2011 Rugby World Cup [R]

Discussion in 'Rugby & Aussie Rules' started by yankee_rob, Jun 18, 2010.

  1. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is really good to see! I wonder what games will be on NBC? I would say the Russian game is a must for NBC.

    http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/international/RWC_on_TV.shtml

    RWC on TV

    Rugby World Cup matches will be broadcast on US network television for the first time after the International Rugby Board announced that NBC Sports and Universal Sports have been awarded the exclusive rights to the 2011 tournament in New Zealand and the 2015 tournament in England.

    The groundbreaking deal, announced by IRB Chief Executive Mike Miller in New York Thursday, will see the final of each Rugby World Cup broadcast on NBC and Universal Sports network as a key element of a multi-platform approach that will ensure unprecedented television and digital media coverage in the United States of all 48 matches from rugby’s premier event.

    Under the deal, NBC and Universal Sports has also committed to broadcasting other key matches from each tournament, while live and delayed match video will also be accessible at www.universalsports.com and on Universal Sports’ mobile platforms.

    Universal Sports’ and NBC Sports’ match coverage will feature a studio pre-match show, halftime and post-match reaction and all the action will be broadcast in high definition.

    IRB Chief Executive Mike Miller said: “Today’s announcement represents a significant milestone in the development of rugby in the United States.

    “NBC and Universal Sports are globally renowned for quality broadcast delivery of major sports events in the United States and their considerable experience and passion for sport will deliver the widespread platform for Rugby World Cup to truly capture the hearts and minds of American sports fans.

    “The announcement further underscores the sport’s rapidly growing profile in emerging rugby markets, further accelerated by the IOC’s decision to include Rugby Sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.”

    Universal Sports Chief Executive Officer David Sternberg said: "This is a very significant rights acquisition for Universal Sports, especially given the growing popularity of rugby around the world and in America.

    “We are delighted to be partnering with the IRB for the Rugby World Cup and other top events, and we look forward to showcasing global rugby, at its highest level, for our audiences across all of our platforms—television, online and mobile.”

    The deal enhances Universal Sports’ commitment to rugby in the United States and reflects growing interest in the sport following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to include Rugby Sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

    The network has also broadcast the US College Sevens and the Churchill Cup this year, bringing rugby to the attention of more sports fans across the country than ever before.
     
  2. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/national/NBC_Makes_Huge_Commitment.shtml

    NBC Makes Huge Commitment

    US audiences can look forward to unprecedented national television and digital media coverage of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup tournaments.

    Universal Sports Network, NBC Sports, and the International Rugby Board (IRB) have announced a partnership agreement to televise RWC games in the United States.

    “This is a huge step in the right direction for USA Rugby,” US Rugby CEO Nigel Melville said.

    “A major broadcast partner will create a number of new opportunities for the sport, raising rugby’s profile in America, as well as allowing supporters to follow the Eagles on their road to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.”

    The Rugby World Cup is one of the largest and most avidly watched sporting events in the world, drawing an estimated 4.2 billion viewers worldwide during the last championship in France in 2007.

    Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, LP, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related sports programming on television and online.

    Universal Sports is available in more than 63 million homes, including all of the nation’s top 10 DMAs: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington, DC.

    Recent expansion includes launches in Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Denver, Portland and Jacksonville.

    Go to UniversalSports.com for a complete list of TV markets.
     
  3. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    http://www.rugbymag.com/news/international/rugby-world-cup/nbc-news-huge-for-american-rugby.aspx

    NBC News Huge for American Rugby


    By Alex Goff

    The news that NBC will cover the Rugby World Cup is significant for the sport in the USA in a number of ways - not least of which is that for the first time since 1995 American rugby fans won't be waiting until the last minute or jumping through hoops to see the games.

    IRB CEO Mike Miller, and NBC Universal's David Sternberg. Ed Hagerty photos


    After being held hostage to a certain extent by pay-per-view-obsessed Fox Sports, RWC fans will get to see games on NBC-proper, live, and they will get to see every game (sometimes replayed repeatedly) on NBC Universal, their cable outlet.

    Universal shows mostly skiing, track, cycling and various winter sports, and has been successful with those events. They have expanded into international hockey and now rugby.

    What's also significant is that the IRB chose NBC even though ESPN was rumored to have offered more money. Why? Exposure. ESPN is, remember, the network that bumped USA v. Canada from ESPN to EPSN 2 in the middle of the game last summer. ESPN would have shown almost all of its Rugby World Cup coverage online on ESPN3. Still better than some previous RWC coverage, but not network TV either.

    The IRB, say observers, avoided going for the quick buck for better exposure for the game.

    And, of course, this will give more exposure to the game. Fans feel all rugby needs is to get in front of American eyeballs on a regular basis, and the coverage of the Rugby World Cup, along with the Churchill Cup, CCI 7s and other events, will do that.

    IRB CEO Mike Miller told RUGBYMag.com's Jackie Final Thursday night that “relief” wasn’t necessarily the right term for his reaction in finding a reputable broadcaster for the American public, but that “extremely exciting” was more appropriate.

    "If rugby is going to grow in the US, then you need a good organization behind it in USA Rugby; a good product, the Rugby World Cup; and good media partners who can let viewers see for themselves why this game is so exciting," Miller said. "In the past, we’ve had pay-per-view, been in clubs – but now we’ll be in homes. NBC knows how to do it. They’re not just going to show you the games. They’re going to get people into the sport, the personalities of the players, and help people understand.”

    In the years since Fox Sports World became Fox Soccer Channel and moved away from rugby, a few stout fellows have carried the banner for televised rugby in the USA. Setanta was one (now much of their satellite and online coverage is with Premium Sports) and MediaZone (now RugbyZone) did it online.

    Gary Zenkel, NBC's Executive VP of Strategic Partnerships, was involved with MediaZone and wanted to purchase the entity before InterMedia took it over.

    Describing himself as a rugby evangelist, Zenkel said "Universal Sports is for the passionate sports fan, and NBC Sports is about spreading that passion to everyone else."

    Rugby fans in the USA have been waiting a long time for someone with broadcast clout to say that.
     
  4. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    http://rugbyamerica.net/2010/06/18/theres-work-to-be-done-and-you-can-help/#comment-254

    There’s Work To Be Done and You Can Help


    As the excitement dies down from yesterday’s big announcement, reality sets in and the aftermath shows that there is still work to be done.

    NBC’s and Universal Sports agreement with the IRB to broadcast the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups is a potential windfall for the sport of rugby in America. It is one of the most exciting announcements in memory and will put rugby in the homes of millions of American sports fans.

    The crux of the situation is that, in reality, Universal Sports is not being carried by quite a few providers across the nation. Including Dish Network and DirecTV, two of the largest dish providers in America.

    NBC and Universal’s coverage of the entire tournament will also carry over to their online viewing outlets where everyone will have additional access. But, wouldn’t you rather watch the rugby on your big screen in all its HD glory?


    You know you do.

    No doubt, NBC and Universal Sports are diligently working the negotiating table to get Universal Sports on every carrier in the United States, but we can also do our part to help the matter.

    If you head over to www.universalsports.com and scroll down their front page, there is a zip code locator on the right hand side. Plug in your zip code, your provider name, and see if you have access to the Universal Sports channel.

    If you do… awesome!!! Make sure to check out the Eagles/France A game tomorrow afternoon.

    If you don’t have it, Universal provides a form to fill out that is automatically forwarded to your provider stating your desire that they carry Universal Sports. Real easy, takes a minute, and if enough voices are heard, maybe we can help those negotiations along a little faster.

    So, get to it and tell your rugby loving friends too. If we’re lucky, every household possible will get the opportunity to see the 2011 Rugby World Cup from their own living rooms.
     
  5. Onyewu Power Station

    Jul 5, 2009
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    oh wow this is amazing. watched the games delayed on setanta in 07 wasnt the best.
     
  6. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Cueto's disallowed try put a damper on the game IMHO.
     
  7. Onyewu Power Station

    Jul 5, 2009
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    any idea how many games will be on nbc? gotta bitch at directv to pick up universal now. i think they picked up universal before, for the olympics maybe.
     
  8. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    At the moment NBC will broadcast two including the final, Universal Sports will be about 20 (tbc) and Universalsports.com will broadcast all the matches.
     
  9. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=21197962

    Team Management in NZ

    USA team management reportedly is scheduled to visit Wellington this week to check out facilities and preparation for Rugby World Cup 2011.

    Eagle head coach Eddie O’Sullivan and manager Tristan Lewis are due in Wellington on Wednesday, June 30.

    The visit continues a long and interesting tradition of US sporting links with the area.

    Strong ties between the US and New Zealand were forged during World War 2 when thousands of American troops were stationed throughout the Wellington region before and during their bloody campaigns in the Pacific.

    Camps and facilities were set up around the city of Wellington.

    The US team will train at Newtown Park during RWC 2011, on a ground that has historical links for them, just down the road from other sites with US sporting associations.

    Eagle players will train near the site of Newtown Park’s former basketball hall. The hall was built by American GIs during WW2 with a sprung wooden floor – previously unheard-of in New Zealand at the time – to address a lack of suitable venues for their beloved game. The hall was destroyed by fire in 1999.

    Wellington provided a welcoming temporary home as the Marines prepared for war in the Pacific – and convalesced after battles.

    They came to New Zealand at a time when the country was most vulnerable to invasion by the Japanese, and gave locals a sense of security when so many New Zealand servicemen were fighting on the other side of the world.

    A plaque in Frank Kitts Park commemorates the Marines’ stay in Wellington and reads: “To the People of New Zealand – If You ever Need a Friend You Have One”. That friendship endures through sporting links today.

    Acting Wellington Mayor Ian McKinnon said: “The city will be offering the team the chance to find out more about local wartime and sporting history, and looking at ways to involve the community.

    “We want to celebrate this very special relationship during RWC 2011 by providing opportunities to strengthen those ties.”
     
  10. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66001I20100701


    Grassroots rugby approach crucial to U.S. development: coach

    WELLINGTON | Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:04pm EDT

    WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A burgeoning collegiate rugby competition and adoption of the 'Argentine model' could help the United States improve their standing in world rugby, according to coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

    "I was working for the Eagles back in the '90s and went back to Ireland after the 1999 World Cup," O'Sullivan told Reuters on his whistlestop visit to New Zealand to inspect training and accommodation facilities for his team at next year's World Cup.

    "In the 10 years I was away from the game in America it certainly changed for the better and it's got stonger and has a better structure.

    "The (big) difference between the '90s and now is that the collegiate programs are getting much better, there are more of them (and) a lot of those players play their first game of rugby at college. They may have been (American) football players at high school but begin to play rugby in college.

    "So those collegiate programs are very, very important (because) a lot of those players come out of the collegiate program and go straight into the Eagles."

    Irishman O'Sullivan added the collegiate system, was "something Americans understood", which was creating more interest in the sport, with a recent collegiate rugby 7s tournament being broadcast live by NBC.

    "That got a huge reaction because it's easy to sell collegiately.

    "Teams like Cal-Berkeley, Utah, Notre Dame -- they're easy to sell to the American public because they're marquee colleges.

    "Whereas trying to sell a club to America is tough -- no-one knows about clubs, but they all understand the collegiate system."

    The United States are currently ranked 15th in the world and qualified for the World Cup after beating Uruguay over two legs. Their appearance in New Zealand will be their sixth World Cup.

    GRASSROOTS APPROACH

    O'Sullivan said USA Rugby was taking a grassroots approach to growing the game with development programs in high schools and at junior level "but there will be a bit of time before that pays off", and the game was also still concentrated in areas that had a rugby tradition.

    "It's like pushing a rock up a hill. Sometimes it's two steps forward then it rolls back a step," he said.

    "The big difficulty is financial, we don't have a professional game ... (even) Russia has a professional league ... so if we could achieve that it would be a huge step forward but we don't have the money for that."

    O'Sullivan expected his World Cup squad to be split evenly between the domestically based amateur and internationally-based professional players and the short-term goal was to adopt the model used by Argentine rugby officials and attempt to get more of their players professional contracts overseas.

    "Our route forward at the moment is to get our players overseas and follow the model Argentina used," he said before adding the union had put player profiles and highlight reels on the video sharing website youtube in order to market them.

    "It's a hard sell at the moment, because most teams in Europe will look to the southern hemisphere for a finished product rather than look to American player.

    "But we are working hard to change that."
     
  11. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    I wonder how the mainstream US sports press will react to Rugby's World Cup.

    Let's see them try to call Rugby the same names they used to call soccer.
     
  12. Onyewu Power Station

    Jul 5, 2009
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    rugby on network tv in full hd will be absolutely glorious. hope nbc shows more than a couple games.
     
  13. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Hopefully the couple of games that they do show will be the US's matches.
     
  14. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    One match will defo be the final. The other match is likely to be the USA vs. Russia game. It would be huge to get an Eagles victory on network tv....fingers crossed.

    My guess would be that all the Eagles matches will be on Universal Sports, however if the ratings are promising as in the case of the Collegiate Sevens and Las Vegas Sevens maybe NBC will pickup a few more matches for the 2015 WC.
     
  15. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Agreed! The US press knows that they won't be able to accuse rugby of the same things that they have been accusing soccer of the past 30 years, so they will respond by not covering the sport all.
     
  16. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    ... but if NBC is covering that on their main channel, how will they be able to ignore it?
     
  17. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Of course NBC won't be able to ignore rugby....I wasn't really talking about NBC, Fox Soccer Plus etc. It was really aimed towards newspaper sports journalist who have torn soccer apart for the past 30 years in the US, but with rugby I just don't think they will cover the sport.

    I hope I am wrong, but maybe it will the exact opposite. We will see.
     
  18. MattXG

    MattXG Red Card

    May 17, 2010
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Well Rugby is a distant second in almost all soccer nations.

    For America, Rugby is about 6th on the team sport depth charts.

    It goes:

    Football
    Baseball
    Basketball
    Hockey
    Soccer
    LaCrosse
    Rugby

    Its hard to care about a sport that far down the depth charts. Furthermore, Rugby is a lot like football but with fewer big, dramatic moments. It'll have a real hard time finding traction in America, I'm thinking.
     
  19. Onyewu Power Station

    Jul 5, 2009
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    why?

    i have no problem following football and rugby here in california. gridiron is inferior to rugby in so many ways, some top class exposure will convert some people and thats all you need. the usa would never host a world cup, the usa would never have their own football league, blah blah blah....
     
  20. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Only time will tell. In the mean time how much rugby have you watched or even played. Give it a try, you might just love it like a few of us on this message board.
     
  21. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Another interesting development from Nigel Melville's blog.

    http://nmdirect.blogspot.com/

    Women's Rugby World Cup Provisional Broadcast Dates

    As mentioned in an earlier blog, I have been trying to get the Women's Rugby World Cup broadcast on Universal, although not finalized yet, it has emerged that only two of the women's RWC matches that will be fully produced will be England v USA and the Final.

    The games will be slotted both be on a same-day delayed basis as follows (Eastern Time): Saturday, August 28th 7:00 PM England vs. USA and Sunday, September 5th 8:00 PM Final. (To be confirmed)

    Its a shame that more games are not produced to the required standard, but thanks to Universal for making the effort - I know its not been easy to set up the various feeds and overcome production issues.

    I will update when I know more.
     
  22. JoeTerp

    JoeTerp Member

    Jul 9, 2007
    USA
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    I wonder if NBC would be interested in showing any of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
     
  23. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    Joe unfortunately rugby league is a completely different sport with a separate governing body etc. I wish rugby was one code but it isn't, so it would be down to the Rugby League world governing body or the AMNRL to do a deal with NBC/Universal not the IRB, USA Rugby or USA Rugby Sevens LLC.

    However, to be fair the only reason that Rugby Union is on NBC is because it is in the Olympics in 2016.
     
  24. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    http://www.nmdirect.blogspot.com/

    Universal to Broadcast Women's Rugby World Cup

    American sports fans realize the importance of the relationship between sports and mainstream media coverage. That is why we are all delighted that NBC/Universal will broadcast two matches from the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC).

    Universal Sports will be carrying two matches from the upcoming WRWC this August. The first Women’s Rugby World Cup match will be USA against England which will be broadcast on Universal Sports on August 28th at 10:00 PM EST. The other match will be the WRWC final which can be seen on September 5th at 10:00 p.m. EST.

    The agreement to show women’s rugby on network television follows last month’s exciting announcement that the 2011 and 2015 the Rugby World Cups will be broadcast in the United States. I am delighted that we have been able to make this happen, it is the start of an exciting new partnership for USA Rugby.

    When the USA takes on England, it is sure to be a hard-fought grudge match as the English handed us our only defeat in the last WRWC in 2006. The Women Eagles finished the tournament in 5th place as England went on to lose in the final against rugby powerhouse New Zealand.

    If the Americans make the final, it will mark their fourth appearance in the tournament’s biggest match. The Eagle Women won the first WRWC in 1991, defeating England 19-6. In 1994 and 1998, the American women competed in the final but lost to England and New Zealand respectively.

    This year’s competition is hosted by England and a majority of the matches will be held at Surrey Sports Park, a part of the University of Surrey located just outside London.

    This is another step forward for us on the broadcast of rugby in the USA, its a shame that more of the games could not be broadcast, but the tournament is only producing a limited number of games, it would be nice to think that the Eagles will be playing in both games being broadcast - Go Eagles!
     
  25. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: 2011 & 2015 Rugby World Cups to be Broadcast on NBC/Universal Sports

    http://rugbyamerica.net/2010/10/27/nbc-world-cup-2011-promo/



    NBC World Cup 2011 Promo


    Posted on October 27, 2010 by RugbyAmerica

    If the wait for the 2011 Rugby World Cup wasn’t long enough already, here’s a promo video from NBC and Universal Sports.

    Earlier this year, NBC and Universal Sports locked down rights to the 2011 & 2015 World Cups and are now prepping for a massive buildup and unprecedented coverage of the event.

    While detailed coverage plans for the tournament have yet to be released, early notifcations indicate that NBC/Universal Sports will broadcast every game of the tournament in some form… whether that is via NBC, the Universal Sports Channel, or through the Universal Sports online precense.

    The bottom line is that we are going to receive the most comprehensive coverage ever seen on American soil for the Rugby World Cup.

    It is going to be glorious!


    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoNzbDJanhU&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoNzbDJanhU&feature=player_embedded[/ame]
     

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