The National Rugby League (NRL) is on the verge of finalizing an unprecedented television rights deal valued at up to $5.5 billion over seven years, a move that positions it ahead of the Australian Football League (AFL) in terms of broadcast revenue. The agreement, expected to be ratified by the Australian Rugby League Commission this week, will run through the end of the 2034 season.
Under the terms of the reported deal, Channel Nine will retain free-to-air rights, while Foxtel will continue to broadcast every match on pay television. Nine is slated to pay approximately $150 million annually, with Foxtel contributing around $520 million per year. This financial arrangement would see the NRL collect roughly $750 million each year.
The total value of the deal could swell to $5.5 billion if a 20th franchise is established in New Zealand, which would allow for 10 games to be played each week. Foxtel will hold the rights to broadcast all games, with the option to sub-license some matches to Nine. This differs from the current arrangement, where Fox broadcasts every game and Nine shows three matches per round.
The competitive bidding process reportedly attracted interest from streaming giant Amazon, which was said to be keen on acquiring rights for two matches per week. Channels Seven and Ten also expressed interest, though the NRL leadership aimed to maximize offers from multiple bidders.
Channel Nine is anticipated to retain exclusive rights to broadcast the Grand Final and the State of Origin series. Reports also indicated that Nine made a significant bid to secure streaming rights for its Stan service in addition to its free-to-air coverage.
This substantial injection of funds into the NRL is expected to lead to an increase in the salary cap, potentially resulting in higher pay for players. The deal is seen as a major victory for NRL supremo Peter V'landys, who has publicly stated his ambition for rugby league to become Australia's premier football code. V'landys has previously drawn comparisons between NRL and AFL initiatives, suggesting the NRL leads the way in innovation.
