Peter V’landys to broker deal on season length for Foxtel and Nine
- BRENT READ
SENIOR SPORTS WRITER
- 2 HOURS AGO APRIL 23, 2020
The Nine Network and Foxtel are more than a month apart on the proposed length of the 2020 season, but the NRL is expected to meet them somewhere in the middle on Friday morning as the parties involved attempt to finalise the schedule for the remainder of this year.
The Australian understands Foxtel powerbrokers are pushing for a 22-round season, which would push the grand final back into early November. The Nine Network is believed to be in favour of a 17-round regular season that would mean the grand final being played on the day it was scheduled before rugby league went into hibernation — October 4.
The likelihood is that ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys will split the difference as he looks to break a deadlock that has frustrated officials, players and fans alike. The hope is that when V’landys, Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany and Nine boss Hugh Marks walk out of the meeting, the NRL may finally have some certainty over the length of the season for when the game resumes on May 28, although it is unlikely any agreement will be reached on broadcast payments for the remainder of the year.
Discussions over the financials will continue next week but the belief is that with a schedule bedded down, the NRL, its clubs and their players can start making some estimates around what sort of money they will all receive.
Between them, Foxtel and the Nine Network pay about $300m each year to broadcast the game. The more rounds the NRL plays, the more money it will receive for the season. However, the longer the season goes, the less valuable it is to Nine because games could potentially clash with cricket’s T20 World Cup.
Even when the schedule is bedded down, there will still be much to do.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...e/news-story/0d922e739c9f59ea6b390d4a91811420