Next NRL Media rights deal

[Fred]

There are many metrics. Soccer nationwide is well participated in - as too are many sports such as basketball, tennis, and indeed Aussie Rules. Rugby League does not have this nationwide. And in the two states where it is not the dominate code, is has very strong growth in registered players - and even at senior levels there are many rungs from lower to higher levels level competitions. This is why we see a lot of growth in Queensland players on AFL lists for instance.

So apart from increases in playing numbers, the number of Aussie rules grounds, teams etc. (and I can only talk for SE QLD and north QLD), which is just one metric - we also have other metrics. So when we look at crowds, AFL crowds have generally been pretty good, particularly for the Lions. The Suns, despite there poor form are still pulling a reasonable average, in a place where fans a fickle and support hard to harness - The Lions are pulling record crowds too - with capacity and near capacity crowds. Then we could mentioned membership (a poor measure on its own) and more importantly season memberships - which are great.

So Aussie Rules, in the past decade or so, has overtaken Rugby Union and Soccer in QLD to be the number two sport - from 4th to fourth - a great effort. They still trail Rugby League by a long long way - as reflected in the ratings - but Aussie rules and AFL are in no way a minor sport in QLD - particularly the SE QLD. I will say Rugby League us still very dominant in country/Rural areas in QLD and I suspect NSW and Aussie Rules would be possibly considered minor out there in the boon docks - but in the South East QLD and in Northern QLD (to a lesser extent) AFL is very much a major player.

I shall say no more on the matter and hope I get a reasoned and thought out response........

[azif]

There are many metrics. Soccer nationwide is well participated in - as too are many sports such as basketball, tennis, and indeed Aussie Rules. Rugby League does not have this nationwide. And in the two states where it is not the dominate code, is has very strong growth in registered players - and even at senior levels there are many rungs from lower to higher levels level competitions. This is why we see a lot of growth in Queensland players on AFL lists for instance.

So apart from increases in playing numbers, the number of Aussie rules grounds, teams etc. (and I can only talk for SE QLD and north QLD), which is just one metric - we also have other metrics. So when we look at crowds, AFL crowds have generally been pretty good, particularly for the Lions. The Suns, despite there poor form are still pulling a reasonable average, in a place where fans a fickle and support hard to harness - The Lions are pulling record crowds too - with capacity and near capacity crowds. Then we could mentioned membership (a poor measure on its own) and more importantly season memberships - which are great.

So Aussie Rules, in the past decade or so, has overtaken Rugby Union and Soccer in QLD to be the number two sport - from 4th to fourth - a great effort. They still trail Rugby League by a long long way - as reflected in the ratings - but Aussie rules and AFL are in no way a minor sport in QLD - particularly the SE QLD. I will say Rugby League us still very dominant in country/Rural areas in QLD and I suspect NSW and Aussie Rules would be possibly considered minor out there in the boon docks - but in the South East QLD and in Northern QLD (to a lesser extent) AFL is very much a major player.

I shall say no more on the matter and hope I get a reasoned and thought out response........

the only metric for sooker is
most players because its an easy girly sport to play....but no fans because its shit

for fumbleball in NSW & QLD its the same as sooker re players , if you aren't the spawn of a sthn migrant .. the only reason you fumble bumble & miss is you can't or are not allowed to play either of the rugby codes because you're a weedy little white shit , but you still want to play RL because its the cool manly sport to play & you certainly watch it.

TV ratings prove this beyond doubt

[Fred]

TTV ratings aside, the rest is simply not true Asif.

[azif]

TTV ratings aside, the rest is simply not true Asif.

someone help him unzipping the bubble hes in ................pleeeaasseeee !!

[azif]

nothing much new in this article , except the desire by the commission to have the deal sorted by the middle of this year so negotiations will begin very soon.

I don't believe there is much to the theory about Netflix or Amazon.
for me
the players are

DAZN ( new owners of foxtel sport)
Ch9/ Stan
Ch10/ Paramount

The very real prospect of an FTA provider bidding for all the rights to the sport & broadcast it in conjunction with their streaming service will create real tension & drive the price up considerably , potentially hugely.
For 10 or 9 to attract up to a million subscribers to their streaming service & broadcasting the most watched sport in the land in general on its free to air service is an obvious attraction.
Dazn just spent 3 billion plus on acquiring foxtel sport & RL is the biggest sport on its books.... bar nothing. It will obviously fight very very hard to retain the rights to it , if they're under threat.
The winner here will be Rugby League ... either bundled or FTA & STV split .. the Australian rights will go for 600 million , then theres the kiwis who will get team 20. Their contribution will go close to doubling from the present 32 million PA

The most watched sport in the land should have the biggest media rights deal as well & this will be the case very shortly

NRL 2025: Peter V’landys launching billion-dollar broadcast deal right talks, with Netflix, Amazon in the mix
The NRL’s multibillion-dollar broadcast rights are going up for sale, with Peter V’landys setting a deadline for the deal, which could attract interest from some of the world’s biggest streaming giants.


3 min read
January 28, 2025 - 4:06PM
News Sport Network

NRL: Sharks forward Jesse Colquhoun is fighting to return from an ACL injury to be fit for Vegas to play the Panthers.

The NRL’s multibillion-dollar broadcast rights are going up for sale in a development that could attract interest from some of the world’s biggest brands like Netflix, Amazon and Paramount.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is targeting a mid-year deadline for finalising the NRL’s next broadcast arrangement to take the game into a bold new era beyond 2027.
The commission is hopeful of a Perth NRL expansion franchise being confirmed following the March 8 state government election in Western Australia.

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A Perth team would give the NRL a 19-team competition, and new audiences in WA and Papua New Guinea, to take to the negotiating table.

Regardless, the NRL is hoping to cash in on its next broadcast deal following a surge in the game’s popularity over the past five years which has led to record audiences and revenues.

V’landys told this masthead the NRL was on the verge of beginning negotiations for its next broadcast deal.
“We will be negotiating the rights this year,” he said.

“They don’t start until 2027 but you need to give yourself a couple of years’ lead time.
“We hope to have something done in the middle of this year.”

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is targeting a mid-year deadline for finalising the NRL’s next broadcast arrangement. Picture: Getty Images

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is targeting a mid-year deadline for finalising the NRL’s next broadcast arrangement. Picture: Getty Images

The NRL’s next broadcast negotiations are shaping up to be fascinating.

V’landys orchestrated what is reported to have been a $1.7 billion deal with Foxtel and Channel 9 during the Covid crisis of 2020 that threatened to sink the game.
The landscape has changed significantly since then following the introduction of the competition’s 17th team the Dolphins in 2023 and recent announcement a PNG franchise will enter in 2028.

A Perth team is still on the agenda for 2027 but is contingent on current WA Premier Roger Cook being re-elected given the bid is state-backed.

In an Olympics year, the NRL boasted four of the top five rating programs on free-to-air television for 2024 while Fox Sports reported record viewership for NRL games last year, including the inaugural Las Vegas season-opener.

While Australian free-to-air channels will be in the mix along with Foxtel, the NRL is also expected to attract global interest from streaming powerhouses as it pushes to top the AFL’s last $4.5 billion deal.
The rugby league landscape has changed significantly since the last broadcast deal was struck, with the Dolphins joining the league, a PNG team greenlit for 2028 and the NRL still in discussions over a possible Perth team. Picture: Getty Images
The rugby league landscape has changed significantly since the last broadcast deal was struck, with the Dolphins joining the league, a PNG team greenlit for 2028 and the NRL still in discussions over a possible Perth team. Picture: Getty Images
News Corporation, publishers of this masthead, last month announced it had struck an agreement for Foxtel to be sold to UK sports streaming giant DAZN (pronounced da-zone).
DAZN is expected to be a major player in the next broadcast cycle negotiations but may not be the only global brand.
Paramount, owners of Network Ten, has shown interest in Australian sports along with $4 trillion mega company Amazon, while Netflix recently paid US$150 million (A$240 million) to stream two NFL games on Christmas Day.

V’landys said he didn’t expect the sale of Foxtel to impact the NRL’s target price given the popularity of the code and potential bidders.
“I don’t think it will make any difference,” he said.

“We have got the most valuable rights in Australian sport. Last year we were the most viewed sport in Australia.
“It will also depend on if someone else wants the rights and there will be plenty of parties wanting the rights.

“The way free-to-air TV is going – sport, reality TV and news is their whole ball game. They are not competing for the other content anymore.”

Patrick Delany (left), CEO of Foxtel Group, with V’landys in Las Vegas. Picture: Getty Images
Patrick Delany (left), CEO of Foxtel Group, with V’landys in Las Vegas. Picture: Getty Images
As it stands, the NRL will launch an 18-team competition in 2028 when PNG joins the league but that could change if Perth is fast-tracked from 2027.
The commission’s ultimate goal is to have a 20-team competition within the next decade, which would create 10 games per week (eight currently) and a potential conference system.
“We are still in discussions with Perth and they have been positive,” V’landys said.
“Unfortunately for us the election is on March 8 so we will give it some breathing space until after that.

“We will look at a 20th team but that may not be done in this broadcast cycle.
“I wouldn’t discount another team from Queensland or New Zealand.”

[azif]

Another example of AFL jurnos & their insistence on flaming the code wars
in this article there is not one... not one.... reference to derpball by PVL , but the headline states it will catch the attention of fumbleball ...
really ?
why ?

the question of whether the new media rights deal will be increased by ..... hundreds of billions of dollars ...
hundreds of billions ??


shows the standard of reporting is laughably low but typical of fumblers

such insecure little noobs aren't they

https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league ... c-17622813
Australian rugby league chair Peter V’landys is so optimistic about the future of the NRL it’s certain to catch the attention of rival code, the AFL.

Speaking exclusively to 7NEWS, V’landys says records will be broken in all sorts of ways while forecasting a mega broadcast deal, as well.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Peter V’landys speaks exclusively to 7NEWS.


Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Download today

“I think we can break even more records for attendance and ratings,” Vlandys told 7NEWS

“And again all credit goes to the players (for that).”

With the NRL’s current streaming agreements with Nine and pay-TV network Foxtel set to expire in 2027, V’landys is eager to finalise the next broadcast rights deal before the end of this year.

The NRL boss is buoyant about the future of his sport.
The NRL boss is buoyant about the future of his sport. Credit: Seven
But that has caused some angst **** fans as the league considers streaming giants — that use a subscription model — as broadcast partners.

However, V’landys is adamant that getting streaming giants like Netflix or Amazon on board will be a game-changer for the code.

“We’ll go to market and they’ll all have to sharpen their pencils about what they’re gonna pay,” he said.

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“I think we’ll get a record amount. It will certainly be one of the highest paid sports in Australia, if not the highest paid sport by the time this broadcast deal is done.”

Asked if the deal could be improved by hundreds of billions of dollars, V’landys was tight-lipped.

“I think we’ll get a record amount,” he repeated.

“(But) it’s a balancing act. We don’t want to make it prohibitive for our fans to buy subscriptions.”

V’landys also had nothing but praise for Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary who is being used to promote the NRL season-opener in Las Vegas that blasts off on March 1 and involves eight teams.

“(Nathan) is a dream for us in rugby league because he’s just got everything,” V’landys said.

The league is hoping the event will be beamed to its biggest ever audience, while they are also planning on rolling out the red carpet for US president Donald Trump.

“You have him there he’s a walking billboard.,” V’landys said

“You’ll have American media cover our event ad nauseum.

“So you’ll probably get the most publicity rugby league’s ever had if he turns up.”

Meanwhile, V’landys has also warned of a crackdown on diving for penalties, obstruction and high tackles this season.

“There’s no rule changes as such this year because we made sure there was no rule changes but the interpretations will make it a bit easier for consistency,” he said.

[leeroy*NRL*]

i actually hope

STAN get NRL Rights and totally switch it up...

goodbye KAYO

[Beaussie]

i actually hope

STAN get NRL Rights and totally switch it up...

goodbye KAYO

It would be a good fit for Nine/Stan if they had the Rugby as well. I suspect they will make a bid similar to the bid they made for the AFL.

[azif]

i actually hope

STAN get NRL Rights and totally switch it up...

goodbye KAYO

The bidding tension will be huge with DAZN & don't discount Paramount 10 , their American owners have said recently they will not allow their station/s to fail in Australia
10 would have told their American owners ... if you are serious about that statement , then bid for all the rights to RL in Australia ... FTA & Streaming

offer 600 million
& you'll go darn close to getting them.

[Fred]

i actually hope

STAN get NRL Rights and totally switch it up...

goodbye KAYO

I think the ARL would be mad not to sell SoO as a seperate package - it is the number 1 sports product as a series in Australia and could demand top dollar. I think streaming companies, if they could, would fall over themselves to buy this.

This is an interesting listen re: Netflix and sport

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t ... 0682928368

[azif]

i actually hope

STAN get NRL Rights and totally switch it up...

goodbye KAYO

I think the ARL would be mad not to sell SoO as a seperate package - it is the number 1 sports product as a series in Australia and could demand top dollar. I think streaming companies, if they could, would fall over themselves to buy this.

This is an interesting listen re: Netflix and sport

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t ... 0682928368

Yea I agree Fwed
whilst it doesn't mean one provider can't buy it all bundle it together on FTA & STV , all elements of the sport can be listed for sale separately. And no sport has more individual " bits" it could sell then Rugby League

If i were the ARLC i'd set it up something like this for Australian broadcasters

RL rep season
50 mill PA
All State of Origin games , mens & womens
All international RL , Pacific championships , Ashes series & World cup , mens & womens
while mens origin can be shown on an STV service , it must be shown live on FTA as well by law

NRL FTA (also required live by law )
3 games a week ....
130 mill PA

Streaming
420 mill PA ... for all pre season , & regular season games , finals & the GF with FTA depending on who provides the service.

the Kiwis getting access to all of the above for 50-60 mill PA
A sport that runs for 10 months of the year & rates its tits off for those 10 months will be highly desirable.

[leeroy*NRL*]

i actually hope

STAN get NRL Rights and totally switch it up...

goodbye KAYO

It would be a good fit for Nine/Stan if they had the Rugby as well. I suspect they will make a bid similar to the bid they made for the AFL.

yeah i agree. (there going to want everything)

I think the NRL will be in a similar situation the AFL were in (with who do they choose.)

DAZN
CH9
PARAMOUNT

all with big Offers.

[leeroy*NRL*]

i actually hope

STAN get NRL Rights and totally switch it up...

goodbye KAYO

I think the ARL would be mad not to sell SoO as a seperate package - it is the number 1 sports product as a series in Australia and could demand top dollar. I think streaming companies, if they could, would fall over themselves to buy this.

This is an interesting listen re: Netflix and sport

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t ... 0682928368

Yea I agree Fwed
whilst it doesn't mean one provider can't buy it all bundle it together on FTA & STV , all elements of the sport can be listed for sale separately. And no sport has more individual " bits" it could sell then Rugby League

If i were the ARLC i'd set it up something like this for Australian broadcasters

RL rep season
50 mill PA
All State of Origin games , mens & womens
All international RL , Pacific championships , Ashes series & World cup , mens & womens
while mens origin can be shown on an STV service , it must be shown live on FTA as well by law

NRL FTA (also required live by law )
3 games a week ....
130 mill PA

Streaming
420 mill PA ... for all pre season , & regular season games , finals & the GF with FTA depending on who provides the service.

the Kiwis getting access to all of the above for 50-60 mill PA
A sport that runs for 10 months of the year & rates its tits off for those 10 months will be highly desirable.

i think your under selling SOO mens and womens plus internationals at $50mill a season.

[azif]

I think the ARL would be mad not to sell SoO as a seperate package - it is the number 1 sports product as a series in Australia and could demand top dollar. I think streaming companies, if they could, would fall over themselves to buy this.

This is an interesting listen re: Netflix and sport

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t ... 0682928368

Yea I agree Fwed
whilst it doesn't mean one provider can't buy it all bundle it together on FTA & STV , all elements of the sport can be listed for sale separately. And no sport has more individual " bits" it could sell then Rugby League

If i were the ARLC i'd set it up something like this for Australian broadcasters

RL rep season
50 mill PA
All State of Origin games , mens & womens
All international RL , Pacific championships , Ashes series & World cup , mens & womens
while mens origin can be shown on an STV service , it must be shown live on FTA as well by law

NRL FTA (also required live by law )
3 games a week ....
130 mill PA

Streaming
420 mill PA ... for all pre season , & regular season games , finals & the GF with FTA depending on who provides the service.

the Kiwis getting access to all of the above for 50-60 mill PA
A sport that runs for 10 months of the year & rates its tits off for those 10 months will be highly desirable.

i think your under selling SOO mens and womens plus internationals at $50mill a season.

might get 60 mill ... but not much more
tests rate around the same as a big NRL game , womens origins a bit more ... the bulk of that money is for the mens origins

[leeroy*NRL*]

Yea I agree Fwed
whilst it doesn't mean one provider can't buy it all bundle it together on FTA & STV , all elements of the sport can be listed for sale separately. And no sport has more individual " bits" it could sell then Rugby League

If i were the ARLC i'd set it up something like this for Australian broadcasters

RL rep season
50 mill PA
All State of Origin games , mens & womens
All international RL , Pacific championships , Ashes series & World cup , mens & womens
while mens origin can be shown on an STV service , it must be shown live on FTA as well by law

NRL FTA (also required live by law )
3 games a week ....
130 mill PA

Streaming
420 mill PA ... for all pre season , & regular season games , finals & the GF with FTA depending on who provides the service.

the Kiwis getting access to all of the above for 50-60 mill PA
A sport that runs for 10 months of the year & rates its tits off for those 10 months will be highly desirable.

i think your under selling SOO mens and womens plus internationals at $50mill a season.

might get 60 mill ... but not much more
tests rate around the same as a big NRL game , womens origins a bit more ... the bulk of that money is for the mens origins

Old Articles i wonder how much truth they have to it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nrl/a ... -Nine.html

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 8c71947a3d