Interesting -



After a nine-week hiatus since the quarter-final draw, there will only be a fortnight before the semi finals as the rhythm of the cup continues to be dictated by the BBC's television schedules. However that will change next season, when the final will be brought forward from late August to June or July to avoid a clash with the Olympic Games, and there is a growing move to make that switch permanent, depending on the outcome of negotiations with both Wembley and the BBC.

(c/o [urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jul/22/hull-takeover-challenge-cup-leeds[/url)

That would make a lot of sense.

Probably won't happen then.

Would like to see it removed from the BBC as i dont think they pay enough respect to rugby league.

I like it, the momentum of the competition totally stops in the big gap.



I still think the first round should be kept as a local draw.

Just to prove your point, has anyone else spotted what will be on BBC1 on Saturday from 5pm i.e. during the majority of the screening of our game on BBC2? An early evening feature filme presentation of Pixar family favourite, Cars. Seriously

Which will get much higher viewing figures than if we were on BBC1.

Isn't it on a government list so that it has to be shown by a free-view channel?

Correct.



[urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ofcom_Code_on_Sports_and_Other_Listed_and_Designated_Events[/url

Thought so.



The viewing rates are often higher for Challenge Cup due to being on BBC but the BBC commentators and camera angles are crap.

i think it's going to be hard for any team to peak for the cup final then again for the playoffs/grand final, my mate stu says we shouldn't bother trying to win either because according to eddie and stevo the wire have already won everything, probably the four nations as well

after all the have won 2 cups

So will the new format mean that SL clubs come in at the last 16 stage instead of as now the 32?

Also will it be a straight knockout or have four pools of four to maintain 5 rounds to boost revenue?