(Thanks to Joel Gould and the QT) – IPSWICH Jets CEO Brad Wolens has hailed the decision to screen the Intrust Super Cup (ISC) on Channel Nine this year as “a massive boost” to the competition.
The ISC match of the round will be telecast live on Channel Nine from 2pm on Sundays in the lead-up to the NRL fixture that will continue to be screened at 4pm.
The ABC had previously screened the ISC match of the round on Saturday afternoons.
“Not only is there going to be greater exposure on Channel Nine for the players but also greater exposure for the club and our sponsors,” Wolens said.
“It is a great opportunity for some of the monies from the advertising in that timeslot to come back into the game and help with the growth and development of the game. We’ve had no financial returns from TV in the past but now we have that opportunity.
“We now get the opportunity to compete against the national youth competition (NYC) on Fox Sports and we have always believed that the Intrust Super Cup is a much stronger competition. We’ll be in direct competition with them at two o’clock on Sunday afternoon.
“I think it is a greater opportunity to attract more sponsorship because we are on at a better timeslot in the lead-up to the NRL on a Sunday where people will have more time to watch it.”
Wolens said the move to Channel Nine would be excellent leverage for the Jets in the quest for another key sponsorship position on the sleeve of the club’s jersey.
“RT Edwards are our major sponsor and Bartercard, Calibre Real Estate and Jets Leagues Club are the other sponsors who will prosper from the extra exposure,” he said.
“Bartercard are above the number on the back. Calibre Real Estate is under the number and Jets Leagues Club is on one sleeve. At this stage we are negotiating with another company for the other sleeve which we hope to fill in the next couple of days.
“Our current sponsors are very fortunate because they are on all of our clothing and branding for a very good deal due to what it is worth now.”
Wolens was excited by the news that Channel Nine would screen the round three clash between Redcliffe and Ipswich at Dolphin Oval. It will be the first time this year Jets fans will get to see their side on TV.
“That will be a big one, especially if it is anything like last year’s match where we won it after the full-time siren. It will be a great one for TV,” he said.
“ABC fought tooth and nail right up until the end. They did a great job and they have been great for rugby league over a lot of years but we all have got to move forward and help make our game prosper so we can do a lot more with the development side of it.
“The players see it as a great opportunity to be on Sunday afternoon before the NRL so they are looking forward to the exposure.”
Jets chairman Steve Johnson said that more people would have the opportunity to watch the game on Sunday afternoons.
“We believe that we have the second-best competition in Australia and the third-best in the world,” Johnson said.
“The ABC presented a good coverage but the audience was around 30,000 people. Going on to Channel Nine in Queensland … you would hope that over 200,000 would tune in to watch on a Sunday afternoon.
“We are a working class game and there are a lot of people who work on Saturdays and had commitments to their kids on Saturdays.”
NINE’S schedule
Channel Nine’s broadcast schedule (up to round 4). Matches below will be live on Channel 9 at 2pm on Sundays.
Rd 1 (March 11): Wynnum Manly v Tweed Heads @ Kougari Oval
Rd 2: Sunshine Coast v Souths Logan @ Sunshine Coast Stadium
Rd 3: Redcliffe Dolphins v Ipswich Jets @ Dolphin Oval
Rd 4: Burleigh Bears v Easts Tigers @ Pizzey Park
‘The players see it as a great opportunity to be on Sunday afternoon before the NRL so they are looking forward to the exposure’