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Report: Optus not interested in Rugby Australia rights

With Optus out of negotiations, Foxtel and 10 look to be front runners for broadcasting rights.

Optus is unlikely to be a contender for Rugby Australia broadcasting rights with reports it has not formally expressed interest in a revised broadcast rights package, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Although it was on the brink of securing a deal earlier this year, that was before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Network 10, currently the free-to-air broadcaster for the Wallabies matches, did submit a formal expression of interest but sources have indicated it is looking to pay less than its current $3.5 million a year (former 10 CEO Hamish McLennan is now RA chairman). Amazon declined to comment on whether it was involved.

This likely leaves FOX Sports sitting in pole position. Foxtel has broadcast Super Rugby since its inception in 1996, and remains interested in rugby – particularly Super Rugby and Test matches.

An Optus spokesperson said, “We don’t comment on rights, either current or future.”

4 Responses

  1. I’m not surprised, I can see why.
    There’s really nothing big about it, sorry to say but the Ratings are very poor and one of the lowest of all.
    The only Sports that really attract Huge Audiences/Fans is the NRL, AFL and Australian Open Tennis..!!

    1. To improve ratings they need to stop changing the Super Rugby format every year and maintain a somewhat consistent match schedule each week. The Big Bash appears to have fallen into the same hole.

      1. The NZ rugby schedule is quite busy every year, NZR include their provincial club rugby coverage and domestic test series as a financial imperative.
        With South Africa excluded from any Pacifika series proposed by NZR, Australia needs to sort out its own agenda, whether this will fit into an attractive broadcast deal that includes NZ teams we shall need to wait and see, I don’t see Foxtel wanting two separate franchise rugby series competing against each other.

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