THE NRL will benefit from a massive uplift on its current broadcasting deal, with the ARL Commission reportedly having signed off a new seven-year rights deal from 2028 that will be worth A$5.3 billion over that period, which is equivalent to around A$750 million per year, or, at current exchange rates, around £380 million per year.
That figure contrasts sharply with the current figure of around £21.5 million that Super League receives from Sky Sports, although RFL officials are hoping that that figure will increase significantly with a new deal from next year, with negotiations due to be completed later this month.
A major aim of NRL Chairman Peter V’landys was to pursue a broadcasting deal that exceeded that of the AFL, the NRL’s major competitor in the Australian market, whose current seven-year deal is worth A$4.5 million and began in the 2025 season.
The new deal now allows V’landys to claim the NRL as Australia’s most-watched and most valuable TV product.
Under the terms of the deal the existing rights holders Fox and Channel 9 have retained the rights, while their overall value could rise even higher when a deal with New Zealand TV is agreed.
State of Origin will remain on the Nine network, while a clause has been added to enable the provision of a 20th NRL team being included by 2030, probably in the New Zealand South Island city of Christchurch, in order to capitalise on the recent upsurge of interest in Rugby League in that country, following the New Zealand Warriors’ success.
A formal announcement of the deal is expected within the next week.
The value of the deal was boosted because Fox and Channel Nine had to fend off interest from streaming giant Amazon as well as the Seven and Ten Networks.
Foxtel has secured rights to every NRL game and will sell nominated matches to Nine.
Amazon reportedly made a serious bid for Friday Night Football, but the ARL Commission has opted for Foxtel, which is now owned by DAZN, and Channel 9 as its future broadcast partners.