DSTV/Multichoice, Please create a rugby channel

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Trent242

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Can anyone inform me why Multichoice does not have a dedicated rugby channel, like they have for soccer ( SS3 ) ? Surely there are enough leagues / cups played worldwide to warrant this ?

The amount of soccer on Supersport is sickening. Supersport 3, MUTV, Chelsea TV and now it seems Multichoice has the PSL in the bag as well.

I understand soccer is the biggest game worldwide ( wrt television audiences ) but this is South Africa after all. Yes, we have many, many people following the developments/news/matches of their soccer teams religiously, but we have enough spectators and surely a big enough demand to warrant broadcasting of the the Heineken Cup, Air New Zealand Cup, EDF Energy Cup, Euro Challenge Cup and the Magners League ? When there are no matches being played, they can rebroadcast old Springbok matches.

I have sent an email query to Multichoice in the past, but to no avail. I'd just like to hear the thoughts of the people out there.
 
second that, would probably lead to a break up between me and the missus though, between me rugby channel and computer.... not much room for anything else :S
 
James said:
second that, would probably lead to a break up between me and the missus though, between me rugby channel and computer.... not much room for anything else :S
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:D me too missus would go crazy, James you seem to live in the same neck of the woods as me so if she has enough of you there are lots of bars to go watch at in Hillcrest;)
 
I don't think MC knows who to target in their TV shows in general. Target their subscribers (mostly white) and lose the rest of the country. Target black people and lose their current base.

In the same context, rugby is not popular amongst black people, so I guess they have made their decision. It also is apparent in their selection of movies.
 
I wonder if the SS channel offered by Vodacom is not aiming in this direction.
 
web said:
:D me too missus would go crazy, James you seem to live in the same neck of the woods as me so if she has enough of you there are lots of bars to go watch at in Hillcrest;)
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I am Hillcrest natal, but you are right, there a heap of bars :D I managed the ultimate though already. Bought 2 season tickets so we can have "quality time" together :D:D:D
 
Soccer sells advertising based on the number of potential viewers.
Rugby does the same, but has a lawt less viewers, and therefore less money.
Free market system.
 
soccer is popular rugby is not that popular which would rather make off ?

not a hard choice

i think dstv have alot of rugby stuff as well, i dont think they need a dedicated channel in all honesty
 
Trent242 said:
a dedicated rugby channel
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I have asked the same thing a couple of years ago and again when SS started the [spit]soccer channel[/spit]. And again couple of times after that.

At a stage I though that they don't want to do it as they would loose like more than half of their programming content on SS1 but I must say that that won't be the case when considering the content shown these days on SS1.

Apart from the European leagues and NZ/Aus leagues, they will have more time to show local rugby.

Let me give an example...Currie Cup 1st division game aren't shown at all on the tele. Most of the Vodacom Cup isn't televised. They will have more time to show the FNB classic clashes (and there are more than just the one they show on a Sunday afternoon.)

So I cannot see why the can't start a new rugby channel...
 
I've often wondered why there is a soccer, but nor Rugby channel...

Do black guys watch the overseas soccer aswell? I'm sure they show alot of English games on that channel...

But there is a huge support base for rugby in South Africa.

The only problem is that they would then have to get the rights to show those other matches. I haven't seen to many Aussie Rules Rugby, Air New Zealand Cup, etc matches... And I'm sure its because Supersport have not found the need to buy the rights to show them

There is alot of SA matches that are not shown. True, but if they were to be shown, there will need to be alot more money spent to get camera equipment, and crew down to the matches. And we, watching the matches, would want decent commentators aswell...

I think, IMHO, think it is because SS don't wanna shell out the bucks. Not a lack of content or fan base.
 
kris860911 said:
I've often wondered why there is a soccer, but nor Rugby channel...

Do black guys watch the overseas soccer aswell? I'm sure they show alot of English games on that channel...

But there is a huge support base for rugby in South Africa.

The only problem is that they would then have to get the rights to show those other matches. I haven't seen to many Aussie Rules Rugby, Air New Zealand Cup, etc matches... And I'm sure its because Supersport have not found the need to buy the rights to show them

There is alot of SA matches that are not shown. True, but if they were to be shown, there will need to be alot more money spent to get camera equipment, and crew down to the matches. And we, watching the matches, would want decent commentators aswell...

I think, IMHO, think it is because SS don't wanna shell out the bucks. Not a lack of content or fan base.
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Like it or not, more people watch soccer than rugby. Your arguments with respect to black viewers is false. The soccer channel is only popular because it shows European soccer. Until recently SS never even showed the PSL games so I do not think that the PSL games will draw more viewers. I do not think that rugby warrants its own channel as there is not enough material to show for 24 hours. Perhaps a 12 hour version. You are forgetting that before the soccer channel, SS had already been showing English premier league, Uefa champions league, Spanish, portuguese leagues and had many shows such as on the ball, football mundial , etc. Thus all this material warranted a dedicated channel as some people were getting sick o seeing soccer on every channel. Rugby on the other hand has not been covered except for Local and super14 and boot and all. If SS are to have a dedicated rugby channel, they would need to buy the rights for at least another 3 leagues (preferably, Australia, England and maybe France). This would cost to much and the audience would not justify this costs.

Maybe the golf and rugby could share a channel :D
I hate the golf and every night it is on.
 
James said:
I am Hillcrest natal, but you are right, there a heap of bars :D I managed the ultimate though already. Bought 2 season tickets so we can have "quality time" together :D:D:D
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ah "quality time" :( that means not being allowed to go to the pub. :eek: New keg is really nice place to watch rugby on those days when sharks are playing away from home ;) and then can leave wife at home to watch her type of telly :sick: so everyone wins.
 
web said:
ah "quality time" :( that means not being allowed to go to the pub. :eek: New keg is really nice place to watch rugby on those days when sharks are playing away from home ;) and then can leave wife at home to watch her type of telly :sick: so everyone wins.
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No No NO!!!! You have it all wrong! You get the season tickets and that way you can drink all the beer you want at the stadium and have a driver to get you home with no jail time :D

New Keg, was there until close on Saturday....
 
Granted. WORLDWIDE soccer have an immense spectator base. But here in SA, rugby has a massive following, as well.

Why has there been so much fuss in the papers lately about Multichoice buying the rights to broadcast the PSL games ? Because the majority black spectators ( the so-called mass market ) do not have access to pay-tv. Yet, the rugby supporters had to shell out the money for DSTV, since its been years since the rugby has been broadcast on national tv. I think the rugby fans deserve a channel of their own.
 
Actually I think that local soccer fans outnumber local rugby fans by at least 5-to-1. I'd love to see actual stats on this tho.

That's why MC getting the PSL licence was such a big thing.
 
If you think about it the current SS3, as Sharkey states, is catered more towards whites than blacks. And in any event when SS3 started I am sure the racial profile of Multichoice subscribers was still very much skewed towards white subscribers. I would think the LSM they target is also predominantly white.

The PSL rights I suspect is to try pull more of the black market to buy into DSTV Compact.
 
Have all the Keg's closed? Can't be there's one in Sandton near RMB that a bunch guys told me they were at at the beginning of July.
 
I haven't seen one in Durban for a long time. I did hear a rumour that there were a lot of dissatisfied franchisees.

Beachfront - closed
Umbilo - closed
Riverside - closed
Westville - closed
Glenashley - closed

That's why I asked.
 
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