What are the Pro14 doing to coax broadcasters?

Published: 06.03.18 – 13:00 GMT

I’m sure you have noticed a distinct lack of televised games this season with the new Pro14 format. RugbyUlster has contacted the Pro14 and we asked them for a response to the situation that we find ourselves in. For the sake of the league we need to improve the Pro14 TV Coverage.

Pro14 TV Coverage

We must be clear that this isn’t an attack on the Pro14 leadership, as what league in the World wouldn’t want coverage? It’s more about their response to where we are with the broadcasters.

If you have a league and format that you are proud of why not let that passion shine through? You should actively promote and persuade as many folks as possible to back it.

Here’s what we sent them:

At Rugby Ulster, we have been worried by the lack of television coverage in the UK of Pro14 games this season, especially the lack of coverage of the new South African sides.

As fans of this great league, we would like a response from you to explain what steps you are taking to coax broadcasters and move the league forward.

Best regards,

Rugby Ulster

For the Supporters of Ulster Rugby

www.rugbyulster.com

The timer was started from when we contacted the Pro14, it’s actively ticking and won’t stop until we get a response.

Booking.com

Pro14 TV Coverage

It was the postponement of Ulster V Glasgow Warriors (2nd March 2018) due to ‘adverse weather conditions’ that actually prompted this action. One game that stood out as watchable (when Ulster’s game was rescheduled) was the Southern Kings 45 -13 victory over Dragons. However, was this televised live on UK television..? SKY Sports, BT Sport, BBC Sport?? Nope.

It’s essential for the league that rugby fans are able to engage with every side. Why should we be only interested in our own team’s games? If we gain a better understanding of our opposition we can then better commentate on future engagements. Highlights just don’t cut it, and that’s if we even get any.

A Change to the Format

A new dynamic like two unknown South African sides joining a rebranded Pro14 league was such a crowd pleaser as (if we are honest) the league was starting to look a little tired.

We can all remember missing the memorable first games with the new South African sides as they weren’t televised in the UK.

A brand new exciting change to the format with new teams that we were not familiar with brought much promise. However, the season began and they were not televised in the UK, not a great start eh?

We are now well into 2018 and nothing has changed, even with a big player like Guinness involved. As Ulster rugby fans we watch the league and know that it has incredible merit and is at least better than the stale English Premiership with it’s many empty seats!

“I think our teams playing in Europe will be a natural process that will take two or three years, but for the moment we are focusing on the Pro 14 and making its enlargement a success,” SA Rugby Chief Executive, Jurie Roux.

Conclusion

Pro14 games must be properly televised in the UK on TV or at least streamed online for the league to acheive success. If there isn’t decent TV coverage then crowd numbers at the games will also suffer, the two are intrinsically linked.

Leinster emerge to polite applause followed by eerie silence. Less than 500 here, it’s weird pic.twitter.com/fNmWK6ziRK

— Rúaidhrí O’Connor (@RuaidhriOC) September 16, 2017

We wait to hear the Pro14’s response and will keep you updated. Let’s hope we will see an improvement in regard to the Pro14 TV Coverage in the near future.

Rugby Ulster