For decades, the NRL and Channel Nine have had a tight-knit relationship. Dating back over 30 years, many viewers don't know any different than footy on Nine.

However, with Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman Peter V'landys confirming the potential sale of its multi-billion dollar rights, we may be catching the 2027 grand final on Netflix.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, V'landys discussed the potential sale, as he looks to secure the deal by the midpoint of this year.

โ€œWe will be negotiating the rights this year,โ€ he admitted. โ€œThey don't start until 2027 but you need to give yourself a couple of years' lead timeโ€.

The last time V'landys negotiated a deal for the NRL's TV rights was in 2020 when he had reportedly struck a $1.7 billion deal with Channel Nine and Foxtel. That monster deal is set to expire by 2027, and the broadcasting landscape has changed drastically since then.

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With AFL signing a reported $4.5 billion deal in 2022 for seven years and Netflix paying $240 million to stream the Christmas Day NFL clashes, it's no wonder V'landys is eager to get a deal done.

NRL Press Conference
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V'landys speaks to the media during a NRL press conference at Rugby League Central on September 03, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Couple the league's recent expansions with the annual Vegas events, the NRL is set to receive interest from across the globe.

โ€œWe have got the most valuable rights in Australian sport. Last year we were the most viewed sport in Australia,โ€ V'Landys said.

The ARLC commissioner is confident in the product he is producing, admitting the NRL has a clear advantage in negotiations.

โ€œThe way free-to-air TV is going โ€“ sport, reality TV and news is their whole ball game. They are not competing for the other content anymore.โ€

On what program the NRL will be broadcast after this deal concludes is anyone's guess, but with the sport getting more popular every year, there will be no shortage of suitors.

1 COMMENT

  1. These idiotโ€™s running the NRL r just money hungry and worried about putting money in their own pocket, FREE TO AIR is whats made this game big and to take that from the fan is BS. With the way the world has gone not everybody can afford to pay to watch sports, this is why ch7 r fighting to keep sports on free2air tv and the AFL will take over the Rugby league if it goes to pay tv or Netflix. Ever since these two wankers have taken over the footy they have really Fked the game with dumb rules and to worried about money, 27 rounds thier just burning the players out but if you ask them there worried about the players welfare what a load of BS. GIVE BACK TO THE FANS WHO PAY FOR THE GAME AND GET RID OF PAY TV (FREE2AIR FREE2AIR FREE2AIR) MONEY HUNGRY DOUCHEBAGS

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