NRL gives AFL an early Xmas present

[Xman]

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is laughing all the way to the bank. Source: News Limited
THE NRL is facing a backlash from clubs following revelations its major sponsor, Telstra, has sold the code's digital rights to a company part-owned by sporting enemy the AFL.

In a move labelled a "total embarrassment", Telstra has brokered a deal with an AFL-funded company, Champion Data, to provide statistics to NRL clubs and the NRL's official website.

ASIC records show the AFL has purchased two million shares for a 49 per cent stake in Champion Holdings. Its parent company, Melbourne-based Champion Data, holds an exclusive licence to provide official AFL data.

It means the AFL stands to make money, inexplicably, by supplying NRL statistics to its biggest sporting threat in a digital NRL industry worth an estimated $120 million.

The NRL are also ostensibly giving away intellectual property to the AFL via Champion, who will be able to obtain personal details from thousands of NRL season-ticket holders.

Furious NRL club officials have labelled the move "farcical" and want head-of-strategy Shane Mattiske sacked for his role in the digital-rights contract fiasco.

"Shane Mattiske has to go for this," one club source said Saturday.

"We are not handing any club's assets over to the AFL.

"The ARL Commission has to step in and sort out this mess ... heads must roll."

Mattiske, the former interim NRL CEO, declined to comment when contacted Saturday. An NRL spokesman said the NRL remains in talks with a number of parties including the incumbent contract holder.

NRL digital media boss David Ray declined to comment. However, in a letter exclusively obtained by The Courier-Mail, written on Telstra letterhead and dated November 25, Ray advises Andrew Moufarrige, whose company runs NRL Stats, that his services to supply data to NRL.com has been terminated by Telstra.


NRL digital media boss David Ray advises Andrew Moufarrige, whose company runs NRL Stats, that his services have been terminated. Source: Supplied
Three days later, on November 28, Champion director Chris Hume flew to Sydney to meet with Telstra.

Moufarrige says AFL boss Andrew Demetriou would be "in fits of laughter" at the prospect of Aussie Rules claiming NRL revenue by suppling league data to its greatest rival.

"This is a monumental blunder," Moufarrige said.

"Which other sport in the world would give its exclusive data and official website contract to a rival code?

"It's a total embarrassment for rugby league.

"I met with Telstra last Thursday week and I was advised by David Ray that they have agreed to terms with another provider (Champion) and negotiations with us are closed.

"This means a company part-owned by the AFL will be delivering NRL statistics to the NRL website and the club sites.

"Can you imagine the NFL letting a rival like the NBA use their website, let alone make money out of its product?

"It's mind-blowing. Andrew Demetriou will be able to send personal messages to every NRL online and mobile fan inviting them to AFL games and fan days.

"How can the ARL Commission let such a farce happen?"

NRL boss Dave Smith and head of football Todd Greenberg are currently overseas. The NRL's new head of digital, former Qantas executive Lewis Pullen, starts tomorrow and could walk into a contractual minefield.

In a further indictment on NRL management, it has strangely conferred decision-making power to its major sponsor. Instead of deciding on their digital-rights holder, the NRL has handed the baton to Telstra.

"Why was Telstra given the power to award the NRL's digital rights in the first place? They are a sponsor. The ARL Commission is supposed to run the game," Moufarrige said.

"NRL Stats has lost out to an AFL-backed company to supply NRL data for the official NRL website ... it is ludicrous."

Champion Data has been the AFL's statistical kingpin since 2001. On the front page of its website, Champion spruiks sales of the AFL Prospectus, a 432-page footy bible featuring statistics on every AFL player.


Daly Cherry-Evans on the attack for the Sea Eagles. Source: Getty Images
Champion's last attempt to win the NRL's stats licence failed. Embarrassingly, in its bid, the company used AFL jargon such as "marks" for NRL players catching bombs and "clangers" for handling errors.

But there is a more insidious threat. By clinching league's data rights, the AFL, via Champion, can access footage of under-20s stars, posing a poaching risk to the NRL.

"The AFL will have in its possession all the NRL stats and video for the NRL's under-20s competition," Moufarrige said.

"They will have vision of every up-and-coming player in rugby league, which makes it a scouting tool for the AFL.

"These two codes are at war - the AFL is making inroads into western Sydney and Queensland.

"That's why the AFL bought a stake in Champion. They didn't want any other company getting involved in their digital content and it gave the AFL exclusive ownership.

"The AFL now have their hands on rugby league's gold mine ... it is a complete disaster."

Hume, who owns 51 per cent of Champion Holdings, said any negotiations are confidential. Despite the AFL owning a stake in Champion, he sees no issue venturing into the NRL's digital market.

"As long as you are providing a good service, there's no reason why we can't provide the same service for different sports or clients," he said.

"We've been doing the AFL stats for 12 years, we have a licence to do the AFL statistics."

Asked if it was a conflict of interest, Hume said: "You have to ask the NRL about that.

"We have a big book called the AFL prospectus which you can find on our website. We are proud of what we do."

Moufarrige said the NRL would regret allowing the AFL to claim a share of its digital content, which is projected to become a $1 billion-plus industry.

"The ARL Commission was supposed to improve decision-making, but this is a totally flawed decision," Moufarrige said.

"Hopefully Dave Smith can see common sense and keep NRL content away from the AFL."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/r ... 6772278557

[Raiderdave]

:_<> :_<> :_<>

scanning .. scanning


NEWS LTD :_<> :_<> :_<>

how the fuck did the NRL give the V FL a present

Telstra sold the rights not the NRL dickhead :_<> :_<> :_<>
& this decision will stand for about

ohhhh
I dunno ............. 5 minutes

the NRL sold its rights to Telstra .. for Telstra to cover them .. its agreement is with them.
If Telstra choose to do something else with them .... then it has to be with the Approval of the NRL

& with this other company being part owned by the VFL
that aint gunna happen
is it tool ?

[adamj1300]

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is laughing all the way to the bank. Source: News Limited
THE NRL is facing a backlash from clubs following revelations its major sponsor, Telstra, has sold the code's digital rights to a company part-owned by sporting enemy the AFL.

In a move labelled a "total embarrassment", Telstra has brokered a deal with an AFL-funded company, Champion Data, to provide statistics to NRL clubs and the NRL's official website.

ASIC records show the AFL has purchased two million shares for a 49 per cent stake in Champion Holdings. Its parent company, Melbourne-based Champion Data, holds an exclusive licence to provide official AFL data.

It means the AFL stands to make money, inexplicably, by supplying NRL statistics to its biggest sporting threat in a digital NRL industry worth an estimated $120 million.

The NRL are also ostensibly giving away intellectual property to the AFL via Champion, who will be able to obtain personal details from thousands of NRL season-ticket holders.

Furious NRL club officials have labelled the move "farcical" and want head-of-strategy Shane Mattiske sacked for his role in the digital-rights contract fiasco.

"Shane Mattiske has to go for this," one club source said Saturday.

"We are not handing any club's assets over to the AFL.

"The ARL Commission has to step in and sort out this mess ... heads must roll."

Mattiske, the former interim NRL CEO, declined to comment when contacted Saturday. An NRL spokesman said the NRL remains in talks with a number of parties including the incumbent contract holder.

NRL digital media boss David Ray declined to comment. However, in a letter exclusively obtained by The Courier-Mail, written on Telstra letterhead and dated November 25, Ray advises Andrew Moufarrige, whose company runs NRL Stats, that his services to supply data to NRL.com has been terminated by Telstra.


NRL digital media boss David Ray advises Andrew Moufarrige, whose company runs NRL Stats, that his services have been terminated. Source: Supplied
Three days later, on November 28, Champion director Chris Hume flew to Sydney to meet with Telstra.

Moufarrige says AFL boss Andrew Demetriou would be "in fits of laughter" at the prospect of Aussie Rules claiming NRL revenue by suppling league data to its greatest rival.

"This is a monumental blunder," Moufarrige said.

"Which other sport in the world would give its exclusive data and official website contract to a rival code?

"It's a total embarrassment for rugby league.

"I met with Telstra last Thursday week and I was advised by David Ray that they have agreed to terms with another provider (Champion) and negotiations with us are closed.

"This means a company part-owned by the AFL will be delivering NRL statistics to the NRL website and the club sites.

"Can you imagine the NFL letting a rival like the NBA use their website, let alone make money out of its product?

"It's mind-blowing. Andrew Demetriou will be able to send personal messages to every NRL online and mobile fan inviting them to AFL games and fan days.

"How can the ARL Commission let such a farce happen?"

NRL boss Dave Smith and head of football Todd Greenberg are currently overseas. The NRL's new head of digital, former Qantas executive Lewis Pullen, starts tomorrow and could walk into a contractual minefield.

In a further indictment on NRL management, it has strangely conferred decision-making power to its major sponsor. Instead of deciding on their digital-rights holder, the NRL has handed the baton to Telstra.

"Why was Telstra given the power to award the NRL's digital rights in the first place? They are a sponsor. The ARL Commission is supposed to run the game," Moufarrige said.

"NRL Stats has lost out to an AFL-backed company to supply NRL data for the official NRL website ... it is ludicrous."

Champion Data has been the AFL's statistical kingpin since 2001. On the front page of its website, Champion spruiks sales of the AFL Prospectus, a 432-page footy bible featuring statistics on every AFL player.


Daly Cherry-Evans on the attack for the Sea Eagles. Source: Getty Images
Champion's last attempt to win the NRL's stats licence failed. Embarrassingly, in its bid, the company used AFL jargon such as "marks" for NRL players catching bombs and "clangers" for handling errors.

But there is a more insidious threat. By clinching league's data rights, the AFL, via Champion, can access footage of under-20s stars, posing a poaching risk to the NRL.

"The AFL will have in its possession all the NRL stats and video for the NRL's under-20s competition," Moufarrige said.

"They will have vision of every up-and-coming player in rugby league, which makes it a scouting tool for the AFL.

"These two codes are at war - the AFL is making inroads into western Sydney and Queensland.

"That's why the AFL bought a stake in Champion. They didn't want any other company getting involved in their digital content and it gave the AFL exclusive ownership.

"The AFL now have their hands on rugby league's gold mine ... it is a complete disaster."

Hume, who owns 51 per cent of Champion Holdings, said any negotiations are confidential. Despite the AFL owning a stake in Champion, he sees no issue venturing into the NRL's digital market.

"As long as you are providing a good service, there's no reason why we can't provide the same service for different sports or clients," he said.

"We've been doing the AFL stats for 12 years, we have a licence to do the AFL statistics."

Asked if it was a conflict of interest, Hume said: "You have to ask the NRL about that.

"We have a big book called the AFL prospectus which you can find on our website. We are proud of what we do."

Moufarrige said the NRL would regret allowing the AFL to claim a share of its digital content, which is projected to become a $1 billion-plus industry.

"The ARL Commission was supposed to improve decision-making, but this is a totally flawed decision," Moufarrige said.

"Hopefully Dave Smith can see common sense and keep NRL content away from the AFL."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/r ... 6772278557

more proof than the NRL is nothing but a shit show

[Xman]

:_<> :_<> :_<>

scanning .. scanning


NEWS LTD :_<> :_<> :_<>

how the fuck did the NRL give the V FL a present

Telstra sold the rights not the NRL dickhead :_<> :_<> :_<>
& this decision will stand for about

ohhhh
I dunno ............. 5 minutes

the NRL sold its rights to Telstra .. for Telstra to cover them .. its agreement is with them.
If Telstra choose to do something else with them .... then it has to be with the Approval of the NRL

& with this other company being part owned by the VFL
that aint gunna happen
is it tool ?

But but but

All the NRL critics quoted in the article work for news ltd now do they?

[Fred]

Must admit ... I read it today and seemed like a storm on a tea cup.

[cos789]

If the nrl is going to give money to people what nicer people than the AFL to give it to.

[pHyR3]

lol thanks for the laugh bumblers.

[Raiderdave]

lol thanks for the laugh bumblers.

this is another example of how desperate fumblers are to get anything on the only code they fear
they get their jollies off on these stories


its sad & pathetic

but also fucking hilarious how much they fear RL :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

[NRLCrap1]

Must admit ... I read it today and seemed like a storm on a tea cup.

At the moment I agree, but when the season starts it'll be very interesting what happens to Champion Data's revenue.

Telstra also have a sponsorship deal with the AFL over digital rights. That connection that the AFL and the NRL share is the potential threat, and the fact that it was Telstra that booted the original data provider for the NRL and not the NRL itself (shit I just agreed with Dave!). BUT! The NRL also sacked the data provider directly.

However it is likely that the NRL will tell Telstra "NO! Get someone else!" Interesting times ahead if so.

[Swans4ever]

I saw this article just prior to the post - found it funny the RD bags everything AFL as inferior to the AFL - but when the NRL starts using an AFL owned company then it's ok - very funny!

[Raiderdave]

I saw this article just prior to the post - found it funny the RD bags everything AFL as inferior to the AFL - but when the NRL starts using an AFL owned company then it's ok - very funny!

I saw a post of yours

& the spelling in it ... & have have not stopped laughing :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

[ParraEelsNRL]

Fair dinkum, is this the joint dumbarse dan gets all his info from?

[NRLCrap1]

I saw this article just prior to the post - found it funny the RD bags everything AFL as inferior to the AFL - but when the NRL starts using an AFL owned company then it's ok - very funny!

I saw a post of yours

& the spelling in it ... & have have not stopped laughing :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

"have have not stopped laughing"

Don't call anyone on spelling when you do things like this, Dave!

[Fred]

Lol