Graham Lowe: League should be free-to-air

Last weekend's NRL delivered an entertainment value on television that I doubt has been matched by any other sport this year.

And whatever Sky TV are paying the NRL for the rights to broadcast it to New Zealand, they are getting it cheap when comparing it to some other sports.

The 2009 NRL season has once again produced a sporting entertainment package that is the equal to, if not better than any other sport on television globally.

It should be remembered Sky built much of its success on the back of league.

And thinking about it makes me wonder why the government-owned TVNZ is not aggressively chasing the free-to-air rights for the NRL.

The average bloke in the street should not have to pay to watch the highly entertaining NRL on TV.

TVNZ have rarely got behind league and it is a shame. They could do a great job with this product. They'd win the hearts of a great many viewers and lift their own brand or image.

However what must be kept in mind is that if it wasn't for a former TVNZ director of programming and his vision of league's future, even the Warriors probably wouldn't be here today.

John McCready was the man who was responsible for the broadcasting of the Winfield Cup on TV2 in 1991.

That was when the phenomenon of league on television started.

The shrewd McCready lured one of Australia's leading TV sporting broadcasters to front his new idea.

The knowledge, slickness and timing of Graeme Hughes as a commentator propelled league into the living rooms of New Zealand.

Hughes also set new standards for commentators of all sports in this country.

He alone gave league an image of professionalism that generated a popularity in New Zealand that had never been seen before.

It was a big gamble for McCready and also for Hughes who turned down a lucrative offer from Channel 9 in Australia to help deliver the game of league to the sporting nation here in New Zealand.

Television now owns sport and there is not much that can be done about it. But like many in New Zealand, I question why we have to pay for it.

We should be watching it live on free-to-air television courtesy of our government broadcaster.