Seems like there’s legs in this 9 wanting two games exclusively. Hard to see fox relinquishing those rights.
So if 9 were to pull this off would they keep paying the same rights fee but they’d save by not producing one game a week and could charge a premium on their two games of exclusive coverage. Maybe they see more value or margin in this.
I don’t see the NRL accepting any situation where the rights deal is less in value, so what would fox gain by releasing two games?
God knows where this will end up.
Paying less money? They would probably still get replay rights, I guess.
“Niche” broadcaster or not, Foxtel pay close to two-thirds of the domestic television rights total spend - its all well and good to make statements like that, but the given the reliance on tv rights money the NRL has, they either need to extract more money out of Nine or acquiesce to Foxtel’s demands.
Like it or not, money does most of the talking with these rights deals
It will depend on who the NRL value more as a partner - Nine or Foxtel
Poor comparisons - the markets are very different - neither sport has all games broadcast nationally live via their TV rights holders. We get better PL coverage in Australia then they do in the UK (timezone aside).
If that’s the case then using simple math Channel 9 has 3 games and Poxtel 5 and by the look of it if 9 only want 2 exclusively so I don’t see the Big drama
The drama is for Nine to get what they apparently want, they’re going to have to pay more for their rights to make up for Foxtel paying a reduced amount.
That all assumes though Foxtel are willing to give up Fox League’s selling point (ie; airing every game live every round) which I doubt they’ll do lightly
Channel Nine outlines vision for preferred NRL future
Channel Nine has outlined a vision of its preferred future NRL television deal favouring two exclusive games per round as part of an extended rights contract give up the Thursday night game and concentrate on its traditional Friday night and Sunday afternoon time slots.
It also hopes pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel can be convinced to relinquish its Friday 6pm game as part of a new rights deal that would do away with the current simulcast arrangement.
Nine also expressed its preference to wipe the 2020 season,
It wants a two-year extension, but under different terms and for less than the $110 million it currently pays the governing body each year.
Some interesting demands from Nine
The NRL has taken out a $250 million line of credit through a UK firm Oakwell Sports Advisory, with $100 million able to be drawn down immediately after the loan contract is signed, it isn’t signed yet, with the other $150 million available if required, The Australian is reporting. The loan will allow the clubs to receive funding soon rather than having to wait for Nine and Foxtel to part with their cash.
Where does that Friday 6pm game go then? Sunday afternoon?
Going down to 2 FTA games a week would really hurt the NRL - putting their code further behind a paywall is a horrible move at a time when people are going to be stressed financially. From Nine’s perspective, two exclusive games are worth more than 3 simulcast games a round, but they are the only winners here.
Especially as right now, it’s either on FTA live or it isn’t shown free at all. No delayed games or extended highlights - so people go weeks without seeing their team, especially as one of the two games a week would likely be a Broncos game…
Ten should really be making sure they talk to the NRL - at least enough to get them to not sign an extension. If both the AFL and NRL extend without going to the market, that locks Ten out again and they really need to avoid that.
Indeed, it would serve the NRL well to be talking, and at least give them some leverage against Nine.
Yeah if it happen you would think sun night. I also think Fox would move Thursday back to Monday night football.
The Australian reported in another article that Nine want a 4 year extension as well. Mentioned ch10 is watching on biding it’s time to make a play.
Thought: on-sell non-exclusive rights to Thursday night and (existing FTA) Saturday night games to 10?
Nine gets their two exclusive games, NRL keeps their FTA exposure, 10 gains content and Fox is kept in the picture?
The AFL deal also had that idea of one game that Foxtel could onsell, but for one game a week you can’t invest in mounting your own high quality coverage, if indeed they’d even get to produce it themselves, and they would pay a lot more for it than the marginal cost of one extra game would be to the main FTA partner, and certainly over the odds for the quality of the game they’d get.
I couldn’t imagine that the game you’d sell on to another FTA broadcaster would be in a prime time slot, I think Nine would demand they paid even less if that happened.
There is also a greater risk that teams get very little or no FTA coverage across the year (not that the current system is fair) - Nine are more then likely to demand control over what teams play in these premium slots (like it used to be).
I wouldnt be surprised if the games go back to being played over three days
A nothing type article from news Corp.
If 9 want the competition cancelled this year they’re going to struggle against the wishes of the NRL and fox
According to that story it seems to imply that Nine want three exclusive games, two on Friday night - 6:00pm and 7:40ish and Sunday 4:00pm?
That’s why I really do think it’s nonsense.
Nine would never want 6pm Friday, it would clash with news.
I think it just doesn’t want FOX to air it in competition to its news.
Channel Seven, the home of AFL, has reached out to the NRL about the potential of acquiring rugby league content in the future as Channel Nine looks to offload one of its three free-to-air matches.
This would be interesting if it occurred Nine can sell a game and save money.
they will push the NRL to move the game to 6:30 or 6:45