Streaming giants circle as NRL plots broadcast future

Tobey Lewis

Streaming giants circle as NRL plots broadcast future image

The NRL has begun their next round of broadcast rights negotiations with their current deal set to expire in 2027.

On a recent episode of Triple M's The Journos podcastrugby league journalists Michael Chammas, Danny Weidler and Adam Peacock debated which broadcasters were in the box seat to land the NRL's product.

"I don't buy that we’re going to be watching rugby league on Netflix," said Weidler.

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Netflix, who have sampled the live sport market with marquee boxing, professional wrestling and NFL showcases, have reportedly been one of the broadcasters in talks with Peter V'Landy's.

However, the front-runner at this stage would appear to be DAZN, who hosted V'Landy's at the recent FIFA Club World Cup Final.

"He was invited to the [FIFA] club world cup," said Chammas.

"He was a guest of DAZN, who had the rights.

"It’s all about DAZN over there."

Weidler spoke to the urgency of DAZN's bid to land one of Australia's major sporting codes after the money they've invested in the region.

"They’ve spent billions here, so they're going to need a product. They need rugby league," he said.

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As the NRL looks to expand into different international markets, they will need to perfect their pitch, especially in the United States where the game hasn't yet broken into the mainstream.

"With television rights, rugby league has got a very good product," said Peacock.

"You don’t just rock up to a fresh market like America and go ‘here’s our product, how good is it.'

"You need to go in with a plan and say, ‘here - Netflix, Apple TV, whoever - here’s a three-year documentary series we can give you to show what rugby league is all about.'"

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Tobey Lewis

Tobey Lewis is a content producer for Sporting News Australia, specialising in rugby league and combat. In his spare time, he bemoans being the lone player from his high school rugby league team to not be an NRL star.