On Talk Sport this morning they had commenting on the RL cup final?????...Shaun Edwards!!!! Ok a very good player in his time but now a yawnion coach so wtf was he commenting for....they talked about the game for two mins and then started banging on about Wasps...

When there is a more popular event on prior to the game, yes. I'm no fan of Formula 1, but it has a much wider audience than RL, the BBC are simply following their remit.

Maybe, just maybe, it's the "quality" of the pre-match stuff that puts the broadcaster off covering it, I've never been to a CC Final (or, in fact, an RL "event" in the UK) where the build up was anything other than abjectly bad.

The world has moved on from the "Ken Dodd era", the RFL hasn't.

[url=http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/wolves/4556339.WEMBLEY_COUNTDOWN__Pre_match_entertainment_to_Wolves_v_Giants_Challenge_Cup_Final/Hardly getting many people's juices flowing[/url

Now, don't get me wrong, in their field the people performing are some of the best, but it hardly makes for gripping TV.

I agree with your point but I was talking about the BBC build up not the on pitch fodder!

I dont think its the pre-match entertainment that Knocker is talking about being covered on TV, think he is meaning things like showing all of the tries for each club on how they got there, and interviews with leading ex-pros from each club etc. Little bit of pre-analysis etc. Not sure how much we will get in 20 mins.

Regarding the actual entertainment, as you say, top of their field but still reasonably cheap. I always remember seeing an NRL fnal a good few years ago and Tina Turner was the pre-match entertainment. The superbowl has top artists too. Just for once would be great if the challenge cup final could have a big name artist.

Apart from Abide With Me and the National Anthem we don't need to see any of the on field pre-match entertainment televised but it would have been nice to have a longer preview of the final on the BBC.

It comes on at 2.10 and the players will be coming out of the tunnel about 15 minutes later.

But what could the BBC do in their build up, expose the lack of British coaching talent in the game by interviewing two Aussies?

Expose the coloquial boundaries of RL limited to the M62 (plus London and France, purely as an ego massaging exercise) by doing an insight into Warrington and Huddersfield?

It's OK saying the BBC should be doing longer, but what content would you, as a producer, comission?

Show highlights of how the teams got to Wembley, kind of like a Road to Wembley, interview fans for their views, question of sport like they did before ours, theres loads you can show.

I am no producer but having 2 teams who dont often get to the big games I would imagine the potential is quite big. A player breakdown of both teams, who the star players are etc will all be interesting for the neutral who doesnt watch RL on Sky an do not know who is playing.

You've just filled the 15/20 minutes before the players come out.

Seriously, I worked with the production team during the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, you'd be amazed how hard it is to fill time.

And the QOS before our Final was just embarassing.

Past great from both clubs. My point is that there will be a hell of a lot of people watching the program who do not follow Rugby League other then the BBC coverage. It would be great to have a ten minute segment on both Lee Briers and Brett Hodgson.

How about showing both sides arriving at the famous ground? That will get the blood flowing.

Instead we will go straight across to the teams in the tunnel be told it is a hot/breezy/whatever type day with kick off immenent!

10 Minutes on Briers and Hodgson, I can't think of anything more likely to get people switching off.

I know people wont like the opinion (hey, Standee in unpopular opinion shocker

) but there is no mileage in an extended preview for the CC final outside people who are already supporters, the BBC simply need to hook people in, get them to watch and know full well that the majority will probably switch over to Sky and watch Man U v Arsenal as soon as the final whistle goes.

Remember, the BBC can't even fill Grandstand anymore!

and here he is:

lol

I never wore the suit actually, most of my VTM's did at some point though.

Eorl Crabtree was a guest on Chris Evans' Radio 2 drive time show this week, specifically talking about the CC Final.

I agree, its not like the FA Cup Final which has International standing. The CC Cup Final is only important to those involved, those of us who love rugby league and those in the Antipodes dreaming of playing there one day. I for one will sit down 5 mins before kick off then afterwards turn over to watch Sky !! I wonder if Paul will show it Martin ?

As one of the top sporting events of the year that is protected from being shown exclusively on Sky I think the BBC should treat it accordingly and start the programme more than 20mins before kick off.

I agree and I also believe a bigger audience will watch the game not just hardened RL fans.

Yes. On a national level the Challenge Cup final is still our games biggest event. Far bigger than the Grand Final i would suggest.
I want to see the players leaving the hotel, arriving at the stadium, doing the pre-match walkabout. It all adds to the occasion and builds up the excitement for mine.
I also want to see the full game of the schoolboys playing for the Steven Mullaney trophy and the community signing.

I'm down south and i've seen the ad for the game about 100 times this week. They are definitely promoting it well.

As for the build up, i agree it's a BIT short, but TBH I can't stand it when they get some northern poet to read some £ poem over the hovis advert theme whilst showing black and white images of smokey chimneys and grimey little boys wearing flat caps - It's BULL****

Rugby League is all about entertainment - Non stop full blooded action - and i'll be drinking a toast to that at 2:10 on sat (or later if Bernies rolling traffic jam is delayed!)

of course they should flash the football scores on screen,at about 3 in the morning when we are all asleep.

It's a national ad. We are getting it in the Midlands and I've seen it on BBC N. Ireland. A pretty good ad aswell I think!

I'd imagine so, it's free!

Yes, as an RL Fan that is understandable, but the vast majority of non RL fans just want the game. (and a hell of a lot of RL fans too).

And why on earth do I want to watch the kids?