National Rugby League (NRL)
NRL set for two more teams by new rights cycle
The National Rugby League will be confident of securing an uplift in broadcast and commercial revenues in the next cycle, after it emerged an 18th franchise spot has been awarded to Western Australia.
Premier Sports Asia renews NRL rights in Asia at flat fee
Premier Sports Asia renewed its rights in more than 20 markets in Asia for Australia’s National Rugby League at a flat fee in the face of minimal competition.
Foxtel to cover NRL’s new pre-season tournament
Australian pay-television broadcaster Foxtel has acquired rights to a new pre-season competition launched by the NRL
Premier Sports renews NRL rights in Asia
Pay broadcaster Premier Sports Asia has acquired exclusive live rights in more than 20 markets in Asia for Australia's National Rugby League in a five-year deal from 2023 to 2027
AFL mega-deal puts pressure on NRL over domestic rights revenue
The Australian Football League's recent record domestic media rights deals have put pressure on the management of the National Rugby League over its own domestic rights valuation
State of Origin opener draws 1.8m viewers to Nine
The opening match of this year’s State of Origin rugby league representative series drew 1.8
Discovery secures free-to-air rugby league rights in deal with Sky NZ
Pay-television operator Sky New Zealand has announced a deal with media company Discovery that will see three rugby league matches televised on Discovery’s free-to-air channel Three and streaming service T…
NZ Warriors allowed to extend Vodafone deal; NRL attracts record audience on Foxtel
The National Rugby League has granted permission for the New Zealand Warriors to extend their principal sponsorship deal with telco Vodafone following a long-running dispute between the franchise and the…
Sport1 bags three-season NRL deal
German pay-television sports broadcaster Sport1 has acquired platform-neutral rights in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to show Australia’s National Rugby League from 2022 to 2024.
NRL secures positive renewals following pandemic reductions
The National Rugby League and its commercial rights-holder, the Australian Rugby League Commission, will achieve a satisfactory return for the league’s global media rights from 2023 to 2027.
Nine ‘close to NRL renewal’
Australian broadcaster Nine Entertainment is close to extending its biggest sports media rights property, free-to-air rights for the National Rugby League, according to local media
Streaming wars help revive Australian market as Nine and Ten launch new services
An outbreak of ‘streaming wars’ in Australia has injected life into a sports media rights market that this time last year looked threatened by a sharp decline.
Australian free-to-air broadcasters ‘prepare to challenge’ Nine for NRL
All three of the main Australian television networks are expected to be allowed to bid for free-to-air rights to the National Rugby League, with the Australian Rugby League Commission said to be looking…
Sky New Zealand renews NRL rights
Pay-television broadcaster Sky New Zealand has renewed its media rights for Australia's National Rugby League for five years, from 2023 to 2027
Ex-Nine executive joins NRL as chief customer and digital officer
Former Nine Entertainment managing director of commercial, Alexi Baker, has been named the chief customer and digital officer at Australia’s top-tier domestic rugby competition, the National Rugby League.
Ex-Nine commercial head Baker ‘in talks to join NRL as COO’
Alexi Baker, former Nine Entertainment managing director of commercial, is believed to be in talks to become chief operating officer at Australia’s top-tier domestic rugby competition, the National Rugby L…
ESPN picks up NRL rights across Africa
International sports broadcaster ESPN has acquired rights in Africa to the NRL Australian rugby league competition
Australia’s top federations prioritise income security in renegotiated rights deals
Australia’s top domestic federations have accepted significant short-term rights-fee cuts in renegotiated deals with domestic broadcasters, prioritising income security in the aftermath of the Covid-19 shutdown.