NBC secure rights for PNG, NZ & Pacific

[yakstorm]

https://www.nbc.com.pg/post/31541/nbc-secures-super-league-tv-rights-for-png-and-the-pacific

Papua New Guinea’s national broadcaster, the National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC], has secured exclusive broadcast rights to air the UK Super League for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons.

The agreement means NBC will show all 191 Super League matches live in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

This is the first time the UK Super League has partnered with NBC, and the first time a Pacific broadcaster has been given commercial broadcast rights in New Zealand for a major international sports competition.

Under the deal, all matches will be shown live on NBC’s new Digital Television platform. NBC will also launch a new online streaming service, allowing fans across PNG to watch Super League matches anytime and anywhere.

To reach more viewers, NBC has started working with other broadcasters in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands by sublicensing the rights, so more rugby league fans in the region can watch the competition.

The Super League has a strong Pacific presence, with more than 35 players of Pacific heritage playing in the 2025 season. Papua New Guinea players include Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam, Liam Horne, Nene Macdonald, Rhyse Martin, Jeremiah Simbiken, and Jacob Alick-Wiencke. Players from New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Australia with Pacific roots are also featuring across top clubs.

These players continue to inspire young rugby league players across the Pacific and show the region’s growing influence in the international game.

Rhodri Jones, Managing Director of RL Commercial, welcomed the partnership and said PNG is one of the most passionate rugby league regions in the world. He said the agreement will help grow the sport and give more fans access to Super League matches.

NBC Managing Director Kora Nou said the agreement is a proud moment for PNG and public broadcasting in the Pacific.

"We are honored to bring the Super League to our audiences across Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. Rugby league is deeply woven into our national identity, and securing these rights is a proud achievement for public broadcasting in the region.

"With our new digital TV and OTT platforms, we’re making Super League more accessible than ever. We’re also proud to be the first Pacific broadcaster to hold commercial rights in New Zealand for a
major international sports event," Mr Nou said.

He added that NBC is also working to make Super League matches available to fans in all 22 provinces through its provincial radio network.

The partnership marks a major step forward for rugby league coverage in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific

 

[Perth Red]

Great exposure for SL.

 

[Ian Douglas]

Can only see more and more kumuls heading to super league and the championship.

 

[yakstorm]

Can only see more and more kumuls heading to super league and the championship.

Would be the best case scenario for the Kumuls. If suddenly there is 60+ PNG eligible players running around between NRL, SL and Queensland Cup, that is the foundation for helping the national team start to compete with the likes of Australia, NZ and England.

 

[Ian Douglas]

Would be the best case scenario for the Kumuls. If suddenly there is 60+ PNG eligible players running around between NRL, SL and Queensland Cup, that is the foundation for helping the national team start to compete with the likes of Australia, NZ and England.

100%

I honestly don’t think we are that far away now when you include the NSW cup, championship and jersey flegg comps.

 

[RL The greatest game]

https://www.nbc.com.pg/post/31541/nbc-secures-super-league-tv-rights-for-png-and-the-pacific

Papua New Guinea’s national broadcaster, the National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC], has secured exclusive broadcast rights to air the UK Super League for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons.

The agreement means NBC will show all 191 Super League matches live in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

This is the first time the UK Super League has partnered with NBC, and the first time a Pacific broadcaster has been given commercial broadcast rights in New Zealand for a major international sports competition.

Under the deal, all matches will be shown live on NBC’s new Digital Television platform. NBC will also launch a new online streaming service, allowing fans across PNG to watch Super League matches anytime and anywhere.

To reach more viewers, NBC has started working with other broadcasters in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands by sublicensing the rights, so more rugby league fans in the region can watch the competition.

The Super League has a strong Pacific presence, with more than 35 players of Pacific heritage playing in the 2025 season. Papua New Guinea players include Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam, Liam Horne, Nene Macdonald, Rhyse Martin, Jeremiah Simbiken, and Jacob Alick-Wiencke. Players from New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Australia with Pacific roots are also featuring across top clubs.

These players continue to inspire young rugby league players across the Pacific and show the region’s growing influence in the international game.

Rhodri Jones, Managing Director of RL Commercial, welcomed the partnership and said PNG is one of the most passionate rugby league regions in the world. He said the agreement will help grow the sport and give more fans access to Super League matches.

NBC Managing Director Kora Nou said the agreement is a proud moment for PNG and public broadcasting in the Pacific.

"We are honored to bring the Super League to our audiences across Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. Rugby league is deeply woven into our national identity, and securing these rights is a proud achievement for public broadcasting in the region.

"With our new digital TV and OTT platforms, we’re making Super League more accessible than ever. We’re also proud to be the first Pacific broadcaster to hold commercial rights in New Zealand for a
major international sports event," Mr Nou said.

He added that NBC is also working to make Super League matches available to fans in all 22 provinces through its provincial radio network.

The partnership marks a major step forward for rugby league coverage in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific

Well done to Rhodri Jones for securing this deal

 

[Ian Douglas]

Well done to Rhodri Jones for securing this deal

Lots of good news coming out of PNG of late both on and off the pitch.

 

[RL The greatest game]

Yes they are going to be a real asset to the NRL.

Lots of good news coming out of PNG of late both on and off the pitch.

 

[Ian Douglas]

Yes they are going to be a real asset to the NRL.

And the game in general.

biggest untapped player pool in the world for RL.

 

[RL The greatest game]

And the game in general.

biggest untapped player pool in the world for RL.

Yes and the African continent will be next, but not just yet, but its coming

 

[Ian Douglas]

Yes and the African continent will be next, but not just yet, but its coming

100%

always thought the game was going to put down roots in South America as well about 10-15 years ago when things started to happen in chile and Brazil.

 

[Taking The Two]

Commiserations to those nations for having to listen to Brian Carney.

 

[jason taylor]

Would be the best case scenario for the Kumuls. If suddenly there is 60+ PNG eligible players running around between NRL, SL and Queensland Cup, that is the foundation for helping the national team start to compete with the likes of Australia, NZ and England.

Yep - give it 5-10 years and they'll start being up there with Tonga and Samoa.

 

[marlins2.0]

Yep - give it 5-10 years and they'll start being up there with Tonga and Samoa.

England will need to buck it's ideas up quickly

 

[Ian Douglas]

England will need to buck it's ideas up quickly

Getting rid of the useless coach is a start.

 

[Taking The Two]

England are in danger of becoming 4th or 5th best nation in the world. Treating the international game like it’s a nuisance and increasing the quota from 7 to 10 is just ridiculous, really. The Ashes should have been a line in the sand, it was more a “never mind, we’ve got Bradford back”.

 

[Perth Red]

England are in danger of becoming 4th or 5th best nation in the world. Treating the international game like it’s a nuisance and increasing the quota from 7 to 10 is just ridiculous, really. The Ashes should have been a line in the sand, it was more a “never mind, we’ve got Bradford back”.

Are we?
We just whitewashed Tonga and Samoa in respective test series.

 

[Taking The Two]

Are we?
We just whitewashed Tonga and Samoa in respective test series.

We just got pumped 3-0 off the Australians.

 

[Perth Red]

We just got pumped 3-0 off the Australians.

So we're going to 4th or 5th because we got pumped, again, by Australia. That makes a lot of sense!
Tonga and Samoa have certainly closed on England by virtue of some great talent that has come through and players abandoning Aus and NZ for their heritage countries. But to say they have, or will, overtake us in world standings seems hyperbolic at this time. There is little evidence based on the recent test series against both nations to believe this is the case.

I'm looking forward to a proper series against NZ to see if we are 2nd or 3rd (with a decent coach!)

 

[Taking The Two]

So we're going to 4th or 5th because we got pumped, again, by Australia. That makes a lot of sense!
Tonga and Samoa have certainly closed on England by virtue of some great talent that has come through and players abandoning Aus and NZ for their heritage countries. But to say they have, or will, overtake us in world standings seems hyperbolic at this time. There is little evidence based on the recent test series against both nations to believe this is the case.

I'm looking forward to a proper series against NZ to see if we are 2nd or 3rd (with a decent coach!)

No, not because of losing to Australia. Though that normal will continue and the gap will continue to get wider to the point where semi-final defeats and not laying a glove to one of the poorest Australian sides to visit the UK in quite literal decades is an aspiration. That is before you actually look at the reasons as to why England are getting worse including the disparity in wealth between clubs, the investment into places like Perth, the Pacific Islands and PNG, the attitude taken towards international rugby by the English, the 66% increase in quota players in England and the lack of interest in clubs being held accountable for pathways in England.

It’s a recipe for a shit sandwich. Overseen by the English