News Corp swoops on NRL rights
Date
November 25, 2015 - 10:06PM
Max Mason
Media Reporter
The National Rugby League is poised to announce a historic rights deal with Fox Sports, with the News Corp-owned pay-television broadcaster believed to have acquired the rights to the crucial Saturday night game from the free-to-air rights holder Nine Entertainment Co for around $175 million over five years.
Fairfax Media understands that the NRL commission will meet on Thursday morning to sign off the deal with an announcement expected soon after.
It deal follows Nine's five-year $925 million contract signed with the NRL in August, when the league broke with tradition and negotiated the free-to-air rights separate from the pay television rights.
The Saturday game is seen as crucial for Fox Sports so that it can maintain exclusivity over NRL games played on that day. Nine had previously been prepared to sell back the game for $40 million per year, while Fox Sports was prepared to pay $30 million. It is understood the parties met in the middle at close to $35 million.
It marks a remarkable turnaround by News Corp after it was snubbed by the NRL in August, sparking a concerted and ultimately successful campaign by News to oust the then-NRL chief executive Dave Smith.
Announcing a $2.508 billion six-year deal with rival code the Australian Football League in August, News Corp co-chairman Rupert Murdoch hit out at the NRL saying: "We've always preferred Aussie Rules and we've always believed this is the premium code in Australia," he said. "I guess we will engage with the NRL in ti