Aren’t they already?
Broadcasters offering contra etc is going to be one way they can keep in the game vs Amazon and other online players.
It also hurts the likes of 10 who don’t have the ratings, or the diversification (print, radio) to provide meaningful contra.
2027 the landscape is going to look a lot different to now even. It wouldn’t surprise me that by then, it’s Kayo the flagship pay product renewing the rights (as the lead product) rather than Fox Sports (who could by then be a byproduct of any deal).
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They experimented with game 2 being played on a standalone Sunday night.
Most pleasing thing about this for me, is they retained streaming rights. Something 7 lacks with their AFL and cricket
If there’s one sport in this country that still needs a shake-up broadcast-wise, it’s the NRL. I get financial security is vitally important in today’s world but sheesh this feels like a missed opportunity.
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Nine’s release to the ASX
20 December 2021: Nine Entertainment Co. (ASX:NEC, Nine) has executed an agreement for National Rugby League (NRL) broadcast rights for the 2023 to 2027 seasons. Under this agreement, from 2023, live broadcast of NRL matches on Free-To-Air TV will be broadly in line with the current contract, albeit with an extra three matches, due to the expansion of the League to a 17 team competition (currently 16).
Nine has acquired the exclusive Free-to-Air rights to broadcast 3 premium live games a week, on each of Thursday and Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, as well as the Finals series, and other special event matches. Nine will also show a Saturday night match live, in each of the last 5 rounds of the weekly competition. Nine has retained exclusive live, free streaming rights for these games.
The Grand Final and State of Origin will continue to be exclusively shown on Nine and 9Now, with the State of Origin matches to be all broadcast on Wednesday evenings from 2023. This means all Australians will continue to be able to access the key NRL games for free either broadcast by Nine, in parallel with the live stream available through 9Now or on a catch-up basis, also through 9Now.
Nine has also secured radio and audio streaming rights, for at least four matches each week – Friday night and Sunday afternoon games as well as two Saturday games – as well as the finals series and State of Origin series. These matches will be broadcast in Sydney and Brisbane through 2GB and 4BC throughout the season, as well as being available Australia wide via their streaming services. Nine will also be able to broadcast all Brisbane Broncos and Redcliffe Dolphins matches into Brisbane on 4BC.
Nine’s average cost over the 2023 to 2027 rights period will be c$115 million per annum in cash, with a further c$15m of contra and other (non-cash) services to be provided. This compares with the average cost of the 2018-2022 contract, announced in November 2015, of $115m plus $10m contra. The year one (CY23) cost of $112m (plus $14.5m in contra and services ) compares with the original 2022 P&L cost (which included the amortisation of the contract prepayment) of $130m (plus $10m of contra), and the COVID-adjusted 2022 P&L cost of $103.5m (plus $15m of contra and other services).
Peter Costello, Nine Chairman said: ‘This is a major deal for our business to bring this exciting sport to the Australian public across our platforms. The negotiation has been constructive and in the spirit of partnership across our businesses and we thank the NRL for the positive engagement in the process for an outcome that benefits all Australians and fans of the game.’
Mike Sneesby, CEO of Nine, said “We are very pleased to extend our 30-year partnership with the NRL for a further five years. This certainty enables Nine to continue to bring the game live and free to all Australians, and partner with the NRL to further develop the game for the clubs and the broader community. This is an outstanding result as together we build a strong media partnership delivering quality, and free, NRL coverage for all Australians for the next six years.”
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys AM said “Today is an exciting day for our fans with the free to air broadcast deal of the NRL Telstra Premiership, NRLW and Ampol State of Origin locked in until the end of 2027. This is more than a broadcast deal, it’s a partnership to grow rugby league using all of Nine’s media platforms – television, radio and print. It was a priority for the Commission to secure the long term future of the game. In doing so it was important to ensure that a long term partnership reflected the Commission’s desire to grow the game at all levels, to invest in innovation and to ensure we have a partner that can help grow the game from participation to pathway competitions and premierships. I want to thank Nine Chairman Peter Costello and Chief Executive Mike Sneesby for their commitment to rugby league and loyalty to our game, the most watched sport in Australia this year.”
The reality of a new broadcaster was fairly limited, especially after Fox did their deal early.
Something I’ve often wondered is how they determine whether they’ve delivered the value they say they will - seems open to interpretation to me
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It’ll probably be set out in a certain number of ratecard spots but they’ll then also deliver run of station or free fall ads from a TV/radio perspective and print too. Now whether that is value for money is another proposition entirely…
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A disaster. No Stan Sport involved as Fox Sports locked up the pay TV rights in 2020
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Was always going to be the case whilst fox was involved. The other parties wanted and need streaming to make money and want exclusivity. 10 and 7 bowed out early when they can’t get what they need to make it work.
It’s a shit deal until fox can be wiped out in 2027 and beyond.
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The preexisting deal with Fox Sports made any deal harder because they couldn’t try and get Stan Sport involved.
They just had a “power of league and 9” ad on during the news. Usual exaggerated and hyperbolic promo from 9.
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The idea would be Nine and Stan Sport getting the TV rights for the NRL similar to the Rugby and tennis deals
So in essence (putting aside the impact of COVID-related discounts), Nine will be paying (on average) the same amount to retain the NRL rights as they’re paying under the current deal for roughly the same rights package (with a few minor additions).
That’s a great deal for Nine and a bad one for the NRL.
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Rugby costs 9 about 35 mil per annum. Do people really think they could go 300 mil per annum for all of NRL
Not exactly unexpected - Nine had said they didnt intend to offer more money
Since the new deal only includes 2GB and 4BC, I think it’s a missed opportunity to expand NRL radio coverage in Melbourne through 3AW and NTS, especially on some Saturdays and Sundays when there are no AFL matches.
Does it mean Triple M, SEN and ABC will not be able to broadcast Sunday 4pm games anywhere?
The ABC might be able to. However, guessing Triple M & SEN (assuming they retain their respective rights) would swap timeslots with 2GB from 2023 (ie; they would cover the early 2pm game rather than the 4pm one).
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From Nine
Nine announces new five-year rugby league deal
The best rugby league coverage will remain on Nine, LIVE and FREE, in a five-year deal announced today which secures the broadcast rights to the game from 2023 to 2027.
As well as five more years of NRL coverage, Nine will remain the exclusive home of two of Australia’s most watched sporting events, the State of Origin series, and the Telstra Premiership NRL Grand Final , ensuring all fans of the greatest game on television don’t miss a moment of the action.
With a rugby league partnership going back three decades, Nine will continue to work in close collaboration with the NRL to expand the game across linear and digital platforms, while delivering the biggest clashes and more magic moments than ever before – led by an all-star commentary team featuring modern greats like Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, and Johnathan Thurston, lending their dedication to the game and analytical expertise.
The new broadcast deal will give Nine three additional matches across the season, resulting in more NRL on free-to-air TV, plus new digital rights to offer footy fans a premium viewing experience that cannot be matched.
And after securing the biggest ever live BVOD audience in Australia for the 2021 NRL Grand Final, 9Now will continue to be the premier destination for live streaming and catch-up viewing, as well as delivering over 100 hours of Nine-produced digital content.
State of Origin will return to its traditional home of Wednesday nights in three blockbuster interstate clashes and Nine will continue to cement its commitment to the women’s game with expanded broadcast, digital offerings and reporting of the NRLW competition.
In addition, Nine has also secured the radio and audio streaming rights, under which matches will continue to be broadcast in Sydney and Brisbane through 2GB and 4BC, extending Nine’s NRL reach and aligning TV and exclusive radio rights on 4.00pm Sunday games. Plus, all Broncos versus Dolphins games will stream live in Brisbane.
The continued growth of Rugby league is guaranteed as Nine works alongside the Australian Rugby League Commission, the National Rugby League, and the clubs to promote the great game and to help deliver the moments and memories that generations of fans will remember forever.
Peter Costello, Nine Chairman said: ‘This is a major deal for our business to bring this exciting sport to the Australian public across our platforms. The negotiation has been constructive and in the spirit of partnership across our businesses and we thank the NRL for the positive engagement in the process for an outcome that benefits all Australians and fans of the game.’
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys AM said: “Today is an exciting day for our fans with the free to air broadcast deal of the NRL Telstra Premiership, NRLW and Ampol State of Origin locked in until the end of 2027. This is more than a broadcast deal, it’s a partnership to grow rugby league using all of Nine’s media platforms – television, radio and print. It was a priority for the Commission to secure the long term future of the game. In doing so it was important to ensure that a long term partnership reflected the Commission’s desire to grow the game at all levels, to invest in innovation and to ensure we have a partner that can help grow the game from participation to pathway competitions and premierships,’’ he said.
“I want to thank Nine Chairman Peter Costello and Chief Executive Mike Sneesby for their commitment to rugby league and loyalty to our game, the most watched sport in Australia this year.”
Mike Sneesby, CEO of Nine, said “We are very pleased to extend our 30-year partnership with the NRL for a further five years. This certainty enables both Nine and the NRL to continue to bring the game live and free to all Australians and to develop the game for the clubs and the broader NRL community. This is an outstanding result as together we build a strong media partnership delivering quality, and free, NRL coverage for all Australians for the next six years.”
Brent Williams, Nine’s Head of Sport, said “For 30 years, Rugby League has played a major role in the history of Wide World of Sports and we’re delighted to be extending our association at a time when the sport is entering such an exciting growth period.”
“While Nine will continue to be the exclusive home of the game’s biggest events, we look forward to partnering with the NRL to help the continuing growth of the Women’s game and to develop targeted grassroots initiatives. We’re excited to collaborate with the clubs and players of all levels to deliver new broadcast initiatives and digital offerings across our multiple platforms.”
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