Autumn international playing times

Can anyone explain to me why test matches in Europe overlap all the time?

We have only two tests today, and yet they are played at the same time, how daft is that?

I'd guess it's because they're scheduled outside of the International test window.  Regular season club games are back on and broadcasters are likely committed to showing those as normal at their normal times.   Only Wales and England are playing from the European scene, and Wales don't have all their regular players available, not sure about England.

They're broadcast by different groups. Why would they care to not overlap? Surely it's more convenient for the attending fans to have them early afternoon.

Well, there's the answer.

Bugger the rugby fans who would love to see both matches live.

Biltong wrote:Well, there's the answer.

Bugger the rugby fans who would love to see both matches live.

Yep, the arm chair neutral fans should definitely favoured of the saps who pay to go and support the team themselves.

We also have to pay for our subscriptions, you know.

The Loaded Dog wrote:We also have to pay for our subscriptions, you know.

Yep, even the neutrals pay subscription fees that land in the coffers of the broadcasters, even though it goes through a couple of broadcasters

Biltong wrote:Well, there's the answer.

Bugger the rugby fans who would love to see both matches live.

Thank heavens for Sky + (probably owned by Vodacom in SA).

When there are tests in June in the SANZAR countries, or even when you watch super rugby, the matches are staggered so you can watch them all live.

How's your arm chair, mate?

Or do you own most of the sofa during games?

So hard for us convicts. Up early this morning; then some shopping and chores. Beach during the day (that takes a bit out of you in the heat) so I have a small siesta in the afternoon. Then down to the local for a nice seafood basket a few hours ago this evening (watched some A-League whilst there)... and now struggling to stay awake again for kick-off time... 2 hours away.

Me?

No mate, you need to understand my setup first.

I have my entertainment system setup with my 47 inch LCD and when there is cricket or rugby nobody, and I mean nobody bugs me.

My friends and family know, I don't watch sport with others, my own wife and son knows not to talk to me when there is a rugby match on as I don't tolerate distractions when I watch rugby.

I am sorted

Biltong wrote:Me?

No mate, you need to understand my setup first.

I have my entertainment system setup with my 47 inch LCD and when there is cricket or rugby nobody, and I mean nobody bugs me.

My friends and family know, I don't watch sport with others, my own wife and son knows not to talk to me when there is a rugby match on as I don't tolerate distractions when I watch rugby.

I am sorted

Sounds great. I don't get bugged either watching my sport.

If only I was paid for this "hobby" I'd be a much richer man.

The Loaded Dog wrote:

Biltong wrote:Me?

No mate, you need to understand my setup first.

I have my entertainment system setup with my 47 inch LCD and when there is cricket or rugby nobody, and I mean nobody bugs me.

My friends and family know, I don't watch sport with others, my own wife and son knows not to talk to me when there is a rugby match on as I don't tolerate distractions when I watch rugby.

I am sorted

Sounds great. I don't get bugged either watching my sport.

If only I was paid for this "hobby" I'd be a much richer man.

I'd be well of too if that were the case.

HammerofThunor wrote:

Biltong wrote:Well, there's the answer.

Bugger the rugby fans who would love to see both matches live.

Yep, the arm chair neutral fans should definitely favoured of the saps who pay to go and support the team themselves.

It's a shame for the fans at the ground as well. Why should they miss out?
That's why I love the 6 nations. See a match in the pub, perfect to get you in the mood, then hot foot it to the ground to see your team. Or afterwards where it makes a lovely rugby pudding after the main live course!

Biltong wrote:When there are tests in June in the SANZAR countries, or even when you watch super rugby, the matches are staggered so you can watch them all live.

Time zones probably help too...

Yes, I would agree with that.

I aspire to ur setup bilts. One day hopefully. last week me and my mates did manage to get 3 screens on the go with TV laptops and monitor.

The importance in that setup is to control the remote mate, it meant my wife had to get her own TV and DSTV Decoder

It does cost more, but worth it every weekend, best money I spent

Biltong wrote:The importance in that setup is to control the remote mate, it meant my wife had to get her own TV and DSTV Decoder

It does cost more, but worth it every weekend, best money I spent

yeah but what was worse was I knew I could watch the Bok match here delayed after the England match then what happens during the England game? 'Boks 3- Wales 3' flashes across the screen 25 minutes into the match!...how bad is that!? Now I have to watch the match and anticipate when the blue flash is going to appear so I can ignore it.....then...it doesn't appear again! maybe they could have realised they shouldnt show it but aaargh! dumb programming.

I agree it's silly overlapping the matches. When the 6N is on there is (obviously) no overlap as the one broadcaster BBC shows all matches. However, I still can't see why BBC and Sky would choose to overlap these autumn matches - surely they'd increase their chances of more viewers if they coordinated timings to not overlap? What's in it for them by deliberately overlapping?

Greedy broadcasters competing with each other, it happened a fair few seasons back when England done a deal for their home games in the 6 Nations with sky as well.

As Griff said that doesn't happen at the moment because the Beeb have the 6 nations contract.

I remember well (living in Cardiff) watching England games on a tiny telly in the pub because Sky had England games

Still happens now Cyril, was home for the Aussie game that was on the main screens and there was one ickle telly deep in the back room for anyone wanting the England game on

bedford, I normally went to Dempsey's. At least they had a little room at the back for us English

But I still don't get why they'd compete? Wouldn't Sky get more viewers, and therefore more advertising revenue, if they didn't have potential viewers watching another non-sky channel? I would have watched England v Aus if it was on at a different time. I can't be the only one!

I watched both games together using my notebook for the Sky England game. The Wales SA game was so stop start I missed very little including all the forward passes in the England game. Men can multitask!

The Loaded Dog wrote:We also have to pay for our subscriptions, you know.

In Wales you do not pay subscriptions, it is the NATIONAL game and the BBC (Wales) insist it is one of the sports that is free. Bit like that strawberry and Cream affair with tennis in June etc. Imagine if the other two nations SA and NZ who's national games they are were to snub SKY et al and did the same???

I know rw. You get to watch all those losses for free.

The point made above by Hammer was that why should the matches be staggered?
The local "saps" who support the games at home come first (of course) and the convenience of staggering the times so we all can watch both is not in your interest. So be it then. Not really important but typically stingy and short-sighted which doesn't surprise.

All Biltong and myself are saying - we wouldn't mind watching both games live too. I was just playing mind games on the "paying" bit since the Wales-SA match obviously did not involve Australia.

But we do also understand there is a lot of other sport going on at the same time (Premier League) and it was just unfortunate that the rugby matches weren't scheduled consecutively... as they were in the previous 3 weeks, albeit with more teams involved but with still a few games being played concurrently over the 3 time slots.

It's hard to watch 6 or 7 games (over a 6 hour time period) at once we know... but it's worth a try.

The Loaded Dog wrote:I know rw. You get to watch all those losses for free.

And yesterday we got to watch Wales win and Aus lose simultaneously.

The Loaded Dog wrote:I know rw. You get to watch all those losses for free.

The point made above by Hammer was that why should the matches be staggered?
The local "saps" who support the games at home come first (of course) and the convenience of staggering the times so we all can watch both is not in your interest. So be it then. Not really important but typically stingy and short-sighted which doesn't surprise.

All Biltong and myself are saying - we wouldn't mind watching both games live too. I was just playing mind games on the "paying" bit since the Wales-SA match obviously did not involve Australia.

But we do also understand there is a lot of other sport going on at the same time (Premier League) and it was just unfortunate that the rugby matches weren't scheduled consecutively... as they were in the previous 3 weeks, albeit with more teams involved but with still a few games being played concurrently over the 3 time slots.

It's hard to watch 6 or 7 games (over a 6 hour time period) at once we know... but it's worth a try.

Hell yeah and you paid for your's...sorry

Cricket and Australian Rules are our national games, remember?

The Loaded Dog wrote:Cricket and Australian Rules are our national games, remember?

Yeah Cricket you have been knocked off you throne years ago..  Aussie Rules..Go the Swan's  ... I did try but fell asleep because that guy in a doctors white coat kept on getting in the way. OH and that's why you are getting crap at Union

rainbow-warrior wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:We also have to pay for our subscriptions, you know.

In Wales you do not pay subscriptions, it is the NATIONAL game and the BBC (Wales) insist it is one of the sports that is free.  Bit like that strawberry and Cream affair with tennis in June etc.  Imagine if the other two nations SA and NZ who's national games they are were to snub SKY et al and did the same???  

Erm, TV License? Not exactly free.

I've just done a bit of research, lying warrior.

Saw the match for free, did you? What... from Napier? Your roaming charges must be astronomical...

10-0.... 26-10... and  Winless v your Host country since 1953.

You can't Bluff Hill me!

The Loaded Dog wrote:I've just done a bit of research, lying warrior.

Saw the match for free, did you? What... from Napier? Your roaming charges must be astronomical...

10-0.... 26-10... and  Winless v your Host country since 1953.

You can't Bluff Hill me!

Hey you sad excuse for a moderator, ever heard of VPN's (ask your mother OK) try Wizwig.tv for a start, over and abe that you would become dizzy and call for Skippy to come rescue you.... but THAT was pretend

Bluff Hill is lovely mate but I live in Ahuriri, try and have a glass of water and some fresh air now ok there's a good lad

OK.. apologies. Close to Hospital Hill then?

The Loaded Dog wrote:OK.. apologies. Close to Hospital Hill then?

Regardless, you are out of order and I have reported you.

It's already been dealt with.

You're up late tonight.
Maybe you need to get some sleep and recover all of those lost brain cells.

Hey you sad excuse for a moderator

You just have to laugh at these types of comments, they usually indicate the last convulsions of an otherwise useless debate.

Dog, the reason the games were staggered previous was because both Sky and BBC were showing multiple games. To be honest we get complaints throughout the season about broadcast companies forcing matches to be staggered so they show more games and get more viewers. So when this doesn't happen I not going to complain. Certainly not for some furriners not even in the country.

Oh and this has been happening for years. The England and Wales games are usually on the same time in the autumn internationals. Although we're pretty advanced in Hull. We're able to watch one game and record the other

HammerofThunor wrote:Dog, the reason the games were staggered previous was because both Sky and BBC were showing multiple games. To be honest we get complaints throughout the season about broadcast companies forcing matches to be staggered so they show more games and get more viewers. So when this doesn't happen I not going to complain. Certainly not for some furriners not even in the country.  

Oh and this has been happening for years. The England and Wales games are usually on the same time in the autumn internationals. Although we're pretty advanced in Hull. We're able to watch one game and record the other

Hammer Watching one game and taping the other is what i do. But it is hard to watch the second(taped game) when the game you are watching keeps giving you the score of the game you are taping.

It would have been nice if the games were stepped.  But I guess it's a marketing/market share thing and the reason England games go to Sky in the first place.  It's a battle for ratings and if SKY can take viewership from BBC then that's a doubt in the mind of WRU that it's a good deal having their games on BBC.
I guess had SKY both games, they'd have been stepped then...and to hell with fans trying to get to pubs early

BTW - a recording is a recording.  It ain't live.  Live is the fun.