LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The NRL's recent event in Las Vegas was a success, but Channel 9 faced criticism for not having commentators call the game live from the venue.
While Fox League had a dedicated team calling the games from Allegiant Stadium, Channel 9 opted to have their commentators call the action from a studio in Sydney.
This decision led to backlash from fans on social media, who felt that the commentary did not match the excitement of the games taking place in Vegas.
Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield called Channel 9's decision "inexplicable" and criticized the network for not providing the same level of coverage as Fox League.
Leading analyst Steve Allen warned that calling games from a studio could harm viewer trust and connection to the broadcast.
He stated, "Trust and a feeling you are not being short-changed is very important, especially for a subscription-based streamer.
Why pay for second-rate and incomplete coverage?" Despite the criticism, Channel 9 defended their decision, with Peter Psaltis from the network providing commentary for 2GB radio at the event.
The controversy surrounding Channel 9's coverage in Las Vegas has sparked debate about the importance of providing high-quality, live commentary for major sporting events.
It remains to be seen if the NRL and Channel 9 will make changes in response to the backlash from fans and analysts.