Nine Entertainment is seeking to reposition itself as a sports streaming giant in the digital age as it prepares to launch its bid to renew its status as the free-to-air broadcaster of the NRL, with its streaming platform Stan likely to be a key component of any deal.
But the NRL is Nine’s main target. The code’s current four-year broadcast deal expires at the end of the 2027 season, and while current shared rights holders Nine and Foxtel (now owned by global sports streamer DAZN) will both be pushing to renew their stake, ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys flagged on the weekend that a third network had expressed interest in competing for the rights.
“Foxtel has a very long close relationship with the NRL and a very strong standing in Australia in terms of P&L and production leadership.
“We will bid on the rights when they come to market, just as we have for the past 20 years,” a spokesperson for Foxtel said on Sunday.
Spokespeople for both Ten and Seven declined to comment on whether they were working on a bid for the NRL rights, which are set to be thrashed out in coming months.
But a Channel 7 source said the network was already committed to its ongoing multibillion-dollar partnership with the rival AFL code and had little to no appetite for rugby league fixtures outside the sports blockbuster showpiece events.
“We might be interested in having a look at a State of Origin game or an international match here or there,” the senior executive said.