What’s the Buzz: Channel 7 to launch rugby league show as NRL broadcast rights race heats up

The NRL TV broadcast rights race is heating up, with Channel 7’s billionaire owner Kerry Stokes signing off on a new rugby league show this year in opposition to free-to-air rival Channel 9.

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes. Picture – Supplied

Channel 7 will stamp its credentials as a future NRL broadcast partner by launching a new rugby league show this year in opposition to free-to-air rival Channel 9.

Network heavyweights – chief content officer Brook Hall, director of news Anthony De Ceglie and director of sport Chris Jones — have returned home from Las Vegas where they spent several days networking with NRL powerbrokers.

The plan is to launch a Monday or Tuesday night show mid-year before State of Origin for eight weeks on a trial basis, live on 7 Mate and 7 Plus before a replay later on the network’s main channel.

It has been approved by billionaire owner Kerry Stokes, despite his passion for AFL.

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes. Picture – Supplied

Depending on ratings, the hope is to run the show again during the finals and then weekly from next year.

The likes of Corey Parker, Denan Kemp, Willie Mason are under consideration for the panel that will include two senior NRL journalists.

Jones was reluctant to comment when approached by your columnist in regards to the show.

“Travelling to Las Vegas was a great experience,” he said. “We learnt a lot and harbour ambitions to have a stronger NRL voice moving forward.”

The likes of Denan Kemp are under consideration for the show. Picture: by Max Mason-Hubers

This masthead has previously revealed plans under the network’s former CEO, James Warburton, to make a pitch for the NRL broadcasting rights, in particular State of Origin.

And nothing has changed.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys spoke recently about the possibility of the NRL selling the rights to Origin separate from the premiership and finals.

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys has explored the possibility of selling State of Origin TV rights separate from the premiership and finals. Picture: Getty Images

“Just because we don’t have the rights now doesn’t mean we can’t do a rugby league show,” said one source from Channel 7.

“It’s like putting a mark in the ground to show people we can have a genuine voice in the game and produce good NRL content.”

Rivals Channel 9 have changes planned for this year.

The network is turning its popular podcast Freddy and the Eighth podcast into a midweek TV show.

Brad Fittler and Joey Johns will join host Danika Mason on Wednesday nights.

PANTHERS MIC’D UP IN VEGAS

Fox Sports and the Penrith Panthers are putting the finishing touches on a documentary to be shown next month that will give viewers an incredible insight into the four-time champions.

Last weekend in Las Vegas, halfback Nathan Cleary, lock Isaah Yeo and fullback Dylan Edwards all agreed to wear miniature microphones in the game against the Cronulla Sharks.

The chatter among the three superstars will give fans the most extraordinary understanding of the match-day communication behind the most successful footy team in decades.

“No sport in the world has ever taped up three players at the same time in the one game,” said Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley.

“They give a great insight into who they are and how success is achieved.

“We’ve got an incredibly talented creative director in Charlie Lambert, who is working with the Panthers’ team. Together they will put something really special together.

“Penrith has been the leader of all the clubs we’ve worked with in this creative area.”

While in Las Vegas, Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar agreed to wear a microphone during training to take fans inside the high-performance environment of an NRL side.