Exactly what I have been saying all along about the respective deals all along. They are apples and Oranges comparisons
But for the 30% over 7 years or so increase AFL got
that includes
Giving ch7 access to stream games
Giving Fox a Super Saturday
9 extra rounds
Now expansion
On top of 25% or so inflation.
So the question is what extra content can NRL give TV to warrant a similar increase.
9th game
Internationals and Pre season
Extended NRLW.
However by that time AFL will be looking for team 20, Giving them 10 games of content a round. Again making the comparison Apples v Oranges again
And for our meagre 3-7% increase (depending on what cash amount turns out to be) they got:
12 extra games
another team in the lucrative Brisbane market
disbanded the digital media arm
loss of telstra streaming forcing people onto kayo
Just a reminder, tv only avg annual revenue
NRL
(2018 deal inc telstra) $380 mill a year avg ($356mill cash, $24mill contra)
(2023 deal no telstra) $397mill (either $370mill cash or $397mill cash depending on how you read the announcement)
AFL
(2017 deal inc telstra) $416mill ($400mill cash, $16mill contra)
(2023 deal no telstra) $423mill ($410mill cash)
(2025 deal no telstra) $550mill ($530mill cash)
Cash Gaps
2017/19 deal avg $44mill per year
2023-24 deal avg $40mill or $13mill
2025-2027 deal avg $160mill or $130 mill
Thats the starkness of the current reality unless something changes for NRL before 2027.