NRL ready to cash-in on TV ratings.

[pussycat]

NRL chief executive David Gallop claims the game has never been better placed to cash in on its increasing dominance of the Australian television landscape.

With negotiations for a new broadcast deal imminent, the NRL on Wednesday trumpeted stunning ratings results as part of its annual state of the game report.

There were increases across both free to air and pay television platforms, with rugby league responsible for 74 of the top 100 most watched programs on subscription television, while the State of Origin series was the most watched sporting event on free to air.

The figures are sure to put the NRL in a powerful position at the negotiating table - with some even predicting they could outdo the AFL's recent $1.25 billion deal.

"Pay television is a key revenue item for us going forward," Gallop said at NRL headquarters in Sydney.

"Live sport is something that everyone knows drives subscriptions in pay television and to have 74 of the top 100 shows, we'll be looking for value for that.

"We expect it to be priced very highly in terms of what it delivers in terms of people wanting to subscribe to pay television because of rugby league.

"The game is the best it's ever been and it needs to be because we're in a competitive environment.

"It's a critical year commercially for the game - we've got some big deals that we're ready to do ... it's a year of opportunity."

The biggest increase in ratings was for Saturday night matches, which received a 26 per cent boost on 2010 figures.

But with the possibility games could be sold off individually or as packaged deals, one timeslot which is sure to attract plenty of interest is Monday night football.

There was a 17 per cent increase in Fox Sports' ratings for Monday night matches in 2011, and there are already murmuring that OneHD could make a play for those games from 2013.

"We expect a contest for our rights across a number of timeslots," Gallop said.

"Monday night - if you look at 17 per cent growth in it - you'd have to be looking at that as a free to air broadcaster and wondering if you could get a slice of that."

Ratings increases were just one of a number of solid results for the NRL, which also produced solid performances in attendances and club memberships, which were up 28 per cent.

Crowds actually dropped by 0.6 per cent to 3.13 million, but they fared far better than some of their competitors with the AFL's crowds down 5.5 per cent, Super Rugby eight per cent and A-League 15 per cent.

[King-Eliagh]

Thanks for the info pussycat. Interesting stats and real god news for league fans :D

Get those sour grapes ready beaussie, its almost time to stuff yourself silly!

What about the drop in AFL crowds! Actually on second thoughts, start chomping em now beaussie!

[Raiderdave]

Yes

this is the sport that got set back 20 years with a dust up at a recent game apparently

& a betting scandal
& a salary cap rort
& the Brett Stewart Scandal
& Greg Bird
& Greg Inglis

yet it continues to set new high levels of popularity each year

gee ... I'd hate to see what it could / would do minus the hickups

[Beaussie]

NRL chief executive David Gallop claims the game has never been better placed to cash in on its increasing dominance of the Australian television landscape.

With negotiations for a new broadcast deal imminent, the NRL on Wednesday trumpeted stunning ratings results as part of its annual state of the game report.

There were increases across both free to air and pay television platforms, with rugby league responsible for 74 of the top 100 most watched programs on subscription television, while the State of Origin series was the most watched sporting event on free to air.

The figures are sure to put the NRL in a powerful position at the negotiating table - with some even predicting they could outdo the AFL's recent $1.25 billion deal.

"Pay television is a key revenue item for us going forward," Gallop said at NRL headquarters in Sydney.

"Live sport is something that everyone knows drives subscriptions in pay television and to have 74 of the top 100 shows, we'll be looking for value for that.

"We expect it to be priced very highly in terms of what it delivers in terms of people wanting to subscribe to pay television because of rugby league.

"The game is the best it's ever been and it needs to be because we're in a competitive environment.

"It's a critical year commercially for the game - we've got some big deals that we're ready to do ... it's a year of opportunity."

The biggest increase in ratings was for Saturday night matches, which received a 26 per cent boost on 2010 figures.

But with the possibility games could be sold off individually or as packaged deals, one timeslot which is sure to attract plenty of interest is Monday night football.

There was a 17 per cent increase in Fox Sports' ratings for Monday night matches in 2011, and there are already murmuring that OneHD could make a play for those games from 2013.

"We expect a contest for our rights across a number of timeslots," Gallop said.

"Monday night - if you look at 17 per cent growth in it - you'd have to be looking at that as a free to air broadcaster and wondering if you could get a slice of that."

Ratings increases were just one of a number of solid results for the NRL, which also produced solid performances in attendances and club memberships, which were up 28 per cent.

Crowds actually dropped by 0.6 per cent to 3.13 million, but they fared far better than some of their competitors with the AFL's crowds down 5.5 per cent, Super Rugby eight per cent and A-League 15 per cent.

Pure propaganda from the Daily Telegraph/News Ltd owners of the NRL. Gotta laugh at the last paragrahp. The AFL gets over 6 million people through the gates each season. Meanwhile 3.13 fudged figures and crowds dropping in the NRL. Hilarious.

And lets wait and see what the NRL gets in the TV deal before blowing trumpets. The AFL has already secured a record in Australian sport $1,253 Billion tv deal. I just can't see the NRL getting anywhere near that figure from their current $500 million deal. TV networks would have to be made to triple their current deal. Mad I tell ya.

[Raiderdave]

NRL chief executive David Gallop claims the game has never been better placed to cash in on its increasing dominance of the Australian television landscape.

With negotiations for a new broadcast deal imminent, the NRL on Wednesday trumpeted stunning ratings results as part of its annual state of the game report.

There were increases across both free to air and pay television platforms, with rugby league responsible for 74 of the top 100 most watched programs on subscription television, while the State of Origin series was the most watched sporting event on free to air.

The figures are sure to put the NRL in a powerful position at the negotiating table - with some even predicting they could outdo the AFL's recent $1.25 billion deal.

"Pay television is a key revenue item for us going forward," Gallop said at NRL headquarters in Sydney.

"Live sport is something that everyone knows drives subscriptions in pay television and to have 74 of the top 100 shows, we'll be looking for value for that.

"We expect it to be priced very highly in terms of what it delivers in terms of people wanting to subscribe to pay television because of rugby league.

"The game is the best it's ever been and it needs to be because we're in a competitive environment.

"It's a critical year commercially for the game - we've got some big deals that we're ready to do ... it's a year of opportunity."

The biggest increase in ratings was for Saturday night matches, which received a 26 per cent boost on 2010 figures.

But with the possibility games could be sold off individually or as packaged deals, one timeslot which is sure to attract plenty of interest is Monday night football.

There was a 17 per cent increase in Fox Sports' ratings for Monday night matches in 2011, and there are already murmuring that OneHD could make a play for those games from 2013.

"We expect a contest for our rights across a number of timeslots," Gallop said.

"Monday night - if you look at 17 per cent growth in it - you'd have to be looking at that as a free to air broadcaster and wondering if you could get a slice of that."

Ratings increases were just one of a number of solid results for the NRL, which also produced solid performances in attendances and club memberships, which were up 28 per cent.

Crowds actually dropped by 0.6 per cent to 3.13 million, but they fared far better than some of their competitors with the AFL's crowds down 5.5 per cent, Super Rugby eight per cent and A-League 15 per cent.

Pure propaganda from the Daily Telegraph/News Ltd owners of the NRL. Gotta laugh at the last paragrahp. The AFL gets over 6 million people through the gates each season. Meanwhile 3.13 fudged figures and crowds dropping in the NRL. Hilarious.

And lets wait and see what the NRL gets in the TV deal before blowing trumpets. The AFL has already secured a record in Australian sport $1,253 Billion tv deal. I just can't see the NRL getting anywhere near that figure from their current $500 million deal. TV networks would have to be made to triple their current deal. Mad I tell ya.

nice attempt to deflect away from the fact that theres been a 5.5% drop in AFL crowds ... that equates to nearly 400K fans not bothered to attend this season
& its going to get worse in 2012
the NRL had a miniscule drop .. mainly due to awful weather , otherwise they would have set a new record , & as for fudging .. we know the AFL get up to this too
that crowd posted for the last Lions game at the Gabba was the funniest thing I've seen in any code all season .... the Titans blushed when that was posted

this on top of about an 8% drop in TV ratings for AFL in 2011... the 6th season in a row they've gone down

while the NRL is setting records for theirs

you have your TV deal in the bank
we're yet to get ours ... we were seriously undervalued last time due to circumstances out of our control.
We have control now ... & have that 1.25Bill in our sights
sweet