The media work itself into a rabid, mouth-frothing frenzy over the small bikkies like players' nights out and almost entirely avoid the big issues like these systematic News Ltd conflicts of interests. Â Of course News Ltd does control this media through direct interests and associations, don't they? It seems only on sites like this one is there a real opportunity for non-Murdoch views to be freely heard. Viva l'internet.
This is what I'm seeing. Â Correct me if you see differently, but effectively Murdoch directly/covertly controls:
* The NRL
* Gallop
* The NRL Board, and appointments to the NRL board
* Whose reputations are slurred, and whose are enhanced
* Who is on the judiciary (through direct/indirect means)
* Which referees are appointed, and which are demoted
* The ARL (powerless puppets)
* The Managers, administrators, officials, referees, judiciary
* The rules of the game
* Game times
* Both the buyer and seller of TV rights for the NRL
* Two teams, Storm and Broncos, with 100% ownership
* The other teams e.g. through providing double demerits and the like to any clubs who don't toe the party line
* Who has the uneven advantage to win the NRL premiership (i.e Both the Murdoch 100% owned teams dominate NRL premierships. Â Freaky coincidence? Yeah right!).
* Where NRL returns go (into Murdoch/Storm pockets mostly)
* Keeping the game as close to insolvency as possible, insecure, so dependent upon continued Murdoch support, running year to year without carryover reserves.
Hostile takeovers are often euphemistically called "mergers" and there is a superficial appearance of power sharing to keep the plebs happy. Does anyone not think there has been a hostile takeover of the code?
Fans can only regain power when they see the abuses of power, conflicts of interest, etc and revolt, en masse. Â A French revolution is overdue. Is one beginning to build?