Next TV deal discussion 2028 -

[Wb1234]

Because NRL games are virtually commercial free, there is less than 1 minute per half of in game commercials. You don’t think there are more opportunities?

If Ch 9 can do it in Union why not in the NRL ? All the adverts in yesterday’s Wallabies game would explain why they got a bumper tv deal.

Union has less

I was watching the Wallabies game yesterday on ch 9.

As soon as there was a knock on or a kick into touch they went straight to add break. Ch 9 crammed as many commercials into live play as they possibly could.

Compare this to 9’s NRL coverage where there is only 3 or 4 adverts per half.

Is the NRL getting as much out of 9 as they can ? If 9 show more commercials during live play the NRL can get more $$$ out of thier FTA deal.

Yes, I know Union has longer and more stoppages but there is still plenty of opportunities during league. Scrums and drop outs take 30 seconds, there’s an opportunity for a 15 second commercial. There is also the opportunity for Picture in Picture adverts like they do in the F1.

The more adverting space 9 can sell the more money for the NRL

Union has way more stoppages than rugby league

And hopefully league reduces the amount of stoppages down the track via bunker reviews at general play

Fta is a minor part of the tv deal

And nine have origin as part of it meaning they pay maybe 100 million for the club comp when afl is getting 185 million for their club comp

The nrl tv deal sinks or swims on the pay tv number

Fta nz and png aren’t key

 

[Growthegame]

If Ch 9 can do it in Union why not in the NRL ? All the adverts in yesterday’s Wallabies game would explain why they got a bumper tv deal.

If you think they got a bumper deal wait until you hear about the NRL deal

I don’t have Kayo so I’m stuck with FTA. It must nice not having to listen to Thompson, Gould and Joey …

Nine have 3 x 15 seconds breaks ( usually after a conversion ) and 1 Picture in Picture advert per half. Thats less than 2 minutes of in game advertising per game.

Canard is correct in saying they would be maximising advertising space but I feel as though the NRL is leaving money on the table and not taking full advantage of FTA advertising space. Especially when compared to Union and AFL who ram ads into thier coverage every chance they get.

I would say you’re probably correct there

 

[Cactus]

I seem to have a foggy memory of the fact FTA broadcasters are regulated in how many ads are able to be shown per program or per time period.

Since 9 seems to show minimal ads during play but crams ads in bulk during breaks, Im not at all sure they can simply increase ads during play wether that be PIP or during scrums etc.

 

[Canard]

Because NRL games are virtually commercial free, there is less than 1 minute per half of in game commercials. You don’t think there are more opportunities?

If Ch 9 can do it in Union why not in the NRL ? All the adverts in yesterday’s Wallabies game would explain why they got a bumper tv deal.

Once a TV network signs a broadcast deal, that’s the end of the line for revenue going to the NRL—or any sporting body, for that matter.

The league doesn’t earn a cut of every ad shown during the broadcast.

And let’s be real—after shelling out hundreds of millions, do you really think a commercial network isn’t doing everything it can to maximise its ad revenue?

 

[Wb1234]

“Just two months after AFL fans were shocked to find out it would cost a minimum of $25 a month to watch any live football on a Saturday, Foxtel’s Kayo is preparing to hike its subscription costs again.

While it was announced last year, it wasn’t until round one of the season that many Australians switched on free-to-air broadcaster Network Seven on Saturday night to find a movie rerun playing instead of football.

An advertisement for Kayo Sports promoting their exclusive Fox Footy AFL coverage on Saturdays.
An advertisement for Kayo Sports promoting their exclusive Fox Footy AFL coverage on Saturdays.CREDIT: PAUL ROVERE
Foxtel, less than two months into its new ownership by British streamer DAZN, had made it clear before the start of the 2025 AFL season that the only place to watch the footy on a Saturday would be through a subscription to its streaming platform, Kayo, or for those still paying a premium for a set-top box at home.

But for the average Australian, watching the AFL on a Saturday night is standard appointment viewing, and most do not expect to pay for it. While all games are available on Foxtel, there was an expectation among fans at least one game would be available each day across the weekend.

In Foxtel’s final reported figures before being sold by News Corp and Telstra, it reported 1.5 million paying subscribers for Kayo in September last year.

Loading
On the eve of the season kicking off in March, Kayo’s “basic” tier was renamed “Kayo Premium”, with its price rising to $40 a month (up from $35). Meanwhile, those still on its standard tier, will have to pay $30 from June 3, up from $25.

This is the first year of the blockbuster $4.5 billion contract signed by the AFL, Foxtel and Seven in 2022. The contract will run until 2031; Foxtel pays about $418 million a year to the AFL as part of the deal.

Given the cost of the AFL rights, and rising costs of all of its other sports contracts, Foxtel has had to find ways to make a profit. And a part of the remedy has been to put AFL games behind a paywall on the biggest day of the week for the league.
Foxtel’s exclusive “Super Saturday” coverage was initially in place nationally across the first eight rounds. Now, viewers in other states can watch the Saturday AFL games on Network Seven, but Victorians have no option other than paying for it.

Loading
Games in Western Australia and South Australia on Saturdays are now available for the rest of the season on Seven, while games in New South Wales and Queensland, predominantly NRL states, will be available on free-to-air TV from this week’s round of matches.

In Victoria, where more than half of the AFL teams play, Saturday night footy is locked behind a paywall for the rest of the season.

While Kayo also displays some ads, it relies mostly on subscription revenue to recoup its substantial investments in expensive broadcast rights. A Kayo spokesperson confirmed this was the first price rise to its entry-level tier since it launched in 2018.

“We have worked hard to avoid any changes to our Kayo entry-level tier subscription over the past seven years, but with the growing cost of sports content and the need for continued investment in technology, we have had to make the difficult decision to increase the entry-level price by $5 per month to $30,” the spokesperson said.

Foxtel has a similar arrangement with the NRL, broadcasting “Super Saturday” coverage, with free-to-air broadcaster Nine Network showing games on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The NRL is taking its broadcast rights from 2028 onwards to market this year, leaving Foxtel with the likelihood of having to pay more to retain its rights package.”


Foxtel pays afl 418 million pa on the new deal according to the article

So the nrl pay tv rights should be more 450 to 550 million on their own given the ratings dominance

Even if nine stick to 130 millon pa, and sky nz 32 million, a total of 600 million should be easy and potentially 650 million

In terms of pricing kayo seems to average 35 a month and the full Foxtel package over 100 a month

With Fox paying AFL 418 million pa, seven around 170 millon then indeed the afl tv deal is 590 million at best

Wookie

 

[Perth Red]

Union has less
Union has way more stoppages than rugby league

And hopefully league reduces the amount of stoppages down the track via bunker reviews at general play

Fta is a minor part of the tv deal

And nine have origin as part of it meaning they pay maybe 100 million for the club comp when afl is getting 185 million for their club comp

The nrl tv deal sinks or swims on the pay tv number

Fta nz and png aren’t key

I wouldn't say 25% is that minor when it equates to $115million a year!

 

[cleary89]

I don't really post here much any more so delete if it's too off topic.

But I just came across this article from Saturday - https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...ue-is-worried-about-aflw-20250704-p5mcgd.html

Basically the AFLW currently loses 50m a year. TV ratings are down 70% from year 1 and crowds are down 60%. If they want to go to a full season as the players want by 2031 it will cost 200m a year.

Anyone got a comparison between AFLW and NRLW ratings? Is there a comparison? I don't mind watching the NRLW and feel like their ratings are half decent.

 

[Wb1234]

I don't really post here much any more so delete if it's too off topic.

But I just came across this article from Saturday - https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...ue-is-worried-about-aflw-20250704-p5mcgd.html

Basically the AFLW currently loses 50m a year. TV ratings are down 70% from year 1 and crowds are down 60%. If they want to go to a full season as the players want by 2031 it will cost 200m a year.

Anyone got a comparison between AFLW and NRLW ratings? Is there a comparison? I don't mind watching the NRLW and feel like their ratings are half decent.

Nrlw smashes it

Would hope the Nrlw doesn’t cost that much but I Suspect clubs cover the cost via their increased nrl grants

 

[Canard]

I don't really post here much any more so delete if it's too off topic.

But I just came across this article from Saturday - https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...ue-is-worried-about-aflw-20250704-p5mcgd.html

Basically the AFLW currently loses 50m a year. TV ratings are down 70% from year 1 and crowds are down 60%. If they want to go to a full season as the players want by 2031 it will cost 200m a year.

Anyone got a comparison between AFLW and NRLW ratings? Is there a comparison? I don't mind watching the NRLW and feel like their ratings are half decent.

Cautionary tale, expanded to rapidly and didn't focus on the game.

The quality of the product is the problem, its really poor skillwise. Last years Grand Final was 39 (6 goals) to 9 (1 goal).

NRLW is quite entertaining to watch and the skills are quite good, and the teams competitive.

This was an awesome hit:

https://www.theroar.com.au/rugby-league/video/watch-raider-produces-one-of-the-biggest-ever-nrlw-hits-that-was-probably-heard-back-in-sydney-1437641/

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

I don't really post here much any more so delete if it's too off topic.

But I just came across this article from Saturday - https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...ue-is-worried-about-aflw-20250704-p5mcgd.html

Basically the AFLW currently loses 50m a year. TV ratings are down 70% from year 1 and crowds are down 60%. If they want to go to a full season as the players want by 2031 it will cost 200m a year.

Anyone got a comparison between AFLW and NRLW ratings? Is there a comparison? I don't mind watching the NRLW and feel like their ratings are half decent.

Yeah we murdered them in the ratings and then there`s the Women`s Origin to rub salt into the wounds.
The problem I see with the fumbles-w is that the women due to physical limitations, that`s not a criticism, just a fact, they can`t kick the ball as far as the boys. This means that players tend to be more concentrated around the kicker making it much harder to take a clean catch, the ball ends up on the deck and the unsightly mess begins, once it`s on the ground surrounded by players it`s even harder to pick it up and the rolling farce goes on.
I`ve said it before, I`ll say it again, fumbles-w highlights all the worst aspects of that past-time.
The results are reflected in the tv viewership figures.
One thing I will give them due credit for and due to the cult like herd mentality of fumbles fans the women don`t get bad crowds. Crowds that our women`s game would kill for and deserve. If we could get crowds like they do our women`s game would be unstoppable. Nothing like playing in front of a crowd, even if only few thousand.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

And hopefully league reduces the amount of stoppages down the track via bunker reviews at general play

Replace bunker reviews with ads. I'd rather watch an ad than listen to the bunker.

 

[nko11]

Yeah we murdered them in the ratings and then there`s the Women`s Origin to rub salt into the wounds.
The problem I see with the fumbles-w is that the women due to physical limitations, that`s not a criticism, just a fact, they can`t kick the ball as far as the boys. This means that players tend to be more concentrated around the kicker making it much harder to take a clean catch, the ball ends up on the deck and the unsightly mess begins, once it`s on the ground surrounded by players it`s even harder to pick it up and the rolling farce goes on.
I`ve said it before, I`ll say it again, fumbles-w highlights all the worst aspects of that past-time.
The results are reflected in the tv viewership figures.
One thing I will give them due credit for and due to the cult like herd mentality of fumbles fans the women don`t get bad crowds. Crowds that our women`s game would kill for and deserve. If we could get crowds like they do our women`s game would be unstoppable. Nothing like playing in front of a crowd, even if only few thousand.

I feel like the Broncos have the right idea with playing out of Totally Workwear Stadium. Smaller capacity stadiums that feel more intimate. Only extra thing, I would push more differntiation from the NRL. Think along the lines of the Beer, Footy, Food festival. Doesn't have to be all out every game, but a few activations, targeted at families. Chance to have a lot more afternoon games with NRLW as well.

For the Titans, I would have them playing out of UAA Park in Burleigh. Get a few local Brewers and Distillers. Black Hops, Hard Fizz, Precinct Brewing and Burleigh Brewing are just down the street. With the Light Rail going straight past the area from mid 2026 will be easy transportation.

I can understand when teams first come in, having their games prior to NRL games to market them to existing fans. But I think they should move away from this. Eventually when all teams are in:

Rabbitohs - Redfern Oval
Broncos - Totally Workwear Stadium
Titans - UAA Park
Eels - Eric Tweedale Stadium/Kellyville CoE
Bulldogs - Belmore Oval
Cowboys - Barlow Park?
Raiders - Seiffert Oval
Roosters - Coogee Oval
Sharks - Shark Park (but actually put some effort in)
Dolphins - Kayo Stadium
Tigers - Concord Oval
Storm -Seabrook Reserve
Manly - No idea
Dragons - No idea - New UOW CoE?
Knights - No idea
Panthers - St Mary's Leagues Stadium
Warriors - No idea - Western Springs if it's build to 5k.
Bears - Malaga? - if it's built to standard
PNG - NFS

 

[Wb1234]

Replace bunker reviews with ads. I'd rather watch an ad than listen to the bunker.

That’s a good idea

They do sell the bunker to whoever sponsors it used to be kfc

 

[Canard]

Do you guys not actually watch footy?

Or are your eyes painted on?

Have you ever seen a bunker review, it's one long extended ad sequence.

 

[Canard]

Yeah we murdered them in the ratings and then there`s the Women`s Origin to rub salt into the wounds.
The problem I see with the fumbles-w is that the women due to physical limitations, that`s not a criticism, just a fact, they can`t kick the ball as far as the boys. This means that players tend to be more concentrated around the kicker making it much harder to take a clean catch, the ball ends up on the deck and the unsightly mess begins, once it`s on the ground surrounded by players it`s even harder to pick it up and the rolling farce goes on.
I`ve said it before, I`ll say it again, fumbles-w highlights all the worst aspects of that past-time.
The results are reflected in the tv viewership figures.
One thing I will give them due credit for and due to the cult like herd mentality of fumbles fans the women don`t get bad crowds. Crowds that our women`s game would kill for and deserve. If we could get crowds like they do our women`s game would be unstoppable. Nothing like playing in front of a crowd, even if only few thousand.

There crowds have cratered badly lately.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

Do you guys not actually watch footy?

Or are your eyes painted on?

Have you ever seen a bunker review, it's one long extended ad sequence.

Are you saying viewers in Oz don't see and hear bunker deliberations?

 

[Canard]

Are you saying viewers in Oz don't see and hear bunker deliberations?

Everyone sees the same vision I would assume, but there is an add for Bundy for the Captains Challenge.

There was KFC ads previously, and hardware companies etc. And even when the deliberations are going on, there is usually an add somewhere on the screen.

Its one big ad basically.

 

[Perth Red]

Nrlw smashes it

Would hope the Nrlw doesn’t cost that much but I Suspect clubs cover the cost via their increased nrl grants

Clubs get $1.5mill'ish each to run NRLW sides.

With cost of running the games NRL is spending somewhere around $25mill a year currently to run the NRLW, plus what ever clubs spend on top of the NRLW grant.

 

[Wb1234]

Clubs get $1.5mill'ish each to run NRLW sides.

With cost of running the games NRL is spending somewhere around $25mill a year currently to run the NRLW, plus what ever clubs spend on top of the NRLW grant.

Which compares to 100 million for the afl but they probably have more clubs

On a side note you can see where all the afl money is going with 100 million Aflw, stadium cost, 130 million grants to afl clubs in nsw and qld plus cost of juniors in those states

Exactly what the nrl should avoid in wa and down the track Adelaide

 

[Perth Red]

Which compares to 100 million for the afl but they probably have more clubs

6 more clubs. They also probably give their clubs more to cover development where as NRL leaves that to the clubs.

Current NRLW club grant is around $1.5mill, current NRLW salary cap is around $1.25mill

The NRLW salary cap is now $100k bigger than the AFLW cap, with 6 less players to pay our of it.