NRL broadcast deal rubber-stamped by ARLC; Fox Sports, Channel 9

Rugby league is on the cusp of clearing the final impediment for the relaunch of the NRL premiership on May 28 following a major development in broadcast negotiations.

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The ARL Commission on Tuesday approved the code’s revised broadcast deal as the Project Apollo committee moves a step closer to relaunching the NRL premiership on May 28.

News Corp can reveal the ARLC has rubber-stamped the terms of the TV rights contract, the completion of which remains the final impediment to the NRL kicking-off on Thursday week.

The Commission met on Tuesday with the panel members, including chairman Peter V’landys, discussing the relevant components of the broadcast deal before giving the green light for the contract to be sent to TV partners Channel 9 and Fox Sports.

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ARLC chair Peter V'landys has delivered a revised broadcast deal to Channel 9 and Fox Sports. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The broadcasting stakeholders will now hold their respective board meetings over the coming days to give their final approval to the TV rights deal that will steer rugby league out of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is understood Channel 9 will maintain their commitment to the NRL until the end of 2022, scuppering fears they would walk away from the code.

Channel 9 have baulked at a long-term extension, although that scenario is palatable to Fox, who are prepared to ink a four or five-year extension to remain loyal to rugby league until 2026-27.

Nine CEO Hugh Marks. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

Any broadcast deal of around $280-300 million per annum is considered an excellent outcome by experts in sports broadcasting negotiations.

V’landys told News Corp last week he was adamant he would deliver a broadcasting deal that would safeguard NRL clubs and ensure the resurrection of the premiership on Thursday week.

Today, he has officially succeeded.

“The broadcast deal will be resolved before May 28,” he said recently.

“I won’t be talking figures through the media, but I am confident with our position and what we have put forward to the broadcasters.

“We have done a lot of hard work on this.

“I believe a resolution will be found.”

V’landys conceded there was some concern free-to-air giant Channel 9 would sever its 30-year association with rugby league.

The NRL is on the cusp of securing its future. Picture: Brett Costello

“I’ve taken Channel 9 from not wanting to be in the game to being committed for the next three years. It has been a hard slog to be honest with you,” he said.

“We’re still dealing on the extension side of things, there will be an extension with Fox, definitely.

“We won’t have all the final details done, but we will have the dollars in place, which is the most important thing for me to begin planning how much money we can distribute to the clubs and the players.”