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.
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.
“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.
“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.
FRR
Guest
Really were did they say that? Show us your source?
DB
Guest
Actually NSW and Qld make up 52.1% of Australia's population but account for 55.8% (58.4% if Tas and regional WA are excluded) in the released TV ratings which is 5 city + regional. You complain that just the 5 city ratings as being bias towards the AFL but of the 5 city ratings 49% live in NSW and Qld showing that the 5 city + regionals is just as bias towards the NRL
Mister Football
Roar Guru
That's how I initially read it as well - but that's big money - surely they would be making it very clear that there is something like 17% more money in the kitty - but apart from the early speculation - I haven't heard boo about it.
Brian
Guest
And that's with the AFL manufacturing their success through cap concessions, same thing with the Lions back in the 2000's. How actual AFL fans (read, people from Melbourne) can sit back and watch the AFL give sides a leg up is beyond me.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Why the NRL may get its money from Sky: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11467422
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
Good stuff always near the mark. Well here we are and I wasn't wrong. I remember all the arguing I did with some of my frenemies. And like I mentioned could have been more lucrative again if Smith didn't punt himself. This is a good deal for fans and the game, balanced and ticks all the boxes bar maybe 1 or 2. Ppl can't expect more and it blots out the sun along with afl, those are funds sports can use best.
Kirk
Guest
You do realise that 55% of the population lives in QLD and NSW? It's why League rating get such a massive boost after you add regionals. The populations of NT, TAS and any regional areas of WA and SA are very tiny. Regional QLD has 2.5 million people.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
MF, I think the extra 2 years & $300 million we hear about could be compensation to the NRL & Nine for bringing forward the TV schedule in 2016-17. Next year we will have Monday & Thurs footy, so I would imagine the NRL being compensated for that. The matches will all be live on fox even the Nine games (from what I read) hence Nine would need to be compensated by Newsltd. That's how I read it?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
With the new 6pm Friday kickoff possibly a carrot for the New Zealand market via Warriors games on every Friday, I would think an increase in NZ TV rights a possibility.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
In today's Australian the breakdown is given in this article as : "Nine’s investment will amount to $625 million for the five-year agreement, News Corp will invest $1bn and Telstra $175m for the digital broadcast rights" http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nrl-can-go-global-says-robert-thomson-of-news-corp/story-e6frg6n6-1227626165641 This means $1.8 billion over 5 years with Telestra to pay further $$$ for naming rights, NZ & International rights will take the amount to $2 billion or more. The financial deal is not over 7 years. The TV schedule has been brought forward 2 years and Fox Sports are compensating Nine for the changes and I'd imagine the NRL would receive compensation for having a Thursday & Monday game atm
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If you have little or no money for grassroots to cover insurance,promotion ,marketing ,expansion into other states,the constant exposure for the game is undermined. in an ideal world of course maximum exposure and money is the answer. Correct fans are the most important ingredient,but they won't sit in archaic stadiums,pay exorbitant prices for food,and watch their top players poached by other codes simply because they earn better money elsewhere. The choice is balance in any negotiations,all parties want top come out with some reward and they accept they will have a loss or two. At least we get 3 live FTA now,instead of 2 live and one on delay at snoresville hours.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
You need fans and exposure to grow the game. Just ask Super Rugby, A League and NBL
Lionheart
Guest
Banter? In NRL? Right.
Lionheart
Guest
The press release and reports said they expected revenue to rise from $1.8bil to $1.9 bil with radio and international rights. That gives an idea of NZ rights, which is part of that ēxtra $100 mil.
peeeko
Roar Guru
gee, you dont sound insecure at all. stick to rugby
peeeko
Roar Guru
incorrect, more teams and longer games 27 hours per week instead of 16
marco
Guest
Will the similcast games on fox have ads? With the anti fox sentiment in league land, they had better get it right or customers will drop off. 3 live games over 3 days per week on FTA will be enough for many fans. 4 FTA games, as originaly trumpeted as big win for the fans, would of been better. Thats one big broken promise. Not many journo's talking about that. Its all about the money.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
It still means the consumer (read us) has to pay for content. ie: coverage on fta. I understood the original deal was giving free to air coverage to the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum. Looks like the little man gets shafted once again. They told us there would be four fta games each week. What changed? I'm a realist but I find it obscene when news ltd are able to do whatever they want.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
You need money to grow the game.just ask the AFL. The reason the NRL has stagnated growth wise is due to lack of funding.
DB
Guest
I'm not taking Sydney out of the market just the overpriced TV ad revenue which is about 35% more than Melbourne's despite having equal TV viewers.