No surprises here with Nine signing a new broadcast deal for The NRL.which secures the sport on the network till 2022.
The new deal which takes effect from 2018 sees nine have exclusive Free-to-Air rights to broadcast 4 premium live games a week on each of Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, as well as the Finals series, State-of-Origin, and other special event matches. The deal also includes has also acquired all free streaming rights for these games.
Rugby League fans will enjoy a vastly improved experience – four premium live games each week, more than doubling live coverage to over 270 hours per season, all of which will be available free across Nine’s Free-to-Air television and digital media.
David Gyngell, CEO of NEC, said: “Rugby League is part of Nine’s DNA. This is a transformational outcome for supporters, Rugby League and Nine, enabling viewers to see the best of the NRL, live and free, 4 days per week, anywhere, on any device. As the audience for television fragments, the value and marketing power of free, live premium sport across multiple media cannot be underestimated.”
