Having exclusive NRL coverage on Saturdays is highly valued by Fox - something they’ve tried to establish in their AFL and cricket coverage.
Fox went mental when the NRL sold the Saturday 7.30pm game to 9 in the initial 2015 deal. Which was later reversed when Fox bought the rights back from 9 - apart from the final 5 rounds, which we still have today.
And in their new world of SCA control, it would be very un SCA like for mega cash to be splashed.
I do wonder if there are cost savings though if they use the same commentators across triple M radio and 7’s broadcast.
In an extended interview by James Manning for Mumbrella, Seven’s director of sport Chris Jones explained his network’s interest in the upcoming rights deal.
When pushed about Seven’s interest in domestic NRL rights, Jones chooses his words carefully. Speculation is that Seven would love a piece of the NRL, particularly the three-game State of Origin series, or maybe Monday nights if they return.
"We’re absolutely thrilled with our AFL rights and the partnership that we have with the AFL is incredible. Of course, as different rights come up, in particular tier one sport rights, we have a look at them and see if there is any space to play within those.
"The NRL is doing a fantastic job at the moment with their sport, and that’s why we’ve invested in the Rugby League World Cup and look forward to staying close with Andrew Abdo [NRL CEO] and Peter V’landys [ARL chair] throughout the year as we build up to the Rugby League World Cup.”
The only problem with Seven chasing Saturdays, would be Foxtel’s long held strangle on those timeslots and their ‘Super Saturday’ exclusivity, especially given how hard they recently went with the same for Fox Footy’s new deal for the first time.
Didn’t Seven negotiate to reduce their CA contract? Warburton and Martin wanted it terminated and they had that bitter public court battle a few years back, as the one signed in 2018 was said to be too high/not worth it (including issues with quality, Big Bash).
Yeah they got the new cricket contract for less than what they paid in 2018. BUT I think there was a clause which said if performance metrics were met then the money 7 give would increase
I don’t think anyone ever considered them to have any interest
Mildly surprised they didn’t want SoO as a standalone thing but other than that, they were a non-event
Yeah if they’d shown interest in making Origin a worldwide property or perhaps pitched to own a strand like SNF it may have worked but otherwise was always unlikely.
not new news but updated news?
Old news but at least we have a couple of numbers to consider the impact.
Why not just sell 10 and acquire Nine directly?
Not a great deal new here.
The data gives the ARL Commission serious ammunition as it looks to double the value of its TV rights deal, with up to five networks - Channel Nine, Channel Seven, Amazon, Paramount and DAZN-owned Fox Sports - weighing up formal offers for NRL product
“The broadcast deal will be done in the next two to three months,” V’landys said.“All the broadcasters are ready to make offers.
“We’ve been in talks with the broadcasters, but we’re just taking our time because want to get the price-point right.
They’re saying the rights will be done within three months and that they don’t want to price the fans out of the game. Well then the most expensive service is kayo/DAZN so that would be enough for me to reject their offer. Not sure what Amazon are going to want aside from one key time slot per week like they do for NBA and NFL. Channel 7 have no money and should not be taken seriously given how they butcher cricket and AFL season after season.
So really the most plausible is 9/Stan or 10/Paramount for a holistically fully integrated deal in the one ecosystem at a decent price.
Highly unlikely it will come out like that but that’s my preferred option.
Most likely, with some overlaps, all of them will get a slice.
I read that more to mean multiple services etc.
Wouldn’t be sure everyone gets a slice.
I did too but I can’t help but put the boot into that overpriced nonsense of a company.
If u go cheapest then Paramount is the cheapest right?
It is but they’d definitely raise their prices for a premium product that will definitely lift its subscribers.
I can see prices increase are the acquisition too since they should get a lot of content and definitely if they get NRL
