Freelance Propaganda

Rugby, Rugby, Rugby, Oi, Oi, Oi!

I just managed to catch the Australia vs Argentina open game of the Rugby World Cup. We won. But not convincingly enough, I’m afraid.

Now you’d think that in the “500 channel” universe of US Digital Cable TV that you’d be able to see the third most watched sporting event in the world (after the olympics and the Soccer World Cup). But no. It is only being broadcast by Sentana on teh old C-band satellites, which cost over $300 plus the pay per view fees. And there are no pubs within 250 miles of here that have subscribed to it. Does anyone want to suppor the US Eagles, reigning Olympic Rugby Champions? (They won the one time that Rugby was in the Olympics, around 1908 I think).

Or you can go the Fox World Sports route and see some of the games on a 3-day delay. 3 days! Some of the games? And they won’t even tell you which ones. That would cost over $50 a month anyway.

So I was thinking that I’d need to go north young man and hit Canada but luckily through the wonders of the Internet you can watch all 48 games as many times as you want for $US 24.95. Only downside is that they are on a 24 hour delay. But the streaming tech (Real Player) works fine, with just three lock ups in an 80 minute match, streaming full-screen and stereo sound. Also NBA (No Bloody Ads).

So I’m a happy little waltzing matilda. As long as we keep winning!