How long is the current Super League contract with SKY?

And what would happen if they decided not to bother with Rugby League any more? and decided against renewing the deal.

Until the end of 2016.

The same as if Sky pulled out of football, cricket, rugby union, darts etc. Another broadcaster would take it up on largely reduced terms.

It'd stop people asking this question.

It almost seems worth it.

We would all be watching Rugby Union instead.

No we wouldn't. It's still sh|te

Despite the regular panic on this subject, why would sky pull out of the sport with their second highest viewing figures? which they pay significantly less for Than either football or rugby union. Sky should be begging the RFL to sign deals on these terms. This is so unlikely its barely worth a theoretical discussion.

What do you think would happen?
What would you want to happen?
And how likely do you think it would happen?

What would happen if my Auntie had testicles?

She'd make a fortune on the after dinner speaking circuit?

The following would happen*, in this order:-

1 - We'd try to get another deal for the same money.
2 - If we got a deal for roughly the same cash, things wouldn't change much.
3 - If we got a deal for less cash, the sport would contract.
4 - If we couldn't get a deal at all, the sport would contract massively.

*if Sky did one, I'm unware of the impact of impact your Aunties new balls may have on professional RL in this country.

Some jealousy on the part of certain players who's balls have been lost to the sport?

TBH, the loss of one of the biggest revenue streams into the sport would seriously harm the game as a whole. There would be those club's who's sugar daddies would keep them ticking by, but it would likely mean the other clubs reverting to semi-pro status.

That does not mean, however, that I feel the RFL should be going cap in hand to SKY when the contract comes up.

To be honest being from Yorkshire I'd be more shocked to find she hasn't

1.3 million off the income column would destroy half of SL immediately.......the likes of Bradford, Salford, London, Wakefield, Castleford, HKA and Widnes would see between 20-35% of their income gone in a flash.....not many of their current owners would be keen to double their investment in the hope that supporters would continue to attend games.
You may end up with an 8 team Superleague made up of Wigan, Leeds, Catalans, Warrington, St Helens, Hull FC, Huddersfield and Toulouse, all backed by wealthy owners with strong business plans in place.....5 year licences with the leage expanding to 10, once those outside have found their footing as semi-pro and put together full independently audited business plans in their applications.

I'd give the BBC or any of the other FTA channels for that matter, free TV rights for 2 years, then once the ratings are seen to be good and growing,put them on the market for no less than 20 million a year.

Before I get fans of clubs outside this new set up whining, this is just hypathetical......I have no doubt that "your club" would be better placed to be in this new league, but in reality, the clubs named above are all pretty much heading in the right direction whilst the first group are at best treading water if not teetering on the edge.

If the RFL wanted to continue insisting on expansion in the south east/London, then THEY would need to own that franchise until it was self sufficient and an attractive proposition to potential investors.