NRL announces record $5.3 billion rights deal
Updated . First published at
Nine will remain the home of rugby league’s biggest moments after the NRL signed a record-breaking $5.3 billion TV rights deal that makes it Australia’s most valuable sport.
The deal, which will see games broadcast on free-to-air television and on Foxtel, will last for seven years until 2034.
The NRL is set to announce a multi-billion-dollar rights deal that will see the code remain at Nine and Foxtel. Getty Images
Announced by Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Vlandys, the deal eclipses the television rights deal inked by the AFL, making it more valuable than its rival for the first time ever.
Under the arrangements, Channel Nine will broadcast three NRL matches a week, as well as exclusively broadcasting the NRL Grand Final and State of Origin matches, while Foxtel will show every NRL match live except for State of Origin and the NRL Grand Final.
Nine will also have exclusive rights to the Women’s State of Origin, and will also broadcast three NRLW fixtures per week.
Peter V’landys insisted he was not motivated to better the AFL’s rights deal. Dominic Lorrimer
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Speaking at a press conference announcing the deal, NRL chair Pete V’landys said “95 per cent” of the deal was in cash and makes the sport the biggest football code in the country.
“In the past five years we have changed the game, effectively doubling the audience,” he said.
“We are now the most viewed programme in Australia and the Pacific. Don’t listen to what other people tell you - particularly from down south. The deal future-proofs the game for everybody.”
He also said he was happy to see the NRL Grand Final and State of Origin remain exclusively on Nine.
“Fox and DAZN naturally wanted the State of Origin and Grand Final. However, the way it worked out is we wanted it exclusively on Nine to provide Nine with that exclusive content,” he said.
Nine CEO Matt Stanton, far right, said he was pleased to continue the broadcasters longstanding partnership with the NRL. Dominic Lorrimer
“We try to get the right balance.”
V’landys also insisted that competition with rival code AFL was not a primary motivation; their most recent TV rights deal was worth $4.5 billion over the same time period.
“That was never a driving force, I just wanted to maximise… our game,” he said.
He said the new deal would help the NRL grow the game in Australia and across the globe, with the ARLC chairman hinting at grand ambitions: “Who’s to say in 2050 that there isn’t an NRL team in Europe?”
Nine CEO Matt Stanton said he was happy to extend Nine’s partnership with the code.
“Rugby league is one of Australia’s great sporting institutions,and we’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the NRL,” Stanton said.
“Nine are delighted to retain the rights, we’ve had the rights for 30 years... And its really important for us to be the only free-to-air owner of the rights.
The men and women’s State of Origin will be broadcast live and exclusive on Nine. Getty Images
“We’re very, very happy with the rights we have.”
Nine Chair Peter Tonagh added in a statement: “Rugby League is part of Nine’s DNA, and it is one of Australia’s most important sporting and cultural assets, uniting the nation.
“This multi-year agreement is not just a major milestone for our business; it is a testament to the commitment, innovation and passion that has defined Nine’s relationship with the game for decades.”
Who gets what in new NRL rights deal
Channel Nine
- The NRL Grand Final
- All State of Origin and Women’s State of Origin matches
- Three NRL games a week: On Thursday and Friday nights, and Sunday afternoons
- Three NRLW matches per week
- All NRL Finals matches
- All test matches played in Australia
Foxtel
- All NRL regular season matches
- All NRL finals matches, excluding the Grand Final
- All NRLW regular season and finals matches
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