BBC secures Challenge Cup rights

[~lee~]

The BBC has secured exclusive rights to show rugby league's Challenge Cup live in 2009, 2010 and 2011 in a deal covering television and online.
One England international each year will also be shown as part of the deal.

"It's tremendous to extend and expand a highly successful multi-faceted partnership with BBC Sport," said RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis.

"The Carnegie Challenge Cup is now set to continue as a highly successful and key element of the BBC's portfolio."

He added: "The new live coverage of the England team is without doubt a tremendous development and mean these exciting events reach an even greater range of viewers."

BBC Sport director of sport rights, Dominic Coles said: "We're delighted to be adding live international rugby league to our already extensive coverage of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

"With Super League highlights also included, the BBC now holds an impressive portfolio of rugby league rights, demonstrating our commitment to the sport and to its fans."

[~lee~]

What i like most about this deal is the Superleague Highlights show. I dont get to see alot of the games and this will be great to catch up on. I hope the hosting improves a bit though because its pretty dull compared to sky's coverage.

[quins rl]

What i like most about this deal is the Superleague Highlights show. I dont get to see alot of the games and this will be great to catch up on. I hope the hosting improves a bit though because its pretty dull compared to sky's coverage.

Another 3 years of Ray French wont do much for the games "flat cap" image,and Jonathon Davies should be put out to grass with his "shokking defence" catchphrase.John Champion did a great job commentating a while back,but he is probably tied up with the football these day? The 1 England game will probably be the mooted world cup warm up game against the French in Paris? next year.Still any exposure on terrestial tv is welcome,i just wish there could be a highlights show nationally(yes people do watch league outside the m62 corridor) maybe on a sunday night at a reasonable time,would affect Sky too much and would probably help there coverage in the long run.People knock Eddie and Stevo but i like em,at least they are enthusiastic about the game.
The downside is the early rounds of the C.C. are dreadful crowd wise,it really doesnt liven up till quarter-semi final time and isnt the best advert for RL with its empty stadiums.

[Old Diehard]

Another 3 years of Ray French wont do much for the games "flat cap" image,and Jonathon Davies should be put out to grass with his "shokking defence" catchphrase.John Champion did a great job commentating a while back,but he is probably tied up with the football these day? The 1 England game will probably be the mooted world cup warm up game against the French in Paris? next year.Still any exposure on terrestial tv is welcome,i just wish there could be a highlights show nationally(yes people do watch league outside the m62 corridor) maybe on a sunday night at a reasonable time,would affect Sky too much and would probably help there coverage in the long run.People knock Eddie and Stevo but i like em,at least they are enthusiastic about the game.
The downside is the early rounds of the C.C. are dreadful crowd wise,it really doesnt liven up till quarter-semi final time and isnt the best advert for RL with its empty stadiums.

Hey ~lee~ or quins - I heard on a sports radio show here (4BC) that Super League is looking at putting a team in from Wales and also a 2nd team in from France!
Have you heard? Reason why I ask- is I think the money will be spent buying more talent from the NRL to go over and play there! Still Players are allowed to go where they get the best pay and that's life !!!

[quins rl]

In 2009 franchises will be awarded to clubs who meet the criteria,it is believed 14 will be awarded with about 18-20 clubs applying.
The usual sides will be there,a couple of doubts regarding clubs like Salford,Cas etc.
Celtic Crusaders are hoping to be in a position to apply,things are going well at the club but some diehard league fans feel it may be too much too soon for the fledgling club,it would be a great boost to the game in Wales though.
Toulouse are been mentioned as a possible second club from France,but there are a lot of noises been made about the current financial state of Les Catalans which if the stories are true has been run very badly by what would sound to be a bunch of amateurs,so this may affect the chance of a second French side so soon.
Yes,it will probably mean more Aussies and Kiwis in SL is the short answer because there isnt the depth of quality UK players to go round 12 clubs,let alone 14,and as you say,if a club offers a player big bucks,it can be a short career,so many will take whats on offer.

[Old Diehard]

In 2009 franchises will be awarded to clubs who meet the criteria,it is believed 14 will be awarded with about 18-20 clubs applying.

Celtic Crusaders are hoping to be in a position to apply,things are going well at the club but some diehard league fans feel it may be too much too soon for the fledgling club,it would be a great boost to the game in Wales though.
Toulouse are been mentioned as a possible second club from France,but there are a lot of noises been made about the current financial state of Les Catalans which if the stories are true has been run very badly by what would sound to be a bunch of amateurs,so this may affect the chance of a second French side so soon.
Yes,it will probably mean more Aussies and Kiwis in SL is the short answer because there isnt the depth of quality UK players to go round 12 clubs,let alone 14,and as you say,if a club offers a player big bucks,it can be a short career,so many will take whats on offer.

Interesting - it was those 2 teams, Celtic Crusaders and Toulouse ,that were mentioned by Rupbert McCall here on radio!

I would be supportive of a Welsh team . It's the only Country in the UK with a rugby code as it's main game so league really has a foot in the door!

Cheers quins!

[~lee~]

Another 3 years of Ray French wont do much for the games "flat cap" image,and Jonathon Davies should be put out to grass with his "shokking defence" catchphrase.John Champion did a great job commentating a while back,but he is probably tied up with the football these day? The 1 England game will probably be the mooted world cup warm up game against the French in Paris? next year.Still any exposure on terrestial tv is welcome,i just wish there could be a highlights show nationally(yes people do watch league outside the m62 corridor) maybe on a sunday night at a reasonable time,would affect Sky too much and would probably help there coverage in the long run.People knock Eddie and Stevo but i like em,at least they are enthusiastic about the game.
The downside is the early rounds of the C.C. are dreadful crowd wise,it really doesnt liven up till quarter-semi final time and isnt the best advert for RL with its empty stadiums.



lol @ 'shokking defence'. We have to mention Claire Balding too, who looks like she has very little interest in the game and just wants to get back to the tennis. No wonder the game cant get as big a following from the bbc as union can with the presenters they have. I think Lineker, Hanson and Shearer would provide better commentary and analysis.

From the original story i posted up i assumed they meant we were having a highlights show for the whole country, no doubt they will keep it only for the northerners.

Eddie and Stevo do a great job, the passion they show for the game far outweighs the occasional bias they show when GB plays. But hey we wouldnt want it any other way.
Im not so keen on Terry and Barry though. They dont look very natural in front of the camera.