NRL 2023: Channel 7 launch secret $150m bid to steal State of Origin series from 9 | Video

Channel 9 could lose the State of Origin rights, after a rival network launched an audacious $150m bid to pinch rugby league’s showpiece series. See exclusive video of the secret meeting.

Channel 7 has launched a long-range $150 million attempt to pinch rugby league’s showpiece State of Origin series from Channel 9.

The network’s chief executive James Warburton met with the NRL’s independent commission chairman Peter V’landys and CEO Andrew Abdo over lunch last week in an audacious bid to buy the highest rating sporting event in the country alongside the AFL and NRL grand finals.

More than eight million viewers watched this year’s series.

Seven wants to launch a joint bid with pay TV giants Foxtel to simulcast the three games on Seven, Fox League, Kayo and 7plus streaming service to potentially deliver a series audience of more than 10 million.

Nine’s audience has slumped from 11.9 million to 8.8 million since 2013, hence the interest from the NRL to explore all options to recapture three million lost viewers.

Lunch meeting between ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys (bottom left); NRL CEO Andrew Abdo (hidden), Channel 7 CEO James Warburton (top left), and Seven’s national head of sport Lewis Martin (right). Picture: Julian Andrews.

The meeting took place at Glass Restaurant in Sydney CBD. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Channel 7 already works alongside Fox Sports in joint agreements with the AFL and Cricket Australia.

Their offer will include the men’s, women’s and Under 19’s interstate fixtures with a pledge to heavily promote each game not just in the NSW and Queensland markets but nationally in AFL markets.

It would be in the vicinity of $30 million a year ($10 million per game) over five seasons.

Channel 7 is also expected to pitch to broadcast a Sunday afternoon NRL game when the NRL opens its next TV rights negotiations, most likely in 2025.

Nine’s current deal expires in 2027.

Warburton declined to comment because of commercial sensitivity around his long-term sports strategy.

Seven’s national head of sport Lewis Martin was also at the lunch with the league bosses.

He and Warburton had earlier met V’landys at his Racing NSW offices in regards to Seven’s coverage of horse racing including The Everest and other major meetings.

V’landys also chose not to comment on the rugby league rights.

It is no secret that the relationship between the NRL and Channel 9 is now heavily strained on a number of fronts including the network’s attempt to buy the AFL broadcast rights last year while they already had rugby league.

Both Abdo and V’landys have more recently complained to Nine boss Mike Sneesby about promoting AFL on the Today Show more than rugby league.

Warburton (left) wants to launch a joint bid with Foxtel to steal State of Origin from Channel 9. Picture: Julian Andrews.

V'landys (right) and Abdo (left) recently complained to Nine boss Mike Sneesby about promoting AFL on the Today Show more than rugby league. Picture: Julian Andrews.

The NRL even formed a committee that includes Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas, real estate guru John McGrath, V’landys and Abdo to meet with the Nine CEO and other network executives to try to improve their coverage of the game.

Warburton is also aware their arch rivals have already committed at least $400 million to the Olympics over the next decades.

Recouping that money from advertising is proving difficult in a tough advertising market.

At the same time Channel 7 saved $300 million from dropping their Olympic coverage.

In the current TV broadcast deal Channel 9 pays $110 million a year for premiership games, State of Origin and the finals series.

According to a letter former Nine boss Hugh Mark wrote to former NRL boss Todd Greenberg in 2021, the network generates 35 per cent of its rugby league revenue from Origin and the finals.