Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 10:12 am  

Having watched several games in France this season on Sky, I get the distinct impression that no members
of the Sky RL team are actually at the game. I think the commentary team are watching the game on a big
screen somewhere in the UK.

Seems to me that when Sky decided to cut their costs on RL by killing-off Boots n All and introducing all the
silly tweeting options instead, they also decided to save on plane fares to France too.

I think the way that Sky have cut the air-time from one minute before kickoff to 1 minute after final whistle is
another indication of their minimal commitment to RL.

Announcing the teams during game-time is pathetic.

Adding to this the lack of professionalism and impartiality of the Sky commentary team, I think their commitment
to our game is blatantly clear.

People on this site have, and still are, complaining bitterly about the commentary quality. In my opinion only
Phil Clark and Brian Carney could be retained in an otherwise total cull of the team. Stevo is a passionate fool.
Hemmings is the modern day Eddy Waring and the McDermot duo is childish farce.

Could anyone advise how long the current Sky contract has to run ? I suppose what follows could be conceivably
worse, but to be honest, I don't see how..

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 10:18 am  

I was hoping for BT sport to show an interest in taking it on.

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 10:29 am  

They make it clear that they are in a studio in London. They couldn't have any build up yesterday as they went straight from Hull KR, a short ad break and then it was kick off.

When the new TV deal was signed it was £182,200,000 for a 5 year deal, 80% goes to SL clubs. The new deal kicks in from 2017 I believe.

The following is from Wikipedia. I've seen in some press releases that it's actually 100 matches though.

Super League: 70 live games per season on Sky Sports until 2016, highlights on BBC until 2020.
2017-21: 80 live games per season on Sky Sports

Championship: Live on Sky Sports until 2021
Challenge Cup: two sixth round matches, two quarter-finals, two semi-finals and final live on BBC until 2020. One fifth round match, one sixth round match and two quarter-finals live on Sky Sports until 2016
World Club Challenge: Live on Sky Sports until 2021; highlights on BBC
Rugby League World Cup: 2017 coverage on Premier Sports and BBC
Four Nations Championship: All matches live on Premier Sports; England matches and final live on BBC in 2016
National Rugby League: Up to 206 live and delayed games per season on Premier Sports until 2017
State of Origin: Live on Premier Sports until 2017.

I don't know if Sky will actually start showing Championship games, they have only really televised Summer Bash and the finals up to now.

If I was BT I'd certainly be going after NRL and State Of Origin from 2017.

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 11:23 am  

The Catalan home games are an EXTRA game to the usual coverage. I honestly don't know what your problem is.

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 11:38 am  

I'd keep Barrie Mc

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 12:19 pm  

Fire off the lot of the lovers. Everyone of them make me sick carrots.

Compare this to the impartially of Dave Woods, last week. No comparison.
Saying that, Davies couldn't have been more anti-Wire, last week.
Widnes are where his RL loyalties lie

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 1:38 pm  

Not sure they have ever claimed to be in France, although in the past (when Catalans didn't have a domestic TV deal) they did send the team over as otherwise you would have no ability to show their home games. Ok they don't shout 'WE ARE IN A TV STUDIO IN HUDDERSFIELD' but they don't claim otherwise.

It is the impartiality of the commentary I would question - especially when Wire are on. But as long as Wigan aren't playing, I don't mind Clarke and I do like Jon Wells.

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 3:09 pm  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

Fire off the lot of the lovers. Everyone of them make me sick carrots.

Compare this to the impartially of Dave Woods, last week. No comparison.
Saying that, Davies couldn't have been more anti-Wire, last week.
Widnes are where his RL loyalties lie

I've had lengthy chats with JD. I can positively assure you, he is a Wire.
He does divide he's loyalties between us and Widnes but loves Wire.
Professional guy but we are in his heart.

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:39 pm  

Get the Aussie sort on more.
Keep Brian and Phil.
Have different pundits on every game, invite different people (Shenton from Cas, for example, is an articulate fellow)

Stevo's retiring anyway
Sack off shouty, gets everyone's name wrong, Jon Wells
Sack off the two prats
Tell Eddie he can stay if he never commentates on Wire games and stops trying to bring every single incident into controversy

Re: Sky in France : Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:40 pm  

just_browny wrote:

Not sure they have ever claimed to be in France, although in the past (when Catalans didn't have a domestic TV deal) they did send the team over as otherwise you would have no ability to show their home games. Ok they don't shout 'WE ARE IN A TV STUDIO IN HUDDERSFIELD' but they don't claim otherwise.

It is the impartiality of the commentary I would question - especially when Wire are on. But as long as Wigan aren't playing, I don't mind Clarke and I do like Jon Wells.

Rememver when the Catalan crowd thought Stevo was the video ref and were throwing stuff at him and threatening him?