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Early dealing to begin for NRL rights

Negotiations for the next NRL rights are set to begin twelve months earlier than expected.

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It’s game on for the next broadcast rights deal for the NRL.

The Australian reports Australian Rugby League Commission CEO David Smith phoned the bosses of Nine and FOX Sports yesterday to give formal notification that he will kick off the process next week.

He also contacted Seven and TEN networks in what is being described as a surprise move to blindside the AFL.

The move is twelve months earlier than expected.

By contrast the AFL Commission decided to wait for TEN’s future to be clarified to maximise competition tension and get the best possible deal.

Nine recently sold touring arm Nine Live which positions it well for assets and the network has always seen Live sports as essential to the success of Free to Air television.

NRL last secured a $1.1bn contract in 2012 with Nine, FOX Sports.

22 Responses

  1. If they are breaking up the various components, eg h&a, origin, tests, I can see Ch7 making a play for Origin as it wouldn’t clash with AFL. However the flipside of that is Ch9 would pay bugger all for the tests.

  2. Adelaide viewers are annoyed for not having live Games on GEM. Channel 9’s NRL Coverage has worsened a bit especially during the NRL Grand Final where Perth, Adelaide viewers miss out the Presentation. I feel that Nine will walk out NRL as well as cricket rights at the end of 2017.

  3. So if the tv rights are getting a billion plus, how come half the clubs are financial basket cases? Clubs don’t own their own grounds, Leagues clubs prop them up via poker money. Where’s all the tv money going?

    1. The money is staying with the NRL at this stage. Many clubs don’t have leagues club support. If the clubs run out of money, they just go to the NRL for either a loan (e.g. Dragons) or get them to bail them out and take over (e.g. Titans).

      I would argue that the clubs aren’t getting a fair share of the TV rights and the NRL is holding it on and using it as it sees fit.

      It is an interesting model to say the least.

  4. I know ten are in a tough financial position but if ten do not get any nrl or afl rights in the next few years I cannot see them surviving They have to give people a reason to watch and the fact Is currently ten is not considered by many as ten is not part of there viewing habits even though some shows are ok. Obtaining major sports tv rights is the difference between life and death for ten!!!

    1. Agree. It is vital Ten bids for the rights. Ten need a major sport to attract viewers. Hamish McLennan did mention the importance of sport recently so lets see if he was serious.

  6. Nine has always considered Live sport essential to Free to Air success yet one of its three games every single weekis delayed – unless of course you live in QLD, a rugby league heartland, then all games, up until round six, are delayed. Nine has three channels at its disposal so delayed telecasts are inexcusable as is not telecasting at least one game a week in HD.
    Nine have become complacent. Time for a shake up. A stipulation needs to be all games are broadcast live. It’s 2015 for goodness sake.

  7. I don’t care if its TEN, Seven, ABC or SBS but anyone but Channel Nine please! They have ruined the game and are living in the dark ages. Friday night is disgraceful in this digital environment where you could play both matches live on 2 channels and then replay the games after. We need a new direction for the game.

    1. We can rule ABC and SBS out as they can’t afford it. Ten would want a slice of the NRL probably in conjunction with Foxtel. Ten would want Auckland Nines as a lead in to their BBL coverage which may happen before the rights deal begins in 2018. Foxtel would want State of Origin live rather then a replay.

  8. What is to stop a combination of Nine, Seven and or Ten joining up so as to lock Foxtel out and show all games live every week? The key for the future of FTA is live and local, as TV series and movies no longer work on FTA and reality at long last is losing its shine, thankfully!

        1. And going further back, AFL back when it was VFL was shared by Seven and the ABC. And NRL when it was NSWRL was shared between Seven/ABC and then Ten/ABC.

    2. Let’s hope not. I’d stop watching the game if it was only on FTA and in SD. It would be great if they did a deal similar to the AFL with some games on FTA in SD and all on foxtel in HD.

  10. Please don’t be Channel 9…Please don’t be Channel 9…we need a fresh change – commentators especially. A bit better direction would be good too as some of the pictures don’t show us what’s actually happening on the field.

  11. A report also said Nine could lose its exclusive rights, as NRL is considering splitting the rights up meaning Nine could be left out in the dark with only the rights to NRL matches. Auckland nines, State of Origin and Test Matches may end up being sold separately. Ten have expressed interest in this area before and Nine don’t want a par of the Auckland nines which could end up being on a rival network like Ten

  12. One thing I agree with Nine is ‘Live sports as essential to the success of Free to Air television’. Hope Seven and in particular Ten bid hard for this.

  13. Don’t think it was intended to blindside the AFL, more just to ensure Seven isn’t sidelined financially like last time. The removal of the f&l rights makes the NRL rights changing hands or being split a real possibility.

  14. What channel 9 need to do when they get the rights is use go and gem and show Friday night games, some Saturday and Sunday games, because not everybody in the country has Foxtel

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