Fans will be taken deeper into the Super Rugby inner sanctum with a range of cutting edge broadcast innovations planned for the 2017 Super Rugby season which kicked off last night when the Melbourne Rebels’ hosted the Auckland Blues at AAMI Park.
In a world-first, fans will be able to decipher the play-by-play changes in coaches’ moods, with coaches’ heartrate data and live mics set to give fans a revealing glimpse into the oft-hidden world of the coaches’ box.
Television audiences will be treated to more exclusive access than ever before with coaches’ pre-match team talks, change-room ceremonies, match analysis by the coaches and more player interviews set to provide a richer and deeper coverage of the entire match day experience.
FOX SPORTS will deliver live, ad break free and high definition coverage of every Super Rugby match in the 2017 Vodafone Super Rugby season and Network Ten will broadcast a full replay of one Australian Super Rugby match per round.
FOX SPORTS will complement its extensive on-field coverage with a brand new, dedicated rugby show, Super Rugby: Kick n Chase, premiering Tuesday 28 February. Host Nick McArdle will be joined by a panel of former Wallabies, including Phil Kearns, Stephen Hoiles and former All Black Andrew Mehrtens, plus regular guests George Gregan, Rod Kafer and Sean Maloney to analyse the week’s biggest stories, review and preview each Super Rugby round, and delve into the personalities of some of the biggest names in the game.
FOX SPORTS CEO, Patrick Delany said: “We are committed to bringing fans closer to the game they love than ever before, helping them to understand what’s going on both on and off the field with technology and innovations that bring rugby to life on screen. Our philosophy will be crystal clear in this year’s Super Rugby coverage with a wave of new ideas and approaches on screen only made possible through ground breaking partnerships with the Australian clubs and the ARU. More in-game coverage innovations plus an expanded commentary line-up will see us work with clubs to open the doors into Rugby’s inner sanctum and give fans fresh insight into the game they love.”
ARU CEO Bill Pulver said: “We have some great characters in our game, and this year’s Super Rugby coverage will allow fans to get to know our coaches and players on a whole new level. FOX SPORTS have always been leaders in broadcast innovation, and we’re delighted to be working with them to ensure the 2017 Super Rugby season will be the most entertaining ever for fans watching at home. I have to thank our Super Rugby teams who have really driven this innovative approach for 2017.”
New for 2017 Super Rugby on FOX SPORTS
- Pre-game player interviews during team warm up
- Pre-game team talk with coach mic’d up
- Pre-game and half-time coach interviews from coaches’ box
- In-game coach radio • In-game Coach Heart Rate monitor
- Post-game coach interviews in tunnel/on ground
- Post-game roving player interviews while lapping ground
- Post-game player milestone ceremonies in change-rooms (e.g. 50, 100 caps etc)
- Post-game player and coach interviews in change-rooms/function rooms
