The negotiation process is expected to be conducted in top-secret fashion, but sources say that Fox Sports' final bid for pay-television rights will be reduced if they are not allowed to retain their schedule of exclusivity. Another possible result is that the ARLC's stance on NRL on Saturdays could lend itself to the rights being snapped up by two free-to-air networks.
Estimations of the total return rugby league will get from its next media deal have been as high as $1.2 billion, but there is a growing sentiment from bidders that the final figure will not be that lucrative despite a Federal Court appeal panel ruling last week protecting the ARLC's right to sell living streaming.
The initial Nine and Fox Sports bids this week are not expected to reach the $1 billion mark, with bidders increasingly mindful of over-spending in a tough climate.
Ten, the third-ranked broadcaster, confirmed a 70.1 per cent dip in half-year profit last month, and at Seven West Media a profit downgrade last week has been followed by reports of a 10 per cent cut in costs in the Seven Network newsroom.
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