The normally closed-door negotiations between radio stations and the Rugby League have spilled out onto the airwaves this week as 2SM’s Sport Show challenges the NRL over the rights to bring Monday night radio broadcasts to the bush.
In an extraordinary couple of interviews between 2SM Talking Sport host Graeme Hughes and NRL boss David Gallop, Hughes took Gallop to task about country people missing out on Monday night coverage, and Gallop accused Hughes and the 2SM Supernetwork of acting out of disappointment for not getting broadcast rights.
Listen to part of the Gallop/Hughes interview here (wav 3.7 Mb).
Gallop asked Hughes if Supernetwork would be willing to relay Triple M’s call of the game to its country network, but Hughes said the network would want to mount its own call if it were going to broadcast the games.
Gallop told Supernetwork listeners the rights contract puts the onus on Triple M to deliver coverage to the bush, but Supernetwork believes Triple M is unlikely to be able to deliver as promised without partnering the Caralis Supernetwork, which has 33 stations and another 33 translators throughout regional NSW and Southern Queensland.
While Triple M could partner other regional operators, such as Macquarie Regional Radioworks, Supernetwork presenter Hughes says there are many towns where that network could not deliver coverage.
Gallop maintains Triple M needs time to do a commercial deal and says next year “will be the best radio coverage for years.” Supernetwork says country listeners will miss out unless Triple M deals with the Caralis stations.
During the on-air exchanges Graeme Hughes said Supernetwork had offered a six figure sum for the rights during negotiations, but now believes the tables have turned and the NRL needs the Supernetwork to fix its mistake of not ensuring coverage of Monday night games in the bush.
Maverick regional Senator Barnaby Joyce also weighed into the act in support of the Supernetwork’s point of view, threatening to raise questions in parliament about it.
Listen to part of the Barnaby Joyce interview here (wav 1.4 Mb).
radioinfo has not had a response yet from Triple M.