NRL Chairman Peter V’landys is preparing for a pivotal year as the league gears up to negotiate its next multibillion-dollar broadcast rights deal, targeting a mid-2025 completion.
With the current deal set to expire in 2027, V’landys is eyeing lucrative opportunities amid a surge in the sport’s popularity.
“We will be negotiating the rights this year,” V’landys said.
“They don’t start until 2027, but you need a couple of years’ lead time. We hope to have something done in the middle of this year.”
The NRL’s growing fanbase, including the addition of the Dolphins as the 17th team and a potential expansion into Perth, positions the league to attract major players in global sports broadcasting.
V’landys, who secured a $1.7 billion deal with Foxtel and Channel 9 during the 2020 pandemic, remains confident that the league’s rising viewership will bolster its negotiating power.
The NRL is poised to challenge the AFL’s record $4.5 billion deal, with potential interest from streaming giants like Amazon, Netflix, and DAZN.
“We have got the most valuable rights in Australian sport,” he said, citing the NRL’s dominant TV ratings, including top spots for the 2024 season.
While Australian broadcasters will remain in play, international streaming giants like Amazon and DAZN are also expected to enter the race.
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
