Mailbox: RFL should take Championship rights away from Sky
Mailbox gives you the chance to get your voice heard and start the debate with the rugby league audience. Want to be featured? Email the editor: james@loverugbyleague.com
We have been flooded with mailboxes since the recent letter from Mike Hope, asking why don’t Sky show Championship games. Here are a selection.
I believe that if Sky are not going to show championship games, then the RFL should take the rights away from them, they don’t give a reason for not showing them. Give the rights to streams like Proper Sport. (Grahame Wood)
Great idea to televise matches but RFL leadership is very weak and even though Wood has gone, Rimmer is not the answer. Just cannot see the RFL bringing it up with Sky. (A Roberts)
I am an avid rugby league fan when Sky Sports televised championship games on a Thursday night it set up the weekend.its a different class of rugby and sometimes more exciting than the Super League and the refs seem to follow the rule book more closely. It would be nice to see more Championship games not just the big bash and occasionally some of the lower League game. The RFL are trying to get rugby to a wider audience and what’s the best way to get this across than through the TV media. (Nigel Jolly)
With reference to the piece on Sky owning the rights to screen the championship but not doing anything with them. Last season, Proper Sport streamed all Bradford Bulls games live (in League 1) but will not be able to this year due to promotion to the Championship. If Sky are not going to screen any Championship games, why should Proper Sport be prevented from doing so? Sky are harming the game not promoting it as they should be. Just my opinion. (Bob Sedgwick)
Totally agree – gives exposure of the wider game to many viewers who’s knowledge is limited to Super League and some of the games involving the top sides in the championship will offer more excitement than a game involving two strugglers in the elite division. (Simon Rimmer)
Editor’s comment: It is perhaps a reflection on how frustrated rugby league fans are over the Championship television situation that we’ve had so many different emails and letters on this issue, since it first appeared in the mailbox. It’s time that someone at the RFL put pressure on Sky Sports to use it or lose it – or some serious questions should be asked about those well-paid executives that negotiated a deal that meant no obligations to show a live game every week.
Mailbox gives you the chance to get your voice heard and start the debate with the rugby league audience. Want to be featured? Email the editor: james@loverugbyleague.com
