International Rights

[andrew057]

Have been finalised according Rugby League Week. Im on my phone so can't link. Can some one post the details.

 

[Rosetta]

No problems.

New international television deal

http://www.nrl.com/new-international-television-deal/tabid/10874/newsid/70545/default.aspx

Rugby League has secured a new international television deal that will guarantee access to key markets including the UK, USA, Asia and the Pacific.

The five-year agreement with IMG Media will ensure fans overseas have world-wide access to all Telstra Premiership matches as well as State of Origin, Test matches played in Australia, AAMI City-Country and the Harvey Norman All Stars.

The partnership covers free-to-air television, subscription television, IPTV, mobile, in-ship, in-flight and gaming rights, as well as access to the NRL Films archive, and will provide international fans with:

• Guaranteed television coverage in key markets including the UK, USA, Asia, and Pacific;

• Access to all games in HD either through television or online platforms, as well as access to a 30-minute weekly highlights show;

• A free digital NRL Channel for international fans featuring match vision and a mobile NRL app;

• All NRL and State of Origin matches available on a live or near-live basis via television or online, mobile applications, smart TVs or other media platforms;

• International fans in regions where there is no TV or IPTV rights deals in place will be able to access matches for free on a leading web destination, such as YouTube or USTREAM.

“What’s exciting for Rugby League fans around the world is that we now have in place a range of different options for them to watch matches across television and digital mediums,” NRL Interim Chief Executive, Mr Shane Mattiske, said.

“To have guaranteed television exposure in key markets such as the UK, USA and Pacific is really significant for growing the game’s international exposure.

“As IMG Media finalises deals in markets around the world we will be able to confirm the processes in which fans will be able to tune in to watch all the excitement of the Telstra Premiership and the best representative contests in sport, including State of Origin.”

Mr Chris Guinness, Senior Vice-President, Head of Asia Pacific, IMG Media, said IMG Media was committed to increasing Rugby League coverage across international markets.

“We are very excited about extending our relationship with the NRL over the next five years,” he said.

“The relationship has evolved from traditional international TV distribution to a complete 360 degree involvement covering all aspects of the NRL’s international media assets and we look forward to working closely with the NRL in this new exciting era.”

The international rights do not include NRL properties in Australia and New Zealand, nor do they include World Cup matches or Tests overseas.

Most international rights deals will be in place before the start of the 2013 Telstra Premiership season.

IMG Media is a division of IMG Worldwide, a global sports, fashion and media business with nearly 3,000 employees operating in more than 30 countries.

A pretty damn sweet deal, better than the coverage we get.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

What TV channels do IMG provide, particularly in Asia? My parents live in Thailand and currently get 5 games a week on Setanta (sp?).

 

[Titanic]

and Setanta is pay tv as compared to the AFL and their free to air saturation coverage with Australia Network. IMG is a broker not a broadcaster and will just do the deals. You can bet dollars to cowrie shells that we will be paying where the others sports will not ... this is not the ARLC's fault only but the attitude of our Department of Foreign Affairs who control Australia Network.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Australia Network is not available in all countries. Using Thailand as an example, you need a black market scrambler and a sattelite feed that can pick up Star Network, the pay TV providor in Malaysia. Otherwise you go without (most Oz Bars in Thailand have the scrambler, those that don't just get an illegal feed off the internet). Setanta is available in most bars + clubs, and most westerners involved in the A+NZ expat community have the Setanta option as it covers both NRL + Super 15.

Also, in regards to Asia, Setanta has significantly more coverage than the Aust Network. So the opportunity to see NRL is currently greater.

 

[Rosetta]

It won't be Australia Network Gourley.

IMG have a long standing business relationship with Eurosport, so Eurosport Asia (which broadcasts in Thailand AFAIK) is a good shout IMO. We'll probably find out by February next year whom the "guaranteed" TV coverage is through.

 

[Desert Qlder]

Is it possible this will provide better options for, shall we say, less than honourable means of watching footy here in Australia?

 

[Lockyer4President!]

I'd hope that they work out deals with local FTA broadcasters aswell as cable/satellite.

edit: Apparently this is the same group we did a deal with back in 2010. Possibly a return to Spike TV in the US?
http://www.imgworld.com/news/news/2010/mar/img-signs-exclusive-agreement-with-australian-nati.aspx

IMG SIGNS EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE
Mar 22, 2010

IMG Sports Media, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global premier sports, entertainment and media agency, today announced that it has signed an exclusive distribution deal with the Australian National Rugby League to distribute their worldwide TV rights excluding Australia and New Zealand.

The three-year deal, which commences with immediate effect, includes all broadcast and Inflight rights and forms part of the IMG Media's rugby league portfolio alongside the Rugby Football League's Super League, Challenge Cup and New Zealand Rugby League.

IMG will distribute 26 rounds of live coverage of the NRL including the finals, three State of Origin matches and the annual ANZAC test match between Australia and New Zealand. A weekly highlights show-'NRL Full time' is also available every Tuesday evening.

There has been significant interest in this property with a number of deals already being finalized, including: Australian Network across Asia Pacific, Orbit Showtime in the Middle East, Italy's Dahlia TV, America One in the US and Virgin Airlines taking the Inflight rights in International Airspace.

The National Rugby League (NRL) is the premier league of professional rugby league in Australasia. It is also the most attended rugby league competition in the world, consisting of sixteen teams, fifteen based in Australia and the New Zealand Warriors.

Graham Annesley, NRL Chief Operating Officer said, "Our partnership with IMG Sports Media provides the NRL with the opportunity to increase our international coverage by tapping into IMGs vast network of contacts around the world. Professional Rugby League is a great spectacle and I am sure it is going to be a very attractive offering to international broadcasters and genuine sports fans."

Michael Mellor, Senior Vice President, Head of Asia Pacific said, "After successfully distributing the 2008 Rugby League World Cup to 119 countries and 154 million homes, IMG is delighted to add such a prominent property to our diverse and ever growing catalogue. The acquisition of the NRL allows us to take this action packed premier rugby league to a whole new global audience. We are very close to finalizing a deal in the UK, thus allowing NRL's many fans there to continue to enjoy live coverage of the sport."

Source: IMG Sports Media

 

[Rosetta]

Is it possible this will provide better options for, shall we say, less than honourable means of watching footy here in Australia?

Haha, yes.

There's a good chance you'll be able to find a higher quality stream of a match illegally online instead of watching it on Nein, quite ridiculous.

 

[Desert Qlder]

Haha, yes.

There's a good chance you'll be able to find a higher quality stream of a match illegally online instead of watching it on Nein, quite ridiculous.

:thumb

Music to my ears.

 

[afinalsin666]

Huh. Bangaladesh gets HD but we're still stuck in 2005. Righto.

 

[[FKN-SIK]]

Vpn

 

[carlosthedwarf]

Same thing happened during the Olympics. Third world countries with HD on Youtube while we're stuck with SD and Eddie's fat mug

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

It won't be Australia Network Gourley.

IMG have a long standing business relationship with Eurosport, so Eurosport Asia (which broadcasts in Thailand AFAIK) is a good shout IMO. We'll probably find out by February next year whom the "guaranteed" TV coverage is through.

Cool. In Asia Eurosport cover both the ESL + The Championship, so moving into the NRL shouldn't be a problem.

 

[morley101]

It would be nice to know if the NRL sold the rights to IMG media for a flat fee or is IMG media acting as an agent for the NRL in negotiations with O/S broadcasters.

 

[Diesel]

Good to read the International game is getting some decent coverage in o/s markets

 

[Misanthrope]

Don't get me started on the "Australian network". AFL is not the be all and end all of Aussie sport, and it's piss poor that I'm exposed to it every time I go into a bar here simply because it's all the network shows.