The National Rugby League (NRL) is poised to finalize a seven-year broadcasting rights deal worth a record $5 billion, making it the most lucrative sports broadcast contract in Australian history. Sources indicate the partnership is expected to be formalized as early as this week, solidifying the existing arrangement between major broadcasters Foxtel and Nine.
Under the proposed agreement, Foxtel is set to contribute approximately $500 million annually, while Nine will pay around $150 million. A New Zealand broadcaster is also expected to invest $50 million to secure rights to air matches involving the local NRL team, the Warriors. This deal would surpass the Australian Football League’s current $643 million per season rights package.
According to reports, Foxtel and its streaming service Kayo Sports will retain exclusive rights to broadcast all regular season matches and finals, except for the grand final. From 2028 onward, Nine will resume the broadcast of three weekly matches, finals games, the grand final, and the State of Origin series. Attempts by other networks, including Channel 7, Network 10, and the US-based streaming service Amazon, to secure broadcast rights were unsuccessful.
The chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter V’landys, declined to comment on ongoing negotiations, citing commercial sensitivities.
Both Foxtel and Nine have privately expressed satisfaction with the outcome, though neither secured their original ambitions. Nine had pursued exclusive rights to all NRL matches, a bid that would have excluded Foxtel entirely. Foxtel countered with an offer that would necessitate sublicensing three matches weekly to comply with anti-siphoning regulations. Insiders suggest Nine’s “all-or-nothing” approach stalled negotiations, ultimately yielding to Foxtel’s higher financial offer.
A notable consequence of the deal is Nine’s streaming platform, Stan Sport, being bypassed once again for premier Australian sports broadcasting rights. Stan currently holds rights to rugby union, the four major tennis grand slam tournaments, select motorsport events including IndyCar, and the English Premier League—none of which rank among Australia’s top-tier sports. Industry observers highlight the NRL package as a significant missed opportunity for Stan’s growth prospects.
Further complicating Nine’s position is its commitment to a $600 million six-year extension of English Premier League rights, which may have limited its ability to outbid Foxtel for the NRL package. Meanwhile, Foxtel faces increased financial pressure, as it reportedly will pay roughly double its previous rights fee from 2021. The broadcaster will need to expand its subscriber base significantly to justify the investment.
The forthcoming introduction of two new NRL teams in Perth and Papua New Guinea offers potential for subscriber growth in emerging markets. Both Nine and Foxtel declined to comment on the deal on Sunday.