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Next TV deal discussion 2028 -

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shadowformz

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Channel 9, Channel 7, DAZN and Amazon Prime to battle for 2026 Rugby League World Cup TV rights
A multibillion-dollar global streaming giant is a shock contender for next year’s Rugby League World Cup, with the NRL chasing a huge financial windfall on the back of the international game’s booming popularity.

Phil Rothfield
Phil Rothfield
@BuzzRothfield
less than 2 min read
April 14, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
Rugby league’s international popularity is attaching global streaming giants.
Rugby league’s international popularity is attaching global streaming giants.
The NRL is chasing a $20 million global TV deal with four interested networks for next year’s Rugby League World Cup on the back of the boom in international football.

Channel 9, Channel 7, DAZN and streaming giant Amazon Prime have already expressed interest in the tournament to be played between October and November next year in Australia.

The emergence of Pacific powerhouses Samoa and Tonga to challenge the superiority of heavyweight Tier 1 countries Australia, New Zealand and England has sparked a surge of unprecedented interest in the international game.

It’s why the four TV networks will enter a bidding war for the local and northern hemisphere rights when negotiations start this week in a prelude to the NRL’s multibillion-dollar TV broadcast discussions.

This article contains features which are only available in the web version
Take me there

Amazon Prime is an interesting new player on the scene.

The multibillion-dollar global giant started broadcasting major sport in 2017 but has never touched rugby league before.

Amazon Prime’s previous sports broadcasting rights deals have included the NFL, the NHL, soccer’s UEFA Champions League, the UK Premier League and the French Open tennis.

Channel 7 is a serious player, too. The network last covered rugby league at the 2017 World Cup. It is desperate to end Channel 9’s stranglehold on rugby league on free-to-air TV.

NRL bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo, armed with key TV ratings figures from last year’s Pacific Championships, are handling the negotiations for the International Rugby League.

Australia celebrates its World Cup victory over Samoa in 2022. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images
Australia v the Kiwis attracted 925,000 viewers, beating rugby union’s Bledisloe Cup (760,000) and the Socceroos v Saudi Arabia (436,000).

The Pacific Championships final between Australia and Tonga was a sellout at CommBank Stadium and the highest crowd for a Test match in Sydney since 2008.

The timing of the World Cup – in a quiet part of the sporting calendar between the NRL grand final and the cricket season – is an important tool in negotiations with the major broadcasters looking for strong, high-rating content to attract advertising revenue.

ARLC chairman Peter V'landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
Abdo declined to comment on the specifics of the TV deal but said it would be the biggest international series in the game’s history.

“The World Cup in 2026 will be the best in its 70-year history,” Abdo said.

“The growth of international rugby league has been extraordinary and proves the strong appetite for the game on a global stage.”

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G

Gobsmacked

Bench
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shadowformz said:
Text to above link.




Sport
NRL
subscriber-breach-pixel
Channel 9, Channel 7, DAZN and Amazon Prime to battle for 2026 Rugby League World Cup TV rights
A multibillion-dollar global streaming giant is a shock contender for next year’s Rugby League World Cup, with the NRL chasing a huge financial windfall on the back of the international game’s booming popularity.

Phil Rothfield
Phil Rothfield
@BuzzRothfield
less than 2 min read
April 14, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
Rugby league’s international popularity is attaching global streaming giants.
Rugby league’s international popularity is attaching global streaming giants.
The NRL is chasing a $20 million global TV deal with four interested networks for next year’s Rugby League World Cup on the back of the boom in international football.

Channel 9, Channel 7, DAZN and streaming giant Amazon Prime have already expressed interest in the tournament to be played between October and November next year in Australia.

The emergence of Pacific powerhouses Samoa and Tonga to challenge the superiority of heavyweight Tier 1 countries Australia, New Zealand and England has sparked a surge of unprecedented interest in the international game.

It’s why the four TV networks will enter a bidding war for the local and northern hemisphere rights when negotiations start this week in a prelude to the NRL’s multibillion-dollar TV broadcast discussions.

This article contains features which are only available in the web version
Take me there

Amazon Prime is an interesting new player on the scene.

The multibillion-dollar global giant started broadcasting major sport in 2017 but has never touched rugby league before.

Amazon Prime’s previous sports broadcasting rights deals have included the NFL, the NHL, soccer’s UEFA Champions League, the UK Premier League and the French Open tennis.

Channel 7 is a serious player, too. The network last covered rugby league at the 2017 World Cup. It is desperate to end Channel 9’s stranglehold on rugby league on free-to-air TV.

NRL bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo, armed with key TV ratings figures from last year’s Pacific Championships, are handling the negotiations for the International Rugby League.

Australia celebrates its World Cup victory over Samoa in 2022. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images
Australia v the Kiwis attracted 925,000 viewers, beating rugby union’s Bledisloe Cup (760,000) and the Socceroos v Saudi Arabia (436,000).

The Pacific Championships final between Australia and Tonga was a sellout at CommBank Stadium and the highest crowd for a Test match in Sydney since 2008.

The timing of the World Cup – in a quiet part of the sporting calendar between the NRL grand final and the cricket season – is an important tool in negotiations with the major broadcasters looking for strong, high-rating content to attract advertising revenue.

ARLC chairman Peter V'landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
Abdo declined to comment on the specifics of the TV deal but said it would be the biggest international series in the game’s history.

“The World Cup in 2026 will be the best in its 70-year history,” Abdo said.

“The growth of international rugby league has been extraordinary and proves the strong appetite for the game on a global stage.”

More Coverage
NFL model to deliver NRL $3 billion TV rights deal
SuperCoach wrap: Ponga flops, Hughes among injuries
Join the conversation
More related stories
PVL rejects calls for Origin eligibility overhaul
NRL
PVL rejects calls for Origin eligibility overhaul
Read more
Kangaroos raided: Samoa’s secret approach to Maroons star
NRL
Kangaroos raided: Samoa’s secret approach to Maroons star
Read more
Subscribe
Sign In
Search
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Membership
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Contact Us
Our News Network
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A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out.Sometimes our articles will try to help you find the right product at the right price. We may receive payment from third parties for publishing this content or when you make a purchase through the links on our sites.
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Nationwide News Pty Ltd © 2025. All times AEST (GMT +10). Powered by WordPress.com VIP
Click to expand...
Please! Anyone but 9 !
I'm starting to think that they're actively trying to make RL seem as boring as possible. Making RL almost unwatchable.
Sometimes feels like an eternity between someone saying anything, for Joey to then just tell us how shit something is.

Save us !!!
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

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BuffaloRules said:
Yes ..for 2028 … they will need someone to agree to pick up the SL alone in 2027 …
Click to expand...
Given DAZN are now incumbent rights holders I suppose they could align all countries and bring the NRL PTV deal forward to start in 2027, especially if they can get Perth or PNG in to start a 9 game comp in 2027.

DAZN are the only likely company that would likely be interested in screening RL in Aus, NZ, UK and France. They could also launch into PNG I suppose if considered a worthwhile market.

Does bring into question game production though and who would manage and pay for that in NRL and SL?
 
Last edited:
W

Wb1234

Immortal
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39,380
Perth Red said:
Given DAZN are now incumbent rights holders I suppose they could align all countries and bring the NRL PTV deal forward to start in 2027, especially if they can get Perth or PNG in to start a 9 game comp in 2027.
Click to expand...
They sign the extensions now and the new deals start when the old deal finishes

Not rocket science

Dazn is going to pay more for the last year when they don’t have too unless the nrl takes less over the rest of the deal
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

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Wb1234 said:
They sign the extensions now and the new deals start when the old deal finishes

Not rocket science

Dazn is going to pay more for the last year when they don’t have too unless the nrl takes less over the rest of the deal
Click to expand...
I presume you meant 'isnt'?
Its not unusual for the incumbent to start paying more earlier as a carrot to not go to open market or to get a preferred bid up.
 
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Wb1234

Immortal
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DAZN has rejected a proposal from the French Professional Football League (LFP) to terminate its five-year domestic rights deal for Ligue 1 after just one season.

The sports streaming service had initially agreed a five-year contract worth €400 million (US$453.8 million) per year to show eight of the nine Ligue 1 games held each week.

However, it has been keen to renegotiate its deal due to low subscriber numbers. It is believed to have just 500,000 signups for its service, which is significantly short of the 1.5 million it needs to break even on its investment.

In February, DAZN withheld half of its €70 million (US$79.4 million) payment, alleging that the LFP had not done enough to combat piracy. It also blamed the league and clubs for failing to promote its coverage and for not cooperating on content. The LFP proceeded to take DAZN to court for its owed money, which DAZN eventually paid at the end of the month.

Both sides then entered a mediation process in March in an attempt to find a compromise. According to multiple reports, the mediator offered a solution that would see DAZN pay the league €140 million (US$158.8 million), the full amount it owes for this season, and an additional fee of up to €125 million (US$141.8 million) in compensation for the following campaign. The deal with DAZN would then be terminated at the end of the current season.

At a meeting held this week, Ligue 1 clubs voted in favour of the proposal. However, DAZN has now rejected the offered solution, opening the door for formal legal action to take place.

www.sportspro.com

DAZN rejects LFP proposal to terminate Ligue 1 deal - SportsPro

French top-flight clubs had voted to end the league's five-year domestic rights agreement after just one season.
www.sportspro.com www.sportspro.com

Hmmmm
 
The_Wookie

The_Wookie

Bench
Messages
3,675
Wb1234 said:
DAZN has rejected a proposal from the French Professional Football League (LFP) to terminate its five-year domestic rights deal for Ligue 1 after just one season.

The sports streaming service had initially agreed a five-year contract worth €400 million (US$453.8 million) per year to show eight of the nine Ligue 1 games held each week.

However, it has been keen to renegotiate its deal due to low subscriber numbers. It is believed to have just 500,000 signups for its service, which is significantly short of the 1.5 million it needs to break even on its investment.

In February, DAZN withheld half of its €70 million (US$79.4 million) payment, alleging that the LFP had not done enough to combat piracy. It also blamed the league and clubs for failing to promote its coverage and for not cooperating on content. The LFP proceeded to take DAZN to court for its owed money, which DAZN eventually paid at the end of the month.

Both sides then entered a mediation process in March in an attempt to find a compromise. According to multiple reports, the mediator offered a solution that would see DAZN pay the league €140 million (US$158.8 million), the full amount it owes for this season, and an additional fee of up to €125 million (US$141.8 million) in compensation for the following campaign. The deal with DAZN would then be terminated at the end of the current season.

At a meeting held this week, Ligue 1 clubs voted in favour of the proposal. However, DAZN has now rejected the offered solution, opening the door for formal legal action to take place.

www.sportspro.com

DAZN rejects LFP proposal to terminate Ligue 1 deal - SportsPro

French top-flight clubs had voted to end the league's five-year domestic rights agreement after just one season.
www.sportspro.com www.sportspro.com

Hmmmm
Click to expand...

Dispute over piracy crap, has no real bearing on anything down here. While they keep making losses they have much financial backing
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

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Wb1234 said:
DAZN has rejected a proposal from the French Professional Football League (LFP) to terminate its five-year domestic rights deal for Ligue 1 after just one season.

The sports streaming service had initially agreed a five-year contract worth €400 million (US$453.8 million) per year to show eight of the nine Ligue 1 games held each week.

However, it has been keen to renegotiate its deal due to low subscriber numbers. It is believed to have just 500,000 signups for its service, which is significantly short of the 1.5 million it needs to break even on its investment.

In February, DAZN withheld half of its €70 million (US$79.4 million) payment, alleging that the LFP had not done enough to combat piracy. It also blamed the league and clubs for failing to promote its coverage and for not cooperating on content. The LFP proceeded to take DAZN to court for its owed money, which DAZN eventually paid at the end of the month.

Both sides then entered a mediation process in March in an attempt to find a compromise. According to multiple reports, the mediator offered a solution that would see DAZN pay the league €140 million (US$158.8 million), the full amount it owes for this season, and an additional fee of up to €125 million (US$141.8 million) in compensation for the following campaign. The deal with DAZN would then be terminated at the end of the current season.

At a meeting held this week, Ligue 1 clubs voted in favour of the proposal. However, DAZN has now rejected the offered solution, opening the door for formal legal action to take place.

www.sportspro.com

DAZN rejects LFP proposal to terminate Ligue 1 deal - SportsPro

French top-flight clubs had voted to end the league's five-year domestic rights agreement after just one season.
www.sportspro.com www.sportspro.com

Hmmmm
Click to expand...
Geez that doesn’t bode well does it. Bit rich for a tv provider to blame the sport for not promoting its content.

if we are to get dazn to pay 40million pound for SL (the amount it needs) it’s going to require around 120k uk and French subscribers. Problem in Europe is the bootleg viewing with hacked firesticks to watch all sport ptv free being very common.
 
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