Thank God
The Herald reports:
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has agreed to a joint bid by New Zealand broadcasters to screen 2011 Rugby World Cup games.
Would have been a nightmare if they had not. I suspect there was some high level diplomacy. We’ve probably agreed to give the IRB Directors rights of first refusal on mining national parks 
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Tags: Rugby World Cup
December 8th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
If the Springbok/Wallaby filled Barbarians defeat is an indication, it could be a bleak World Cup for NZ if McCaw or Carter or both are out with injuries.
Just a pity non-Sky TV customers will then find it hard to avoid all the foreign rugby.
Still the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new and modified grandstands from Auckland to Dunedin will be useful for capacity crowds once or twice in the next 50 years.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
After all this, NZ better win the bloody thing.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Who cares? the only people concerned about this are the bludgers who profess a love of sport but do not have SKY TV
The RWC will be a national embarrassment anyway, I particularly enjoy the bit where the Pacific Island team (aka the All Blacks) exit the tournament earlier than their arrogant supports would have liked.
An early RWC exit just makes talk back radio all the more interesting, it is hilarious to hear all the pissing and moaning from small minded Kiwis who think that the All Blacks define us as a nation.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
big bruv – thems were fightin’ words.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Diplomacy ? You mean money. The IRB is only interested in the money no doubt they have got a concession on the loss sharing or some other commercial venture.
Must have the public all pumped up for the election that will surely follow within weeks of the final.
Tell me again about TVNZ being a commercial focus and not being a public broadcaster
December 8th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
A massive slap in the face for anyone who wants to accuse John Keyless of doing nothing for NZ.
Good work, John. You deserve a holiday.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
I’m disappointed for Maori TV. Their initiative is being cashed in on by the Aussies at TV3 and TVone who excluded MTV in the first failed bid. I hate draws in rugby. A clear winner should’ve been picked and Maori TV have a right to feel they were cheated at the end of the game by the opposition whc had the ref in their pocket.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
And Lisa Lewis will be picking them up from the airport