The Australian Rugby League Commission has today announced a five-year broadcasting agreement with Nine and Fox Sports that will invest $1.025 billion in the game.
Full release from ARLC:
The largest agreement in Rugby League’s history delivers national television exposure across all games, advanced scheduling, increased programming, and leaves the Commission free to pursue further significant broadcasting revenues in New Zealand and through mobile and other on-line properties.
Both Fox Sports and Nine have committed to ensuring that viewers across the country will experience new technologies that bring NRL fans closer to the game than ever before.
“The whole package is a simply fantastic result for Rugby League,” Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman, Mr John Grant, said after signing a formal heads of agreement this morning.
“The cash that comes from the agreement, used wisely, will provide the funding base for sustainably growing our game from the grass-roots to the elite levels.
“The agreement around scheduling answers the request from our clubs and corporate partners for certainty and the inclusion of national coverage will see our fans across Australia able to enjoy their Rugby League.
“Of great importance, and a factor that played heavily into the Commission’s final decision, is the release by News, Fox and Nine of their rights over future ‘first and last’ agreements.
“It reflects the positive spirit of the negotiation process and allows the game greater control in determining the value of its assets in the future.”
The agreement was signed this morning following several days of intense negotiations with representatives of all commercial television networks.
The formal negotiation commenced with Nine and Fox Sports in February this year.
A meeting of the Commission yesterday evening empowered the negotiating committee to sign a formal heads of agreement with Nine and Fox Sports which was executed at 9.50am today (August 21).
The agreement includes:
The Nine Network will broadcast:
Fox Sports will telecast:
Nine and Fox Sports will provide coverage of The Four Nations Tournament;
· The first 20 rounds of the Premiership will be scheduled in advance of the season;
· The final six rounds will be scheduled at Round 16;
· Both Nine and Fox Sports will work together to stage two player development academies to train players in media presentation.
Nine Network Managing Director, Mr Jeff Browne, said that the network was over the moon at renewing its long and proud association with Rugby League.
“Nine’s Rugby League telecasts have won international acclaim and are fundamental to Nine’s Wide World of Sports brand.
“We are the gold standard in sports coverage and are delighted to bring the great game of Rugby League to our loyal viewers across the country as the exclusive free to air broadcaster.
“We have outstanding technical people, commentators and a team of experts who live and breathe Rugby League and they are passionate about achieving even higher standards in the next five years.”
Fox Sports Chief Executive, Mr Patrick Delany, said that the rights agreement would be a win for viewers across the country:
“This agreement secures a fabulous line-up of matches for Fox Sports subscribers.
“Super Saturday and Monday Night Football have become a way of life for Rugby League fans and Fox Sports is determined to make that experience more exciting and more interactive than ever before.
“Rugby League is a part of Fox Sports and Foxtel’s DNA and we are delighted to be able to continue bringing the live action to households across Australia every week.”
While celebrating the agreement with Nine and Fox Sports, Interim ARLC Chief Executive, Mr Shane Mattiske, said that there are still further opportunities in broadcast rights for Rugby League:
“As significant as this agreement is there are still substantial broadcasting properties yet to be negotiated.
“These include our New Zealand television rights and our mobile and website properties.
“It is too early to put a figure on these but certainly the value of the overall broadcasting package is going to increase, as will the opportunities that fans have to experience Rugby League.”
Mr Grant added that the negotiation process had underlined the confidence that all parties saw in the future of Rugby League:
“It’s been a difficult, complex and at times stressful process and we appreciate the confidence all parties have shown in our game by the innovative proposals they’ve put to us for consideration.
“From the Commission’s perspective we ensured that we engaged the right people to assist us in Greenhill Caliburn and that business-like approach has paid some real dividends.
“Interim Chief Executive Shane Mattiske and his team have been outstanding throughout the whole negotiation as have the other Commissioners – Ian Elliot as Chair of our Broadcast Sub-committee and Jeremy Sutcliffe and Gary Pemberton and our legal advisors.
“I think the entire game is entitled to feel proud of what has been achieved. It is a great tribute to the players and the clubs and the important thing now is to maximise the opportunities we now have for the future.”
Additional notes from The Roar:
– The Grand Final has shifted to a nighttime grand final with a 7:15pm kick-off as mentioned above.
– 3x Thursday night and 13x Sunday night games.
dynamitedave
Guest
2 years on. NO COVERAGE EACH NIGhT ON 94. plus they don't have 94 where I live...
John Speer
Guest
So what I want to know is will the non free to air games be streamed live to Big Pond customers? I do have a Tbox but don't want to subscribe to Fox Tel . Is this going to be true or do I need an App or something help please.
Meesta Cool
Guest
There is no such thing as free, You watch the game, the sponsors pay big money to advertise during the game, This cost goes on to their product, you go shopping, you pay for Free to air TV.... daily!.
Vic
Guest
Now with all this money the clubs can ditch their dependence on poker machines, gambling and alcohol.
marco
Guest
very poor result for league fans. If 9 wanted to help grow the game , they would of negotiated for more games on FTA. And show more live games. The NRL didn't get as much as they thought the game was worth. The figure should of been higher if the sport is to grow. There is a lot of competition out there.
Robbo
Guest
I have not read in the nonsense garbage statement that any game on Ch9 is live. Sunday arvos have never been live. From what I have read NRL got a lot of money but there is nothing different to what we have now as far as viewing goes. I asked a question last season as to why TV channels who claim they are televising live can be up to half hour behind and not be pulled into line. Go the almighty dollar AFL "LIVE" on free to air is the way to go.
Chui
Guest
Apologies if I missed it, but there was mention in an earlier post about fixed scheduling. Does this refer to who plays when? Does it mean that Nine and Fox no longer dictate which is the Friday night game etc. I hope so. It would be nice for a better equal share for all clubs of the most watched time slots. Chui
The Link
Guest
If you are a RL fan, your club just got financial security like no other time in its history. Many people got it in their heads that the negotiation of TV rights was in order to get rid of 9. No, it was to get the best deal for the game. Funding for the game was the no 1 issue facing RL. It overrides all other concerns at this point.
The Link
Guest
Well on TV revenue RL is no longer in anyone's shadow in Australia. Final deal should come in around $1.1b. The game has now finally released the shackles of 1995.
The Link
Guest
Good post. Let it never be said again that Rugby League's last TV deal was what the game was worth. News on both sides of the table always saw RL getting unders. Get rid of News and bingo, the true worth of the game is revealed. To get over 100% increase with no expansion, 70% fixed scheduling and no first and last rights for News is a great deal for RL. With on line and NZ to come final package should be $1.1B. Well done Rugby League
The Link
Guest
'underwhelming' Yeah, over 100% increase in TV revenue, fixed scheduling, News no longer first and last rights holders. If this is underwhelming I wonder what average is? This is a fantastic deal for Rugby League.
Matt
Guest
$100/year outside australia you can watch nearly all games live through nrl.livesports.tv Inside Australia, $700 a year foxtel for you buddy. Oh, and you only get 5.
Matt
Guest
Anything outside of the US is hard. They have TV shows, music etc. Companies here have no idea how to license, or they want 3x the price etc. Hell, I had an iPad app with access to all the summer cricket games (or most, maybe it was all except tests) through vodafone last summer. $10. All apple devices have airplay so you can stream it to the TV if they allow. It really is all simple stuff.
Hamish
Guest
I assume that the Nine increase will mean ad breaks during the gameas they have foreshadowed
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Aflhype, This post is proof that your comments on rugby league threads are as much drivel as they are on AFL threads. Channel Nine is a great business that makes plenty of money. Rugby league on Nine gets advertisers to give channel Nine money to show their advertising spots. Whether or not Channel Nine's owners owe more than they can repay is irrelevant to this.
aflhype
Guest
Will channel Nine owners still be around then? What happens if the wheels fall off Nine - is the contract void? There is a lot of debt to be refinanced soon by Nine, wonder if that $90m advance can be clawed back if this situation was to arise? The limit has been reached for these broadcast deals - Fox has got 20,000 more subscribers over 6 months since taking on a AFL channel and all games live - hardly a stellar result (and that is assuming they all signed up for Fox Footy). Did not think they would make that mistake twice by setting up a NRL only channel. These are games played in some Australian states to a limited market , they are lose leaders for the networks. Watch the next deal as in 5 years the landscape with NBN and broadband will be different, the AFL is planning for this I wonder if the NRL is? Take the money and plan for the future, do worry about the rest, the game will never grow outside of NSW or QLD you are dreaming just like the AFL is (even the TV networks know this by splitting the TV rights nearly equally). Face facts it is a local game with no hope for international expansion and evey now and then someone in another state may watch a SOO game until the novelty wears off, which won't be long.
Emric
Guest
Its good for Australia it means that the NRL and AFL can go head to head .. time to open up duel clubs in all AFL controlled states
oikee
Guest
It will improve, they dont get alot for the rights now, 20 million a year, 10 million, something like that. The point is the 1 billion, mate that is massive. 150 % increase on our last deal. That is confidence behind the code. Our last deal was worth 500 million over 6 years, so 5 years we got 415 million. We now have 1 billion plus. So only 5 million off a 150% rise. With a 20 million from NZ and maybe close to 30 million for Telstra, thats another 50 million a year to sink into NZ and Perth and Melbournew juniors, without having to eat into the 1 billion. That is huge for our code, massive. We wont have to prop up expansion teams when they come on line, not now. Every man and his dog will be wanting to join league now. Tony Sage in Perth, and Clive Palmer in Brisbane will want a team. The code is flying.
oikee
Guest
Thanks, luck, i might need some luck against Manly, they are a damm good side. To be honest, if the Broncos beat Manly they need to hold a inquiry. :) The Broncos could not beat my grandma with a big stick, they are hopeless. The halves.
Emric
Guest
Oikee SkyNZ Ratings have been pretty poor for Rugby League I don't think Skys going to be overly interested in funding a lot of money out to the NRL for a product which is not rating that well in NZ.