Thread by @alphahub

Hypocrisy of @Channel9: @NRL @rfl @88888sAccount @Former_legend @LeagueUnlimited
@nrlphysio @theNRLeconomist @WarrenSmithFOX @AndrewVossy @Patrickavenell @the_summer_game @loverugbyleague @AndrewRLP @zerotackle @Tedeschi8181 @PhilGould15 @FOXNRL @markMGgeyer @Todd_Greenberg

“Nine has invested hundreds of millions in this game over decades and we now find they have profoundly wasted those funds with very little to fall back on.”

Net profit is down by 9% nineforbrands.com.au/wp-content/upl…

This is despite Channel 9 winning the ratings in 2019 for the first time in 12 years. Nine's yearly share for 2019 concluded at 29.4%, a 2.1% increase from 2018 (27.3%) compared to Seven's 29.0%, a 1.7% decline from 2018 (30.7%).
smh.com.au/culture/tv-and…

Channel 9 have a poor track record of fiscal management, once having $2.7b in senior debt and requiring a capital injection from hedge fund CVC Asia Pacific when former owner James Packer exited: ft.com/content/a759ab…

In contrast, 2019 NRL revenue is up 6% and posted a higher than expected surplus: sportbusiness.com/news/nrl-repor…

At this point we need some humour: Channel 9 CEO David Gyngell once brawled in the street with former owner James Packer:
news.com.au/finance/busine…

getting back to it:

“At Nine we had hoped to work with the NRL on a solution to the issues facing rugby league in 2020, brought on so starkly by COVID-19,” a spokeswoman said.

This is Channel 9s idea of working with the NRL on competition restructuring: wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/andrew-joh…

"We now find ourselves with a contract that is unfulfilled by the code. We hoped we could talk though a long-term plan."

Channel 9 have always put themselves first in contract situations: couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-…

Comment from @alphahub : Channel 9 has a long history of putting #AFL above the #NRL despite denials, and mostly with respect to expansion into Melbourne and coverage into Adelaide and Perth.

Channel 9s commitment to AFL, which is the NRLs main rival, is alive and well as a direct undermining of the product they claim to support:

Nine launches additional AFL shows: wwos.nine.com.au/afl/nine-annou…

Nine cancels NRL Footy show: abc.net.au/news/2018-10-0…

“(Ending) the NRL Footy Show was a slightly easier decision because we went rugby league coverage into The NRL Footy Show which pushed it out until 9.45pm and it just started to be a lot of money spent late at night,” Marks said. (continued)

“The Melbourne Footy Show is a different equation. Our commitment to Melbourne, our commitment to (AFL) football — we have to maintain that focus.
heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/…

NINE DROPS THE BALL

The NRL is not just blaming bad player behaviour for poor TV ratings from the recent Indigenous v Maori All Stars game. (continued)

A confidential report blames Channel 9. The internal report says: “Channel 9 did not promote awareness of the game on their channels and there was a general lack of awareness for the match.”

dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/mond…

Today Show’s AFL crapfest will only kill it quicker as ratings continue to spiral:

the81stminute.com/2019/03/today-…

...time for some more humour:

Channel 9 once appointed Eddie MacGuire as their CEO, who was also the CEO of AFL club Collingwood. He quit a year later:
abc.net.au/news/2007-05-1…

MacGuire has a history of racism: theguardian.com/sport/2013/may…

MacGuire has a history of misogyny. He and once “boned” female journalist Jessica Rowe and joked about drowning reported Caroline Wilson:

dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/arti…

abc.net.au/news/2016-06-2…

so, please @Channel9 stop virtue signalling and crying poor. claims that you've invested money into #nrl @NRL simply don't stack up.

and furthermore, fans are tired of your stale old white bloke commentary style.

...and finally, i loved the @NRL ad this year: