Australian telecommunications company Telstra has acquired domestic digital media rights for the National Rugby League, the country’s top rugby league competition, according to the Australian newspaper.
The live rights are worth a total of up to A$100 million (€81 million/$105 million) over five years, or A$20 million per year, from 2013 to 2017, the newspaper said. The rights fee is an increase on Telstra’s previous six-year digital media rights deal, from 2007 to 2012, which was worth a total of A$90 million, or A$15 million per year, the report added.
The deal covers mobile, tablet and internet platforms.
According to the newspaper, the deal is expected to be announced officially tomorrow (Wednesday).
Telstra struck the agreement with the Australian Rugby League Commission, which has been negotiating the next cycle of rights on behalf of the league.
The only rights that remain unsold for the next cycle are for the NRL’s radio broadcasts.