The ARL Commission has secured a landmark seven-year $5.3 billion TV rights deal, meaning the NRL has seized the AFL’s title as the most valuable television product in Australian sport.
The AFL is currently under a seven-year, $4.5 billion deal with Seven Network and Foxtel.
The new NRL broadcast rights agreement is worth $5.3 billion over seven years, replacing the current five-year $2 billion contract that expires in 2027, reports The Australian.
It will additionally include a new dedicated New Zealand broadcasting partner.
The deal will see existing TV rights partners, Foxtel and the Nine Network, retain coverage, with Foxtel securing the rights to every NRL game.
Foxtel will sell off nominated matches to Nine, and the State of Origin will remain on Nine Network, according to The Australian.
The record deal is still being finalised and is expected to be agreed in principle over the next 48 hours, following the ARL Commission board meeting on Wednesday.
The deal is worth around $750 million annually.
Streaming giant Amazon reportedly showed keen interest in the deal, as did the Seven and Ten networks, which were quickly sidelined by the ARL Commission.
The historic deal forecasts a bold new era for the sport, with the deal possibly leading to the first $2 million NRL players.