Seven seeks chance to bid for NRL rights
By Steve Mascord
August 21, 2004
Channel Seven has called on the NRL to put its television rights to open tender rather than quietly extending and upgrading its contracts with Channel Nine and Fox Sports.
TV rights have become an issue this week in light of the NRL partnership committee's decision on Monday not to expand the competition, as well as growing angst among NSW clubs about a coming increase in poker machine tax.
Fox Sports' deal with the league expires at the end of 2006 and Nine's rights agreement is up in 2007, with Kerry Packer's network having first right of refusal.
But there is increasing speculation that the NRL will not allow either agreement to lapse, preferring to upgrade and extend each within the next 12 months - meaning rival networks won't get the chance to bid.
"The Seven Network would be keen to participate in an open tender process for both the free-to-air and subscription rights for the National Rugby League," Seven's director of corporate development, Simon Francis, said last night. "Such a process would be in the best interests of the NRL and its clubs."
Clubs believe the free-to-air rights are grossly undervalued, with the AFL rights believed to be worth $40 million compared with the NRL's widely quoted figure of $13m.
The Herald also contacted the Nine and Ten networks over the issue. Nine had no comment on its intentions while a Ten sports spokesman said: "It isn't an issue for us. We are quite happy with our current schedule of sport."
NRL chief executive David Gallop responded to Francis's comments by saying all options would be explored.
"We are fully expecting that rugby league will be much sought after as content and we intend to explore all offers we might receive," he said.
Fox Sports has first refusal on rights until 2022, while Nine has a similar privilege for 10 years. Gallop said Nine had not approached him about extending.
