0/5

New $275m Rugby deal for FOX Sports / TEN

Updated: FOX Sports and TEN confirm mega Rugby Union broadcast rights.

2015-12-17_0117

The Australian Rugby Union has reportedly secured a new broadcast rights deal worth more than $275 million.

Updated: The deal will see FOX Sports continue all Live Wallabies domestic Tests, New Zealand and South Africa domestic Tests, the expanded 18-team Asteron Life Super Rugby competition plus The Rugby Championship.

FOX Sports is also the exclusive broadcaster of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC), and will also continue to broadcast the New Zealand and South Africa domestic competitions, the Mitre 10 Cup and Absa Currie Cup.

TEN will simulcast all Wallabies domestic Tests, the Bledisloe Cup, and all matches played by the Qantas Wallabies in The Rugby Championship.

TEN will show a full replay of one Super Rugby match per round each Sunday morning with a start time between 8am and 11am and a one-hour Super Rugby highlights show each Monday night.

TEN will also broadcast full replays of all Asteron Life Super Rugby finals matches featuring an Australian team.

FOX Sports CEO, Patrick Delany said: “It’s an exciting time for Rugby in Australia. The Wallabies’ RWC fairy-tale run has reignited Australia’s passion for the sport and FOX SPORTS will be the place to take Rugby forward.

“As the foundation partner of the Super Rugby, we have been there from the beginning and our commitment and investment has been instrumental in securing the future of Rugby and helping Australia return to a powerhouse force again.

“With an expanded Super Rugby competition, a highly-anticipated Test series against England at home, plus a growing domestic competition in the NRC, the future is bright for the sport and we are excited to continue as the home of Rugby in Australia.”

TEN CEO Paul Anderson, said: “The new agreement strengthens and extends our commitment to Rugby and will bring more great matches to fans across the country.

“Rugby is a vital part of our premium sport content on Network Ten. We are delighted to be expanding our partnership with the Australian Rugby Union and FOX Sports to ensure viewers get the best possible coverage across all television.

“The Wallabies are on fire at the moment and we’re very excited about being part of their journey and success over the next five years,” he said.

15 Responses

  1. Who watches domestic rugby ,the crowds are terrible the ratings would not be any better ,it’s only the wallabies that garner any interest,,talk about desperation times at Foxtel , they lost the EPL which have a huge following ,packed crowds every time an EPL teams comes to Australia, Foxtel caught napping and now are desperate for content . No EPL you’ve lost me Foxtel.

  2. What about the Spring Tour matches? Will Ten be able to show those which have been on free-to-air in the past? I’m pretty sure the anti-siphoning list covers all Wallaby test matches both at home and abroad.

  3. Channel 10 should show every Wallabies test Live in HD. They should also televise 3 Super Rugby matches each week Live plus all the Finals and Grand Final.

    1. Ratings would be worse than ‘the Shire’ when it was on. With the exception of the World Cup when Australian is going well, yawnion ratings are pretty awful. I’m not a yawnion fan, but that is the reality of it. A-league ratings are the same, despite the popularity of soccer with kids playing and internationally.

  4. I’m not a Union fan but I really thought given how FOX Sports have dealt with the ANZ Netball, NBL and A-League the FTA Super Rugby match would be live. Maybe FOX Sports and TEN are too scared that a live match would now seem to imply TEN got it easy thanks to Foxtel’s investment? I know the live games of each league mentioned aren’t necessarily rating well but I’m sure live would rate better than delayed. Nevertheless, all seems to be a good outcome for FOX Sports – undoubtedly Australia’s sports leader.

          1. ABC primary channel will get HD in June. SBS & Nine primary channel already have this in crystal clear HD. Not sure about Ten & Seven but let see what happens.

Leave a Reply