International Rugby League is a big winner in the broadcast rights announced today by the NRL.
The new free to air deal, worth up to $925 million, is the largest ever done by a sport in Australia with a FTA Network, and will feature four NRL Premiership games shown live each week.
The new deal will see the mid-year Pacific Nations Tests locked in until 2022 and a dedicated window for International Rugby League played after each Premiership season.
Other features of the new deal include:
- The NRL Telstra Premiership will be played over 25 weeks – instead of 26
- A new State of Origin schedule with the second match in each series being played on a Sunday night as part of a stand alone weekend of representative football which will also feature the Pacific Nation Tests.