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New NRL channel coming as FOX Sports confirms multi-year deal

All NRL games to air on FOX Sports from 2016 under a new deal, and a new channel from 2017.

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Foxtel will launch a dedicated NRL channel from 2017 following confirmation of a multi year deal for NRL rights.

FOX Sports gains all Rugby League games Live on FOX Sports from the 2016 season, including five matches per round exclusively, for the next seven years.

The deal will ensure:

· Every game up to the grand final live, in high definition and ad break free during play on FOX Sports from 2016;
· The retention of Super Saturday games;
· A new family friendly game time slot on Friday nights from 2017; and
· A dedicated NRL channel from 2017.

Foxtel Chief Executive, Richard Freudenstein, “I’d like to congratulate News Corporation, Telstra, FOX Sports, Nine and the NRL for having reached an agreement that will ensure the best possible coverage of rugby league for its fans.

“FOX Sports has always strived to create the best viewing experience and, with the certainty of a long-term arrangement, they will continue to invest in brilliant coverage of the code.

“Ensuring that all games are available live from next year is a great outcome, as it will mean that Foxtel customers can watch their team live, ad break free in brilliant HD every week.

“NRL has always been an important part of our sports line up and we are sure that this deal will make Foxtel even more attractive to current and potential customers. At $50 per month the Foxtel sports package will be even better value for money.”

Nine will receive $20 million per annum in return for agreed simulcasts (other than the State of Origin and the Grand Final).  Nine and FOX Sports have also agreed with the ARLC to move the delayed Friday night game to a live Thursday night slot (for 18 weeks in 2016 and 23 weeks in 2017).

For the 2018 to 2022 seasons, FOX Sports will simulcast Nine’s matches (other than the State of Origin and the Grand Final) and Nine has given rights back to the ARLC in respect of the Saturday night match (licensed to FOX Sports).

6 Responses

  1. Best news I have heard in weeks! Especially given we’ll get all games live and in real HD starting this coming year and not when the next contract starts. Will be interesting to see whether the non-Fox Sports games will have their own commentators like Seven/Fox Footy do for the AFL. Will also be interesting to see what will happen when the NRL dedicated channel launches (e.g. will it replace an existing Fox Sports channel, what will its name be given fans of NRL and AFL both call them “footy”, etc.).

    1. Yeah. No need to watch nine if you choose to have fox sports except for origin and grand final. Patrick Delaney indicated that fox sports may also have their own commentators which would be great. No need to put up with Gould or warren.

      1. That’s only if you live in one of the five metro cities. If you live in the country then I’m willing to bet the season will start before the network affiliates are able to launch the HD Nine feed. Besides, if you aren’t a HD subscriber than it is likely you are not that interested in HD picture and more so in the program itself, and therefore are better watching the Fox Sports feed as it will have no ads and potentially less whining from commentators.

  2. “NRL has always been an important part of our sports line up
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    hmm not what Murdoch said when things were not going his way he said we prefer the AFL over the NRL!!

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