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New NRL channel, every game on Fox Sports in $1.8 billion rights deal

27th November, 2015
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John Grant will now head up the RLIF. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
27th November, 2015
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A new, dedicated NRL channel and simulcasting of every single NRL game live are the two key components to the newly-announced rights deal for the code.

After months of negotiation, Foxtel, Nine and the NRL have come to an agreement about the structure of the new rights deal, which will begin to take effect from 2016 onwards.

Foxtel, News Corp, Telstra and Nine have all come together as part of the deal.

The deal is worth up to $1.8 billion over five years, with the radio, overseas and New Zealand rights still to be sold.

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman John Grant said that the deal is set to be worth over $1.9 billion. Telstra remains the naming rights sponsor for the league.

Nine has on-sold its Saturday NRL fixture to Fox Sports, meaning the Super Saturday item will remain in Foxtel’s repertoire, and Channel Nine will have three live games every week.

Monday night football is still on the cards for the 2016 season, and Thursday night football will start from next season as well.

The last five Saturdays of the season for 2016 will also see a night game broadcast on Channel Nine.

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In 2017, things will shake up even further, which will see a Friday night game broadcast on Foxtel at 6pm, with Nine to broadcast Friday night football at 8pm.

The new NRL channel will simulcast eight games every week. Telstra will remain the mobile rights holders while Nine has streaming rights for games.

John Grant said the agreement was “a great day for rugby league, and a great day for the fans.”

“We have delivered the very best outcome for the game as a whole,” he said.

“In revisiting the number of free to air games in this agreement, we were responding to the value both Nine and News Corp Australia saw in the Saturday game. Compared to our current schedule, this result still means more games live and free for our fans and gives grass roots and elite clubs and organisations immense financial benefits,” he said.

“The ARL Commission has been working on a revised schedule to incorporate the 18 Thursday night games in 2016 in conjunction with the television rights negotiations without increasing the number of five-day turnarounds for players. This will be released this afternoon,” he said.

CEO of Nine Hugh Marks hailed the result.

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“This is an outstanding result for the game with more live and free coverage for NRL fans from 2016.

“Nine has always placed enormous value on its strong media partnership with Rugby League and that will only grow over the next seven years. Our quality coverage of NRL games will this year be complemented by the NRL Rookie – just one of many ways we seek to expand and enrich our fans’ experience on free to air.”

“This is a truly outstanding deal that will, for the first time in the history of the game, give fans live coverage of every game each round,” News Corp Australia chief executive Peter Tonagh said.

”It’s a big win for the fans and a big win for the clubs, and News is delighted to be a part of it.”

Fox Sports CEO, Patrick Delany, said it was a good deal to have each game on Fox Sports “This is the best deal for the game, for the fans and for Foxtel subscribers.

“This breakthrough deal will ensure fans get to see their NRL team live in action every week up to the Grand Final on Fox Sports without ad-breaks during play and in high definition.

“In another huge win for the sport, Fox Sports will launch a dedicated 24/7 Rugby League channel in 2017, giving fans what they have been asking for.

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“This new deal would not have been possible without the support of Channel Nine and the ARLC. And together, with our digital partner Telstra, we will deliver the most dynamic NRL coverage to fans than ever before,” Delany said.

When asked about whether this deal vindicates the NRL in their contest with the AFL for rights value, John Grant said the following:

“We don’t see it as competition (between the codes) we see it as giving fans the access they need for the right price.”

The official terms as set out in the statement are included here:

Under the new package:
– Telstra Premiership matches will be held five days a week in 2016 – from Thursday to Monday inclusive – before reverting to four days a week (Thursday to Sunday) in 2017
– From 2017 the Monday night game will be moved to Friday at 6pm
– Nine Network will telecast games live and free to air on Thursday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoon in 2016
– FOX SPORTS will show all eight games every weekend – including five exclusive telecasts each weekend.Super Saturday, featuring three live games, will be retained by FOX SPORTS.
– The last five Saturday night games of each season will be telecast on free to air television in the build-up to the Finals series
– From 2017, FOX SPORTS will run a dedicated Rugby League channel – giving the game more exposure than any time in the game’s history
– News Corp Australia will use its local media and newspaper resources to promote the game wherever it is played
– And it will use its worldwide resources to take NRL on to the global stage where we believe over time its incredible appeal will see an army of new fans emerge
– Telstra will remain the naming rights partner of the NRL and will telecast the game digitally on its mobile network as well as replays and highlights on its new Telstra TV platform in 2016.
– Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman, John Grant said the package was a win for all the game’s stakeholders and especially its fans.

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