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With all this talk of TV deals I have one question. What ever happened to the ARU TV deal?
More than a few months have passed since we heard news about the new TV deal for Australian rugby worth around $40 million. But it was only ever an outline and there has not been an official announcement.
This was to include all games shown live on Foxtel with the possibility of Channel Ten playing a replay or a highlights show on a Sunday.
What was interesting to note was that the increase in the value of the product actually came from a bidding war taking place in the UK between Sky Sports and BT Sports, who are hungry for sports content.
The question that this raises is if there was a TV deal brokered with Foxtel and Channel Ten then why was it not announced at the time? Was it that the deal hadn’t been done?
Obviously there are two possible answers.
First, a deal has been done and the ARU is waiting for the right timing. If that is the case then any deal that is announced by the ARU, even if it is $40 million a year, is going to sound like the ARU are selling Mi Goreng Noodles when compared to the $2.5 billion deal the AFL have struck.
The second possibility is that no deal is yet in place. If there is no deal signed, does the NRL’s snubbing of Fox Sports add value to the ARU deal? As a rugby fan who wants to see Australia’s best rugby talent stay at home let’s hope so.
Whatever TV deal the ARU do end up making let’s hope it includes at least a little bit of free-to-air content. And maybe the perfect time for the ARU to officially announce their flash new TV is just after the World Cup, when interest in rugby will be at its peak.
What do you think, Roarers? Can the ARU do better then $40 million?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.