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View Full Version : State of Origin blow to UK fans, but NRL reacts



DIEHARD
24-06-09, 03:29 PM
State of Origin blow to UK fans

A last minute deal will allow rugby league fans in Britain to watch tonight's State of Origin live on the internet, after the broadcaster with NRL TV rights ceased trading and went off the air last night.

The plans of thousands of expat Australians, who traditionally gather in pubs and living rooms to watch one of Australia biggest annual sporting events, were in disarray this morning after the shock decision by Setanta Sports.

The company has wound up its UK division just as Queensland is poised to make rugby league history, with a win making it the first State of Origin side to win four consecutive series.

The NRL this morning was caught a little by surprise by the turn of events, but scrambled to put together a deal to stream live coverage of the match on Telstra's Bigpond website, free of charge.


"We were talking to [Setanta] yesterday and were of the view that it was still going to be transmitting [tonight]," NRL Director of Media and Communications John Brady said.

This morning Mr Brady had said it would be difficult to arrange, by kick-off, an alternate way for UK fans to watch the game.

But about lunchtime he announced the deal with Telstra. "Hopefully that will give people some exposure to it," he said.

The webcast will be accessible only from computers in the UK, Mr Brady said.


This morning Mr Brady said he felt the pain of rugby league fans in the UK, some of whom vented their frustration soon after Setanta's announcement.

"Can't quite believe this has happened the night before the biggest game in Queenslands history:) Go Maroons!" wrote one league fan, Jason, on a blog on London's The Times website.

He said he signed up to Setanta just nine days ago to watch NRL and State of Origin matches.

"The day before Origin II???? Is someone having a laugh???," wrote another despondent fan.

Mr Brady said the NRL had a large following in the UK - its biggest TV market outside of Australia - and felt fans' frustration.

"I don't have figures but it gets a good audience, there's no doubt about that.

"They'll be frustrated, it's unfortunate for them."

Setanta also had rights to regular NRL season matches. Mr Brady would not speculate on whether those rights would be re-sold to another UK broadcaster.

"That's going to take a little time to work out."

Setanta yesterday issued a short statement on its website: "Please be advised that it is with great regret that Setanta GB is no longer trading."

The Times said the company collapsed after a six-month long struggle to raise cash.

The decision to wind the company up will cost 200 jobs and ?450 million ($932 million) of investors money, it said.

The channel was losing about ?100 million a year after attracting 1.2 million subscribers, fewer than the 1.9 million it requires to break even, according to analysts.

Source: http://www.leaguehq.com.au