Channel Nine may look to get two exclusive games as part of the new broadcast deal and sacrifice the Thursday night game, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Nine saw the value or having exclusive rights with the Australian Open this year, a concept they would like to explore for the new NRL deal.

It is believed that next year's broadcast games have to be locked in by mid-August, which could make it hard to predict what will be the blockbuster matches.

Peter V’landys is the frontrunner to become the next chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, who will seek the maximum revenue return for the NRL.

V’landys, the chief executive of Racing NSW, has strong ties to News Corp, which owns Fox Sports, one of the main bidders for the TV rights.

‘‘I’ve had more arguments with News Corp than any other media group,’’ V’landys told The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘‘I have not got the position yet but, if I do get it, they may be in for a surprise.’’

The Sydney Morning Herald reported last week that the NRL ratings have been tumbling, specially on free-to-air TV, with last weekend's the worst of the year.

Nine and Fox are seen as the only two likely bidders for the TV rights.

4 COMMENTS

  1. What is the point of Thursday night footy when the soft draw for the roosters doesn’t have them playing then.
    When was the last time roosters had to play on a Thursday night.
    It’s about 9 network getting more rooster games to bolster their diminishing membership.
    Well done mr rooster gyngell

  2. I’m all for more footy on TV more often, but in terms of the game growing/surviving, Thursday night, Friday 6pm games gots to go. to hard for the fans to get to (esp the Friday 6pm game).
    Have game of the round on Friday night as usual, the other games all on Sat and Sunday.
    Nine, Fox can choose to play them live, on replay or have a second-channel (eg, fox-1, fox-2 playing different games at the same time) then the replays afterwards.
    I’m surprised that Nine doesn’t have a dedicated NRL channel, playing live games, replays, classic games, highlight shows, “top 10” or “top100” shows, news and panel shows around the clock (not sure if fox do this already).

  3. andyj you are 100% correct and a lot of questions have to be answered as to how the roosters manage to get most of their season home games in time slots that suit crowd attendance which explains the numbers despite the commentators stating that the crowd is made up of majority opposition supporters more often than not.
    Funnily enough despite all this exposure and buying a premiership last year their membership is down around 800.
    Good chance this is the only NRL club in history to lose membership following a premiership.
    Another strong case for relocation.

  4. EdithWoodNuggeys says they are throwing lots of money at the Central Coast juniors to steal them. As they don’t have any juniors of their own.
    It makes sense that they move the Chickens to the Central Coast.

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