The TV deal was a great deal and a terrible deal. It allowed Mr Wood to mortgage the games future on this new system. It allowed him to buy off the clubs who were opposed and force it through. It gave him a bit of breathing space.
It also limited any real growth in the game for nigh on a decade, it stopped us from seeing any rise in tv money for nearly a decade. It's clear that it isn't enough to make this system work. And we are now behind the 8 ball over the next.6 years where there is going to be major upheaval in the industry
If there was true confidence in this new system, then the TV deal was a crazy thing to sign. If the expectation was that this new structure was to be a raving success then we would be negotiating next year with BT, eurosport, Google, Netflix and everyone else wanting a piece of a popular sport with an innovative and successful new structure and the value goes up hugely.
As it is we have signed a deal where best case scenario we don't see any benefit for 7 years. Worst case scenario when the next deal is up for negotiation we are needing a new structure have fewer SL level clubs and we have to take whatever offer we get.
