The NRL has struck the largest media rights deal in Australian history, securing a $5.3bn agreement with Nine Entertainment, Foxtel Group and New Zealand network Sky.
“Today marks a defining moment for rugby league,” said Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys on Tuesday. “It returns the draw back to the NRL and will ensure fair and equitable scheduling for all Clubs” (NRL).
Nine will have exclusive coverage of the State of Origin series, the NRL grand final, and will continue to broadcast three season matches a week. They will also be broadcasting 33 NRLW games and the league’s finals series (AFR).
Rugby league’s international reach will be expanded, with Foxtel’s parent company DAZN taking NRL matches into 200 markets globally. V’landys also stated that the league needs to globalise and will potentially have a team based in the US or Europe (FOX).