EXCLUSIVE: The NRL is poised to fast-track broadcast rights negotiations and plans to announce a new deal within the next three months.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys made the shock reveal as the game’s latest Las Vegas venture played out in front of more than 45,000 fans – plus a roomful of TV and streaming suitors.
While the established rugby league broadcasters were out in force, including Foxtel and Nine, V’landys claimed the level of interest in NRL content was now at unprecedented heights.
“Anyone who says we can’t globalise this game is a nark,” he said
“Every broadcaster is here at the moment, upstairs in the VIP area. You’ve got all the streamers. We’ve got Amazon, Paramount, and others. There are more here than people know. More than we’ve ever had before.
“All of them are showing interest. I expected that would happen but not at this level.”
On the presence of billionaire Sir Len Blavatnik, the power behind Foxtel owner DAZN, he said: “He realises how important rugby league is … he’s here as one of our special guests.”
The current NRL broadcast rights
agreement is worth about $2bn”.
V’landys hopes the next five-year instalment will be worth close to double.
“I’ve never seen the game wanted so much by so many broadcasters,” he said.
“We’re in the greatest position we’ve ever been in. I feel like getting a little auctioneer’s box and auctioning it off upstairs tonight.”
But V’landys was adamant the NRL would not put on blinkers and just dash for cash.
The impact on fans would be forefront in considerations, he promised, especially if options to carve up and distribute the rights through various platforms emerged.
“We don’t want to be doing anything that makes the game unaffordable for our fans,” he said.
“It’s vital that they can always subscribe.”
And with that, V’landys was gone. There were, clearly, more talks to be had.”
Interesting they repeat the 800 millions year figure
The figure to beat afl is 590 million and that’s pretty much locked in
Timing negotiations for right after Vegas is smart too