Nine and Fox Sports retain NRL broadcast rights

Channel Nine and FoxSports have retained the broadcast rights for rugby league, with details of the $1 billion, five-year deal expected to be announced later today.
As revealed yesterday by the Herald, the ARL Commission received formal bids from all the major networks on Friday and the negotiating committee led bu chairman John Grant has been meeting since.
Sources have confirmed that the Ten and Seven networks were informed this morning that they had missed out.
The Herald was told that FoxSports will pay $100 million per year, with Nine to pay $80 million.
With the New Zealand television rights also being negotiated, it is understood the deal will be worth more than $1 billion.

Well that sucks. 9 are rubbish.

On my maths $100mil + $80mil per year x 5 years is only $900mil.

I think the $1b was including money from the NZ rights as well as Fox and 9.

Will be interesting to see the final number.

I really hope we dont have everything stay the same. Would like to see all games live on fox.

Under the new agreement, Nine will retain all representative games and three free-to-air matches per week.

Fox Sports will continue with five games per week, including Monday Night Football.

Status quo

This was posted on League Unlimited

FIVE LIVE GAMES ON FOX SPORTS
& DIGITAL RIGHTS FOR FIVE GAMES

INTRODUCTION OF LIVE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
FOR 13 ROUNDS OF THE SEASON

SUPER SATURDAY & MONDAY NIGHT FOOTY REMAIN
ALL IN HD WITH NO AD BREAKS IN PLAY

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really need to get rid of monday night football
cant wait another 5 years of watching the donkeys on friday night

wasn't there talk of thursday and sunday night games?

Absolute Farce, So more of the same from channel Nine, Holding the NRL and its fans to Ransom.

Billion dollar deal secures game's future


NRL.com Tue, Aug 21, 2012 - 11:30 AM

The Australian Rugby League Commission has today announced a five-year broadcasting agreement with Nine and Fox Sports that will invest more than $1billion in the future of the code.

The largest agreement in Rugby League’s history delivers national television exposure across all games, advanced scheduling, increased programming, key broadcast innovations 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:
» A cash component of $925m, $90m of which will be paid prior to the start of the first season;
» Advertising packages to the value of $100m;


» The Nine Network will broadcast:

» Three weekly matches (two on Friday and one on Sunday);
» Three Thursday evening matches over the course of the year;
» A stand-alone Test and City v Country weekend;
» Wednesday night State of Origin matches;
» A night-time Grand Final (7.15pm kick-off);
» The Roosters Dragons Anzac Day matches;
» Two hours of Rugby League content each evening on digital Channel 94 plus two hours of content on Saturday and Sunday morning;
» Nine will ensure that all of its matches are telecast on either the ‘primary’ or ‘digital’ station in each state;
» The Queensland In Trust Super Cup.


» Fox Sports will telecast:

» Five weekly matches across Saturday, Sunday and Monday;
» Thirteen Sunday evening matches (6.30pm) over the course of the year;
» The Storm v Warriors Anzac Day game (other than in 2014)
» Three non NRL matches each week played in conjunction with the Telstra Premiership game (which will be shared between Toyota Cup, NSW Cup and GIO Schoolboys Cup);


» 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

http://www.nrl.com/billion-dollar-d...-league/tabid/10874/newsid/69393/default.aspx

At least we got one thing everyone was after - all the games up to round 20 will be scheduled in advance.

brisbane friday night
sharks monday night

shane_sharks said:

brisbane friday night
sharks monday night

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Gyngell pretty much said Brisbane will continue to get Friday night games. Even laughed at the reporter that suggested it was not fair.

What a disaster.

Good for rugby league's bank balances, but the fans are the losers as usual.

typical
the commission still hasn't done anything yet imo everything is still the same

well that sucks so i have to pay fox $60 a month for the next 5 years just to watch the 4 games that are not on free to air
so does the workout to each club receiving $12.5 million a year

wayhotvt said:

well that sucks so i have to pay fox $60 a month for the next 5 years just to watch the 4 games that are not on free to air

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Become a Raiders fan and you can get some value for money out of Foxtel

We only had 15 out of a possible 144 games over the last TV deal on free to air. I find it funny when they say Broncos don't get an advantage when they get more FTA games each year than some clubs have in 6.

I hope they finally allow the live games to be on Xbox foxtel.

why do you guys keep on blabbing about the Broncos getting Friday night games???? Its for a simple reason , the Broncos rake in more dollars through the gates week in week out every year.... They have the biggest viewing audience in the Nrl due to the number of fan base and Broncos members.... They are also in the top few teams on the ladder every year meaning when your winning games channel 9 wants to capitalise on this.... Do you want more????.... Look to be honest with you guys i would watch any league match every Friday night no matter who was playing just so that i could get my fix for the week.... Anyway we should think ourselves lucky as we have the greatest game of all on every Friday night along with weekend games , and we even get Mondays to end the week on....

king megator said:

why do you guys keep on blabbing about the Broncos getting Friday night games???? Its for a simple reason , the Broncos rake in more dollars through the gates week in week out every year.... They have the biggest viewing audience in the Nrl due to the number of fan base and Broncos members.... They are also in the top few teams on the ladder every year meaning when your winning games channel 9 wants to capitalise on this.... Do you want more????.... Look to be honest with you guys i would watch any league match every Friday night no matter who was playing just so that i could get my fix for the week.... Anyway we should think ourselves lucky as we have the greatest game of all on every Friday night along with weekend games , and we even get Mondays to end the week on....

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Of course brisbane have a big fan base hence being a one town team and being successful
id love to see another brisbane team come in and give them a bit of run for there money also helps being owned by news limited

also the donkeys attract a lot of sponsor due to being on every friday great exposure for those companies isn't it? compared to a team that will be on free to air two or three times a week who would you invest your money in

and 7 days turn arounds for the team is good and helps them get into a routine week to week