been covered on here before is a regular show shown at the same time each week, not the super league show shown at 11:45pm on a Sunday night one week and a 1:30am the next.

I think the BBC has not moved forward regarding it’s coverage of RL in the past few years. I think we would benefit greatly from a standard show on say Channel 4 / 5 who could seriously advertise us as a sport, show it at say 6.30pm on a Sunday night (a la when they had American football) Freshen up the coverage, be innovative, show a good 40 min highlights of a game followed by round ups / interviews.

The cricket coverage on CH4 was miles better for the game of cricket and revolutionised the coverage with hawkeye/snicko etc and was mightily impressive. I believe it could work wonders for rugby league.