Channel Seven will fork out close to $12 million to secure the exclusive rights to the Rugby League World Cup in Australia in 2026.
With the NRL set to begin negotiations for the sport’s next broadcast cycle in the coming months, Channel Seven has signalled its intention to be at the table by committing itself to the largest broadcast deal in international rugby league history.
The NRL has been in negotiations with broadcasters for months and Seven West Media has picked up the rights to the tournament despite interest from DAZN and Nine Entertainment Co, the publisher of this masthead.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality said Nine were not willing to pay such a high fee for the rights in the off-season and preferred to save its money for when it heads to the negotiating table for the NRL and State of Origin rights from 2028.
The tournament won’t be shown on DAZN either, with Seven securing the exclusive rights to the tournament which will be the most hotly contested World Cup in history given the emergence of the Pacific nations.
It’s not the first time Seven have acquired the rights to rugby league. Seven was the home of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
James Tedesco skippered Australia to a World Cup win in 2022.Credit: AP
The network used Jim Wilson, Laurie Daley, Benji Marshall, Brett Kimmorley, Dan Ginnane, Andrew Moore and Renee Gartner as part of their broadcast and commentary team eight years ago.
Payne Haas’ decision to pledge his allegiance to Samoa will create plenty of interest, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui also considering joining the 2022 World Cup runners-up.