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The NRL will consider bringing broadcast production in-house

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11,354
The NRL will consider bringing broadcast production of its matches in-house for the next television rights deal to maximise revenue in a move that would have huge ramifications for its traditional media partners.

The existing deal with Foxtel and Nine Entertainment Co – the publishers of the Herald – doesn’t expire until the end of the 2022 season. However, the governing body is already planning for the next rights negotiations to ensure all options are considered in a rapidly changing media landscape.

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There could be huge changes to the way the NRL is covered and consumed in the future.CREDIT:AAP

The NRL extracted $2 billion from Nine, Foxtel and Telstra to provide coverage of the game over a five-year period, a figure 70 per cent higher than the previous deal. However, changes in technology and viewing habits could result in the value flatlining or even decreasing when the rights are next up for grabs.

Rugby league has long gone with a two-partner model of a free-to-air and subscription provider, with Fox and Nine paying top dollar for a property that has been a sure-fire ratings winner. However, the emergence of streaming service Kayo and a shift to fans consuming sport on mobile devices has further fragmented the market.


The NRL will give its current broadcast partners every opportunity to retain the rights before exploring alternate options. However, according to sources with knowledge of the approaching negotiations, the NRL could produce the broadcast content itself and then look to sell off the properties to interested parties if it isn't satisfied with the price broadcasters are willing to pay.

For instance, there could be a scenario in which the Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday and Sunday games could be sold as separate entities to individual networks, such as Nine, Seven, Ten and Fox Sports. Money would be saved by centralising all of the production costs while bidders could be prepared to pay more given it is an expense they wouldn’t have to bear.




Several other Australian sports including V8 Supercars have already taken their content production in-house. Tennis also uses a similar model for major events such as grand slams, on-selling the rights to broadcasters who then provide their own commentary teams.

The NRL has already made a $150 million investment in a digital strategy that includes a huge injection in nrl.com. It opens up the possibility of games potentially being delivered directly to subscribers, effectively taking out traditional television broadcasters as the middlemen.

The Origin matches, currently shown exclusively live on Nine, remain the biggest television events of the year. The NRL grand final between the Roosters and Raiders returned the lowest viewing figures on the network since 2003, attracting 1.866 million across the five capital cities. The decline was more alarming in the AFL grand final between Richmond and Greater Western Sydney, which attracted 2.19 million viewers – a 20 per cent drop on the previous decider.

Traditional TV figures are down for the NRL, although industry analysts believe the numbers stack up relatively well given the trend towards watching content on other electronic devices.


The NRL is expected to provide its strategy for the game’s footprint in coming months. The addition or relocation of teams could result in more value being added to the broadcast rights, particularly if Queensland gains a franchise.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nr...-for-next-tv-rights-deal-20191018-p5321o.html
 

no name

Coach
Messages
19,081
The NRL will give its current broadcast partners every opportunity to retain the rights before exploring alternate options. However, according to sources with knowledge of the approaching negotiations, the NRL could produce the broadcast content itself and then look to sell off the properties to interested parties if it isn't satisfied with the price broadcasters are willing to pay.

For instance, there could be a scenario in which the Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday and Sunday games could be sold as separate entities to individual networks, such as Nine, Seven, Ten and Fox Sports. Money would be saved by centralising all of the production costs while bidders could be prepared to pay more given it is an expense they wouldn’t have to bear.
If the NRL starts the content production, surely they f**k the Thursday night game off, except for any public holidays.
 

Fufu Andronez

First Grade
Messages
8,464
I hope it goes in house and I hope it means we get four camera vision of Toddy eyeballing the naughty boys at NRL HQ
 

taipan

Referee
Messages
22,402
Here’s what will happen - NRL talk up stuff like this as an option only for the same Nine/Fox arrangement to be renewed.

I'm hoping ch10 on teh bidding will say to ch Nein,see you ,and raise you $500m.
Or 7 gets SOO,10 gets FTA and internationals and ch9 gets 2nd division .Seriously Fox will get some otherwise they'll be stuffed subs wise.
 

AJB1102

First Grade
Messages
6,339
I'm hoping ch10 on teh bidding will say to ch Nein,see you ,and raise you $500m.
Or 7 gets SOO,10 gets FTA and internationals and ch9 gets 2nd division .Seriously Fox will get some otherwise they'll be stuffed subs wise.

What's the benefit of spreading it out across multiple channels? Unless Fox simulcasts all of em I'm gonna forget what is on what channel and when. People already miss games on GEM.
 

Diesel

Coach
Messages
19,918
Nine’s coverage has really jaded a lot of fans. The treatment they give the game is poor yet they spend a lot of money. These guys just want the rights so others can’t have them. The sooner they piss off, the better.
 

taipan

Referee
Messages
22,402
What's the benefit of spreading it out across multiple channels? Unless Fox simulcasts all of em I'm gonna forget what is on what channel and when. People already miss games on GEM.


Playing one organisation against the other.maximising competition.Ch 7 may well pay much more for SOO, than 9 would.More so now there are so many viewing platforms from which to choose.

Fox will probably get the lot xcept SOO, but in reality subscriptions for pay Tv have not jumped ,and there is still a decent churning rate.

9 have shown themselves hopeless at promotion and Gem missing games,reinforces that view.
 

franklin2323

Immortal
Messages
33,546
I'm hoping ch10 on teh bidding will say to ch Nein,see you ,and raise you $500m.
Or 7 gets SOO,10 gets FTA and internationals and ch9 gets 2nd division .Seriously Fox will get some otherwise they'll be stuffed subs wise.

Some games cost $200k to produce for ch9... So I don't know how much more FTA will bring in. The real benefit is making more from the other games
 

franklin2323

Immortal
Messages
33,546
Nine’s coverage has really jaded a lot of fans. The treatment they give the game is poor yet they spend a lot of money. These guys just want the rights so others can’t have them. The sooner they piss off, the better.

No guarantee anyone does it better FTA as a whole sucks but whatever gets more money the better
 

AJB1102

First Grade
Messages
6,339
Playing one organisation against the other.maximising competition.Ch 7 may well pay much more for SOO, than 9 would.More so now there are so many viewing platforms from which to choose.

Fox will probably get the lot xcept SOO, but in reality subscriptions for pay Tv have not jumped ,and there is still a decent churning rate.

9 have shown themselves hopeless at promotion and Gem missing games,reinforces that view.

Fair enough. As long as round 1 to GF was all in 1 place I absolutely agree everything else - SOO especially - should be sold separately. If that means SOO on C10, regular comp on C9 and internationals on C7 is the best deal, go for it.
 
Messages
2,399
I hope Fox get all NRL games exclusively live, with Ch 9 getting highlights and SOO live along with Fox. Internationals live also on 9.
 
Messages
185
Yeah, I highly doubt the NRL has the funds or the expertise to actually pull this off.

Seems to be something they've put out just to keep the networks on their toes, which we've seen plenty of over the years.

Definitely dont have the expertise which means they need the money.

Dont have that either...
 

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