NRL secures extended broadcast deal worth more than $2 billion

The Australian Rugby League Commission has advised that it has agreed extended contracts with NRL broadcast partners Fox Sports, Nine and Sky TV New Zealand worth more than $2 billion over its five-year duration.

The deal will see Channel 9 retain its exclusive rights to the NRL Grand Final and State of Origin until at least the end of 2027 as part of the NRL’s long-term broadcast partner’s own $575 million segment of the agreement.

As part of Nine’s new deal, the network will continue showing three regular season games on free-to-air television each week until the final five rounds of the season when viewers will be able to watch four.

Nine’s radio stations 2GB and 4BC will continue broadcasting games, and the network has also been given approval to show NRLW games.

The broadcast agreement promises “a joint commitment to grow and promote the game from grassroots participation to the elite level across all of Nine’s media platforms” and “a focus on broadcast innovation and presentation of the game for fans”.

Announcing the new deal this afternoon, Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman, Peter V’landys stated “today is an exciting day for our fans.

“This is more than a broadcast deal, it’s a partnership to grow rugby league using all of Nine’s media platforms - television, radio and print.

“It was a priority for the Commission to secure the long term future of the game. In doing so it was important to ensure that a long-term partnership reflected the commission’s desire to grow the game at all levels, to invest in innovation and to ensure we have a partner that can help grow the game from participation to pathway competitions and premierships.

“Nine has been a loyal partner for 30 years and I’m delighted that that partnership will continue until at least 2027.”

Advising that all three broadcast partners had increased their financial commitment to the game,

V’landys added “the Commission has now secured increased commitments from all three broadcast partners until the end of the 2027 season.

“These long-term deals highlight the strength of our game and the confidence broadcasters have in investing in rugby league.

“Broadcast deals generate the largest revenue for our game and having all three broadcasters committed until 2027, at a record level for the game, provides long-term financial certainty to invest and plan for the game’s future and the futures of our clubs.”