"Why wouldn't they be on every Friday night in Brisbane?" Gyngell said. "We just bought the game.
BRISBANE Broncos will have Friday night fever for the next five years, with Channel 9 boss David Gyngell adamant his "huge cheque" for the $1.025 billion TV rights buys him the schedule of choice.
Gyngell wants and will get a prime-time Sunday night grand final and Wednesday Origin matches.
In a record-breaking deal for rugby league, Nine and Fox Sports yesterday signed a five-year contract worth $925 million in cash and $100 million in contra advertising.
The value for the NRL rights will be greater than the much-vaunted AFL deal once arrangements are concluded for New Zealand TV, radio and online.
League fans will rejoice over the move to have fixed scheduling for the first 20 rounds.
But the reluctance to broadcast Sunday games live, the continuation of a delayed second Friday night game and a 7.15pm grand final kick-off will anger many.
Gyngell was unapologetic over his demands, adding he would like the Broncos to play every single Friday night because it sold best in Queensland.
"I don't care (if the Broncos don't want it), they're going to do quite well out of the money they're going to get from the deal, aren't they?
"I sit here unapologetically, when you pay this sort of money, to have the games you actually have to put programming into slots that you can commercialise.
"We are broadcasters, we are not narrow-casters. Majority wins with us but niches don't always win.
"What the facts are is more people want to watch their local games and then can watch the second game later."
Brisbane's Friday mortgage does not sit well with everyone.
Broncos chief executive Paul White will appeal for a "variety" of home games when the NRL seeks 2013 scheduling requests.
"Like we've always done in the past, we will strongly request for a variety," White told The Courier-Mail.
"It is the time for our club to make a statement that, like always, we will be strongly in there pushing for a variety in our scheduling which will hopefully attract and suit the needs of our current members and new members."
Gold Coast chief executive David May said he would lobby to increase the number of Titans games on Friday nights, which had fallen from 11 (in 2010) to seven this year.
He wants at least "eight or nine" Friday games but added the preference was for weekend home games to help build crowds and for the Coast to maximise an expected growth in travelling fans as a result of the fixed schedule.
"It's a double-edged sword Friday night games. Some would be great but equally there are some games I'd rather avoid Friday night," May said.
"The 20-week (fixed) schedule I personally believe benefits the Gold Coast the most. If away fans are going to pick one game to go to, I think they'd come to the Gold Coast."
Ideally, Cowboys chief executive Peter Jourdain wants Friday night away games and Saturday evening home clashes. "Certainly we would like a fair share of free-to-air games," Jourdain said.
"Saturday night still works best for us (at home). Generally speaking it's better for us to have a timeslot that allows people to travel from the wider region into the games."
IF you thought the NRL TV negotiations were tough, it will be nothing compared to the fight to split $1 billion among the clubs and the players. Sports editor-at-large Phil Rothfield shows how to spend it.
INCREASE salary cap - The NRL has doubled its income from media rights but has committed only $600,000 more to the salary cap next year. Clubs were told the $4.4 million cap would be raised to $5 million next year with the new TV money. Players, their union and agents will lobby for a much bigger share. No one suggests all the TV money should go to the players but there will be an aggressive move for far more than the $600,000. The NRL is also looking at paying players $1500 match fees outside the cap to stop clubs giving all the increases to the stars. Many players have delayed extending contracts until salary details have been thrashed out.
INCREASE club grants - The early indication is that club grants will rise $4.35 million to $5.05 million next year. It would be the first time the grant from headquarters exceeds the salary cap. Again, the clubs and the powerful chairmen's association will fight for more. "They (NRL) get a 100 per cent increase so we should be getting more than a 15 per cent lift in our grants," one club official said. While all stakeholders were celebrating the windfall yesterday, there is a fear the fight could get ugly.
SAVE country football - Country rugby league is dying because it's been underfunded for years. Playing one meaningless City-Country match is not going to save bush football. There is a huge opportunity now to take at least six full-on NRL games to country towns. Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, Mudgee, Coffs Harbour, Lismore, Orange - it doesn't matter where. Fans of Sydney clubs can now plan a weekend away in the country to watch their team play.
SIGN a new CEO - Now for the hard part, ensuring the $1 billion is spent properly. The game needs the right man to make the right decisions - and not just hand it all out to the clubs. Compared to AFL, the NRL has been badly understaffed for years. More money needs to be spent on a bigger and better administration. It needs to improve its PR and be more open in its planning.
INCREASE Origin payments - The series generates over $30 million in revenue but the 34 players share only $2 million, about 6 per cent. After tax, retirement fund payments and tickets for family and friends and jerseys, the stars are lucky to walk away with $3000 a game. Players complained about the payments this year and there was even talk of a strike. Their association and managers are pushing for match fees of up to $50,000 per game. Officials baulk at that because it will provide another incentive for Kiwis to turn their back on the New Zealand jersey to cash in on Origin.
JUNIOR development - John Grant admits the game has run on the smell of an oily rag for too long. The AFL and its GWS Giants are off to a slow start in Sydney's west but they are here for the long haul. The NRL has to use the extra funds to be as visible in schools and juniors - not just in Sydney's west but in areas such as Wagga Wagga where the AFL has made big inroads.
REFEREES shake-up - More money has to be spent on improving the standard of refereeing. Even small things like putting high-definition screens into video referee boxes will help them get more decisions right. There should be a referee recruitment drive to get more young officials involved.
MEMBERSHIP drive - The NRL gets $20 million a year in contra with Channel Nine and Fox Sports. It needs to be spent on driving club membership, the fastest-growing area of the game - and it needs to continue.
