NRL 2020: Channel Nine’s push to alter rugby league broadcast deal to be put to test today
It all comes down to this; Channel Nine remain hesitant about the NRL season and will be put to the ultimate test in a meeting involving the biggest names in rugby league.
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Channel 9’s commitment to rugby league will be put to the test after Fox Sports reaffirmed their commitment to the code.
It is understood Nine remain hesitant to showcase rugby league on their network this year with the intentions to come to ahead at a pivotal meeting.
Head of Fox Sports Peter Campbell and head of television at Fox Sports Steve Crawley conducted a video hook-up with NRL boss Todd Greenberg and chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo on Wednesday morning.
While neither party talked publicly, it is understood the Fox Sports duo threw their support behind the resumption of the NRL as soon as the game is able to get up and running.
But the big test come when ARLC chairman Peter V’landys meets with rival network bosses Patrick Delany (Foxtel) and Hugh Marks (Nine).
It follows Marks’ meeting with V’landys on Tuesday where the Nine Network wanted to be part of league long-term but had reservations about the resumption of the competition this year.
This follows public comments that Nine would save $130 million if the NRL season was scrapped.
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V’landys described the talks with Marks as “constructive and co-operative”.
But that will all come to a head in a meeting to take place on Thursday or Friday.
If Nine intend on changing any part of their broadcast deal they must do so with Fox Sports who currently has a commitment to showcase all eight matches live.
Thursday, one Friday game and a Sunday match are simulcast with Nine but Fox Sports retain exclusive rights for their trademark Super Saturday.
It has been reported that Nine wanted to attain some exclusive matches including the Friday 6pm match in exchange for Fox League to show Thursday night matches alone.
Fox are not keen to relinquish any matches.
The meeting will also have a major impact on how the competition looks for this season including how many matches are played and how deep the networks are willing to allow rugby league to be played in the year.
Greenberg and Delany spoke on Tuesday.
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