Rugby League

Australian commercial broadcasters Seven and Ten, along with US technology giant Google, are all in contention for the free-to-air television rights to the NRL rugby league competition from 2018 following the conclusion of the first round of talks, according to The Daily Telegraph.

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has acquired rights for the New Zealand national rugby league team’s tour of England later this year.

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, a division of media and entertainment company Discovery Communications, has struck a deal to acquire pay-television broadcaster Setanta Sports Asia.

Australian pay-television operator Foxtel has agreed a deal to acquire a 15-per-cent stake in commercial broadcaster Ten.

Australian commercial broadcaster Nine will make a “bold bid” for a package of rights to the Australian Football League Aussie rules competition, prompting a retaliatory move by rival Seven for the State of Origin rugby league series, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The National Rugby League’s decision to accelerate its sales process means the two biggest sport properties in Australia will negotiate new deals simultaneously.

A group of advertising agencies in Australia have criticised the “aggression” adopted in efforts by some of the country’s top domestic sports properties to drive increases in rights fees.

New Australian subscription video-on-­demand platform Stan has said it could bid with commercial broadcaster Nine for key sports rights.

Australian commercial broadcaster Ten is preparing to launch a bid for rights to the NRL rugby league competition and Aussie rules football league the AFL.

Australian commercial broadcaster Ten has confirmed it is considering an investment offer from pay-television operator Foxtel.

The NRL, which operates the top division of rugby league in Australia, could sell rights to the State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland separately from its next cycle of rights for the top-tier Premiership, according to chief executive Dave Smith.

Australian rugby league competition the NRL will bring forward by one year the start of negotiations over its next broadcast rights deal, according to The Australian.

NRL chief executive Dave Smith has said the Australian rugby league competition is targeting a 15 per cent increase in annual value from its next broadcast rights deal.

Media rights clips from January 29 to February 11

Rugby league’s Super League, which comprises clubs from England and France, has agreed new broadcast deals in Australia, New Zealand, France, North America and the Middle East.

Media rights clips from January 15 to January 28