NRL boss David Gallop excited by AFL's riches
Brent Read
From: The Australian
April 28, 2011 5:53PM
NRL officials believe the AFL's billion-dollar broadcasting deal is a win for their code.
NRL chief executive David Gallop today claimed that everyone involved in rugby league should be excited by the AFL’s outcome, which resulted in the rival code receiving $1.253 billion – including more than $1.1 million cash – for its on-line and broadcasting rights for the next five years.
The NRL’s existing broadcasting deal runs until the end of the 2012 and formal talks over a new deal are on hold until the formation of the independent commission.
The commission was expected to take control of the game on May 1 but it now appears certain to be delayed given the stakeholders are yet to agree on the inaugural eight commissioners.
However, the NRL’s ratings are at record levels this season, fuelling hopes the game could go close to matching the AFL by breaking the billion-dollar barrier.
“Everyone in the game should be excited by the outcome (for the AFL),” Gallop said.
“We look at it like having food for hungry people. Our sport is producing outstanding results for television at the moment.”
Gallop would have been delighted to hear Channel Seven supremo David Leckie’s response today when he was asked whether the network’s massive bid for AFL would rule them out of the race for rugby league.
Leckie simply replied: “No.”