Australian telecommunications company Telstra is targeting major investments in sports rights to drive its IPTV business, according to The Australian newspaper.
Telstra Media group managing director Rick Ellis said the company is talking to a wide range of sports rights holders in order to bolster its content. Among the digital rights properties being negotiated are rugby league competition the National Rugby League (NRL), Cricket Australia and V8 Supercars.
The Australian added that Telstra is weeks away from announcing a A$75 million (€60.5 million/$78.4 million) deal with the NRL which will allow the company to stream live games direct to mobile phones. Telstra is also hoping to secure rights to offer online replays and exclusive highlights packages to its customers.
Ellis said: “We’ve been talking to pretty much all rights holders and content originators that fall into that category of premium international and premium local and sport. So watch this space.”
He added: “We are focused on partnerships and if there are opportunities to joint venture or where there could be an odd acquisition or two that adds value to the overall growth scenario for Telstra, then we are open to that.”