NRL’s Las Vegas games to be broadcast live in USA on Fox Sports 1
The NRL’s historic double header in Las Vegas will be screened live on prime-time American television in one of the biggest broadcasting coups in the code’s 115-year history.
NRL
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The NRL’s historic double header in Las Vegas will be screened live on prime-time American television in one of the biggest broadcasting coups in the code’s 115-year history.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has successfully negotiated a landmark TV deal that will see the Manly-Souths and Broncos-Roosters fixtures in Vegas, to kick-off the 2024 premiership, shown live in the United States.
NRL superstars such as Souths’ Latrell Mitchell, Roosters skipper James Tedesco, Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Broncos whizkid Reece Walsh will be beamed live to more than 90 million Americans.
It is a massive win as part of V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo’s vision to make inroads into an American sports market that could be worth north of $200 million in broadcast-and-gaming revenue for the NRL.
The deal has been struck after a series of high-powered negotiations in recent months and has the support of News Corp chairman Lachlan Murdoch, who is a passionate fan of the Brisbane Broncos.
Abdo confirmed a live feed of the NRL double header at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, March 2 will be delivered to the American public via Fox Sports 1.
The Pay Television provider reaches more than 90 million American homes and has broadcasting tentacles in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean – giving the NRL a gargantuan population shopfront of 137 million.
“It’s a pretty big deal for our fans – it’s very exciting for the sport,” Abdo said.
“We’ve previously had NRL games shown on Fox Sports in America – but this will be the first time we’ve had games shown live in prime time on Fox Sports 1.
“To get a game of NRL in prime time in America with our partnership with Fox Sports, getting that promotion in America is huge for us.
“It gives us exposure and reach for the game to sports-loving Americans.
“We are confident that when they see our product, the NRL is something they will have an interest in following.”
Under the live-broadcast feed, the Souths-Manly game will be screened live to Americans at 6.30pm, followed by the Broncos-Roosters clash at 8.30pm.
That Pacific time zone will encompass the western region of America taking in markets such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.
Those timeslots represent television prime time, with the Rabbitohs, Broncos, Roosters and Sea Eagles to be telecast live to California – America’s biggest state with a population of 39 million.
While the NRL does not expect to take over the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball, even a small market share in the US equates to a lucrative fresh audience in a country with 330 million people.
Aiding the NRL’s Vegas venture, the NFL season concludes with the Super Bowl on February 11, while the 2024 Major League Baseball campaign doesn’t start until March 20.
That gives the NRL a sweet broadcasting free hit on Fox Sports 1 at a time when American sports fans can digest new content.
In Australia, Channel 9 will televise the Broncos-Roosters clash on Sunday, March 3 at 3:30pm (AEDT).
Fox League will enjoy exclusive rights to the Souths-Manly season opener at 1:30pm (AEDT) and screen both Vegas fixtures live, providing a broadcast feed to their American arm on Fox Sports 1.
Souths chief executive Blake Solly hailed the NRL’s prime-time American TV deal as a groundbreaking moment for the code.
“I applaud Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo for getting a deal like this over the line,” Solly said.
“Fox is a huge American network with a dedicated sports following.
“One of the reasons we (South Sydney) wanted to go to Vegas was to be able to present the game to a new audience.
“To know we will be shown on live TV to millions of American sports fans is a wonderful result.”
V’landys met US President Joe Biden at a White House dinner last month and is convinced there is a market in America if the NRL commits to the project.
“People don’t realise the power of us connecting with America,” he said.
“I’m not talking benefits in the tens of millions, I’m talking hundreds of millions, but only if the strategy is properly implemented.
“We are doing as much due diligence as we can in America to make rugby league a great success in that country.
“Even if you get one per cent of the population here, it’s worth hundreds of millions to us.
“America can be a goldmine for the NRL and I’m determined to make it work.”
A sports media industry expert said live coverage of the NRL double header will be a smash hit on American television.
“This is a huge opportunity for the NRL,” the spokesman said.
“Saturday night will be busy and seeing the games in sports bars and venues from 6.30pm to 11pm is perfect timing, especially without NFL and Major League Baseball.
“It’s a prime opportunity to sell ‘Australian sport live from Vegas’.
“Rugby league is the only sport played here the Americans would embrace as a new concept to them.
“The most popular sport in California is Major League Baseball, which is on Fox Sports 1, but their season doesn’t start until late March.
“So the market is right for NRL viewership in America.”
The NRL has finally locked their launch in Las Vegas with a who’s who of Australian celebrities set to be in attendance. 👀 https://t.co/Qtgv5hSZWv
— The Daily Telegraph (@dailytelegraph) November 23, 2023
Abdo said the American live TV coup represents an additional win for Australian league audiences, who will be able to watch four free-to-air NRL matches in the opening round on Channel 9.
“The key thing is in round one, we will have the regular three games on free-to-air, plus the Broncos and Roosters in Vegas, so fans get an extra game (on Channel 9) in round one,” Abdo said.
“There will still be a Thursday night game on free-to-air, a Friday night game and a Sunday afternoon game (seven days after the Broncos-Roosters clash).
“Having a Sydney-Brisbane match in Vegas is great, it’s an opportunity for fans in both markets to enjoy the game.
“It’s hard to know what the American audience (watching on Fox Sports 1) would be, but I imagine it would be significant because it’s prime time.
“We have worked with both broadcasters (Fox and Channel 9) on the formulation of the full round one schedule and this is where we have arrived.”
Dolphins super coach Wayne Bennett was part of the first overseas State of Origin game in California in 1987 and believes Americans will lap up a live feed of the NRL double header.
“This is a great concept,” Bennett said.
“The American population is massive.
“If you get some game recognition over there, you will get some American kids following the NRL.
“In 10 years time, this can be a great success. There’s a definite market there we can tap into.”
A delegation of NRL officials and players is set to head to Vegas on December 10 to ramp up promotion for the Sin City double header.
Abdo has inspected Allegiant Stadium and says the $2 billion venue will prove the perfect precinct for visiting NRL players and Australian sports fans.
“Fans will be able to walk to the ground from the Vegas strip and the hotels,” Abdo said.
“It’s right in the heart of Vegas and the stadium offers everything the fans will want in terms of match-day experience.
“The players will enjoy it, too.
“It will be a different atmosphere played under a roof, I’m looking forward to seeing our players entertain Americans.”
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