NRL keeps Origin, grand final exclusivity up sleeve for next TV deal

Exclusive rights to State of Origin and the NRL grand final are still up for grabs when rugby league's free-to-air broadcast rights come up for renewal at the end of 2022.

The NRL on Thursday announced a revised broadcast rights deal, worth up to $1.9 billion, with pay-television partner Foxtel extending its agreement until the end of 2027.

According to sources close to the negotiations, Foxtel's five-year extension from 2023-2027 is a continuation of its current deal, which gives the pay-TV operator five exclusive games per round and simulcast rights for all regular-season matches, but does not give it the right to simulcast the game's crown jewels, Origin and the grand final.

That leaves the door open for Nine Entertainment Co, the owner of this masthead, or any other free-to-air network to purchase exclusive rights to the code's showpiece events.

The carve-out of Foxtel's new deal protects the game as it prepares to return to the negotiating table in the next 18 months to strike a free-to-air extension with Nine. The value of the deal would have been significantly impacted had the NRL sold simulcast rights to Origin and the grand final.

Nine chief executive Hugh Marks is unfazed by Foxtel's decision to extend its deal with the NRL.

"I think the paid environment is a bit more certain," Marks told the Herald on Friday. "The ad-supported environment is a bit unclear.

"I'm sure as we get through the next period of time and really work out what the pathway looks like out of it, then we’ll be able to work out what the right deal may be, both for the NRL and for us. Now is not the time with the information we currently have to be able to reliably do that."

ARLC chairman Peter V'landys would not comment when pressed on the terms of Foxtel's extension but believes the deal will still serve the best outcome for the clubs and players.

“In these tough economic situations, depending on how long commercial entities take to recover, I believe the deal that has been struck with broadcasters has taken that into account and there’s an appropriate balance to ensure the NRL can operate in its current capacity so the clubs and players aren’t affected," V'landys said.

"It would be inappropriate of me to say any more than to say we are very happy to secure the revenues for the game. We will continue to work on a free-to-air extension."