Seven wants league rights
By Dean Ritchie
May 04, 2005
A PRIVATE 90-minute lunch in Pyrmont yesterday has thrown open the $200 million battle for rugby league's free-to-air television rights.
NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday held a secret meeting at Channel 7 headquarters in an opening round of high-powered negotiations aimed at stealing the rights that Channel 9 has held since 1992.
Gallop arrived at Seven's Pyrmont premises at 12.50pm for lunch with Seven chief David Leckie in the fourth floor board room.
Conversation between the pair centred on free-to-air television rights, which become available at the end of next season and are worth up to $40 million a season.
Gallop will discuss the contents of yesterday's meeting at an all-day NRL chief executives conference today.
Despite yesterday's meeting at Seven, Nine chief executive David Gyngell last night cast doubts that Seven was legitimately interested in obtaining the NRL rights.
Nine insiders claim Leckie knows the NRL contract intimately and Seven's intervention is purely attempting to push up the Nine price.
Asked was Seven's interest genuine, Gyngell said: "No mate, I don't believe they are genuine.
"Ask David Leckie if he thinks he can get them (the rights) and I don't think he'd say yes.
"But they (Seven) have to have the discussions. They were always going to have a look.
"They have a substantial commitment to the AFL. They are committed to AFL."
However, Seven's director of corporate affairs, Simon Francis, refuted suggestions his station did not harbour a genuine interest in rugby league.
"Seven is keen to be an active participant in the negotiating process. Beyond that we are not willing to comment," Francis said.
Insiders at Seven say the NRL is just as important as the AFL in regards to revenue and audience.
"We'd love to have rugby league back," one Seven source said.
Keen to woo Gallop, Nine sat the NRL boss on Gyngell's official Channel 9 table at this week's Logie Awards in Melbourne, along with AFL chief executive Andrew Demitriou.
The predicted $30 million to $40 million figure is a considerable increase on Nine's current free-to-air deal, worth about $15 million annually.
Gyngell said he and Gallop had not spoken officially about television rights although the pair recently met in Byron Bay and the subject was raised.
"Rugby league is an outstanding product and David (Gallop) is only doing his job by talking to Seven or even Ten. It doesn't surprise me or concern me," Gyngell said.
"He has to do the best for his company and the game. The paper talk is pushing up the price. We haven't sat down with David yet but we have canvassed it internally."
