Rugby Australia expected to sign Shute Shield deal just days before offering broadcast package
Talks are still ongoing in Rugby Australia’s television deal saga, while the Waratahs will name a surprise backline.
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Negotiations over the rights to the Shute Shield will drag into Wednesday after Rugby Australia failed to reach a deal with Club Rugby TV.
The parties met on Tuesday and had “positive discussions” and it’s expected an agreement will be reached by close of business Wednesday, allowing RA to take their “whole of game” package to interested broadcasters later this week.
The Sydney club rugby competition has proven a stumbling block for RA, who want to fold it into their offering of Wallabies Tests, Super Rugby, women’s rugby and Sevens as they seek a broadcast deal for 2021-25.
Club Rugby TV owners Nick Fordham and John Murray hold the broadcast rights for the Shute Shield until the end of 2024 and RA must purchase them in order to pull together the package they want.
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Unless there is some unforeseen stalemate, that should be achieved by Wednesday, and RA will then send nondisclosure agreements out to broadcasters by Friday.
Interested networks and streaming services must sign the NDAs, and they will receive process documents and the bidding will start, with RA hoping to have a deal in place by the end of March.
This is the first time RA will take their broadcast package to the open market, having held a 25-year partnership with Fox Sports that has now seemingly broken down over their decision to test the waters.
It’s widely tipped that RA will tie up a new deal with Optus and existing free-to-air partner Network Ten.
RA rejected a $200 million offer from Fox Sports last year, but chief executive Raelene Castle did not make a counter offer to start negotiations and instead told Fox she would put the sport on the open market, leading to strained relations.
That Fox offer was the same $US25 million-a-year deal that RA has now from them, but the governing body believes the next deal will be worth more because Australia hosts the British & Irish Lions in 2025 - a marquee series with a huge audience and sponsor interest.
While the 2023 World Cup in France also falls within the next broadcast cycle, its rights are not controlled by RA but instead World Rugby, and any broadcaster can bid for it.
That means even if Fox were to lose the rugby, they could still win the rights to televise the 2023 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the NSW Waratahs will unveil a new backline against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night, with winger Alex Newsome set to start at outside centre, and Jack Maddocks and Cam Clark starting on the wings.
The Tahs have suffered back-to-back losses in the opening two rounds of Super Rugby for the first time in history, and need a win against their conference rivals as they approach a round four bye.
Melbourne are expected to name Ryan Louwrens as starting halfback, while former Tah Michael Wells will line up against his former club in the backrow.
Originally published as Rugby Australia expected to sign Shute Shield deal just days before offering broadcast package
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