Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and Paramount have shown an appetite for sporting content, prompting sporting leagues such as the NFL to divide its assets across a host of broadcasters.
Asked if a similar situation could occur in the NRL’s next TV rights cycle, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said: “You’re a step ahead, that’s a possibility.
“We have to look at all formats and that’s one of them. The jewel in the crown is State of Origin and there’s other channels [interested]. Ideally we’d like it all in the one [package], but if you look at the NFL and how they do it, and they’re very successful, we’ll analyze it and watch it.
“Whatever maximises our return.
“There’s one important point which I need to make with broadcast, which a lot of sports don’t consider, and that’s the price point.
“We don’t want to make it unaffordable for our fans. We want to make sure whatever deal we do, that it’s affordable for the fan to buy a subscription because it’s a waste of time if you get all this money and your fans can’t watch your game.”
The NRL has made no secret of its desire to further its net asset base, which has grown by 24 per cent to $322.4 million. There has also been a conscious effort to help the game in England, by adding two English teams to this year’s Las Vegas venture and reviving season-ending Kangaroos tours to Great Britain. However, the Super League continues to struggle financially, prompting questions about whether the NRL would be prepared to purchase the competition.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.Credit: Kate Geraghty
“Never say never,” V’landys said. “That’s if they want us. The first thing is there’s always two people to an agreement. If they want us, we’ll certainly look at it.
“If they approached us, we’d certainly look at it. At this stage they haven’t approached us, but we’re a firm believer in having a strong game in England and we’re a firm believer in the international game
“You can’t have an international game without England.”
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V’landys said suggestions the game was making a large loss by taking season-opening games to Vegas were off the mark.
“And let me dispel something that’s out there in the marketplace that’s very incorrect, and that is it costs us a lot of money for Vegas,” he said.
“This year there’s a possibility that we’ll actually return a profit on the Vegas venture. And if not, it’ll be a small loss.
“In previous years we’ve spent a lot of money launching the season with limited success with the launches.
“What Vegas has cost us is less than what would cost us to launch a season. And last year it gave us the momentum that continued on through the whole year, of attendances, record viewership.”
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