South Sydney Rabbitohs to secure media value worth a stunning $125m next season

Foundation club the South Sydney Rabbitohs will secure media value worth a stunning $125 million in 2024 – and that number could rise even higher.

South Sydney will secure media value worth a stunning $125 million through television broadcasting in 2024.

And that could be even higher.

The extraordinary figure is likely to top all rival NRL clubs through the regular season.

Souths will enjoy 16 free-to-air games next season – the most of any club – with additional extensive coverage through Fox Sports and Kayo.

It could be the Bunnies’ big bucks bonanza.

This masthead has obtained exclusive Nielsen data showing the value of all South Sydney games on Nine, Fox Sports and Kayo.

Souths have forecast the media value will surge to $125m next season given the club has one additional free-to-air game compared to 2023, and an expectation the Rabbitohs will contest finals footy.

Streaming figures are included in the club’s financial prediction.

Latrell Mitchell and the Rabbitohs are box office gold. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

While the $125m figure doesn’t equate to instant cash, Souths will use their free-to-air saturation – along with anticipated bold ratings on Fox and Kayo – to attract additional sponsorship, membership and corporate partners.

It will prove a considerable financial windfall for the Rabbitohs.

South Sydney’s corporate sponsorship revenue in 2023 was more than $11m – a figure that could also increase based on the media value the club will generate in 2024.

The Rabbitohs’ generated around $118m in media value last season, despite the club crashing out of finals contention.

“One of the club’s great strengths is that we are attractive to Channel Nine, Fox Sports and Kayo, given the size of our supporter base,” said Souths CEO, Blake Solly.

“I don’t think $125m in Total QI Media Value is out of reach with the additional free-to-air game, and it could be more with finals appearances.

“And the value we will get from our games on Fox League and Kayo is also significant.

“The Total QI Media Value generated for all of our partners was $118m in 2023 – even though we had three less finals games to compare to from 2022.

“Our corporate partners will get an increased amount of brand awareness and media value throughout 2024.”

CEO Blake Solly says the Rabbitohs could create $125m in Total QI Media Value. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Souths enjoyed the second highest viewership through 2023 with seven of the club’s 13 free-to-air games pulling more than one million viewers. Ratings on Fox and Kayo were also incredibly strongly.

“We have an outstanding group of corporate partners at the club – the support from companies like MG Motor, Menulog, McDonalds, Aqualand and Ingenia is extraordinary,” Solly said.

“The 2024 season will be a massive and ground breaking year for everyone involved in the club with the trip to Las Vegas for round one, more games on free-to-air television than ever and some huge games at Accor Stadium.”

In another boost to Souths financial coffers, the club enjoyed a robust crowd average of 22,919 for each game this year and home average of 19,734.

Those figures have increased remarkably over the past 20 years. The Rabbitohs’ home crowd average in 2003 was 11,995 with an average home ground attendance of 9524.

Souths have returned to off-season training ahead of the club’s historic venture to Las Vegas nearly next season. The team will be based in San Diego before shifting to Vegas the Thursday before the big game on Saturday, March 2.

“We’re excited to base ourselves in San Diego at the University of California in San Diego and visit the US Navy,” Solly said.

“It will be new experience for our players and coaching staff, but also a great preparation for the match in Las Vegas.”