Macquarie Media locks in five year NRL radio deal, Crocmedia acquires regional licensing
Macquarie Media has extended its radio broadcast agreement with the Australian Rugby League Commission for an additional five years while granting a sub license to Crocmedia for regional NRL coverage.
Under the new agreement, Macquarie Media will cover all NRL games until 2022, across both Sydney and Brisbane, via 2GB and 4BC.
Macquarie Media has extended its Rugby League rights, while Crocmedia has picked up the rights for regional areas
Macquarie will also broadcast games on its Talking Lifestyle stations in both cities. The agreement also extends to other markets including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and regional markets in NSW and Queensland.
Russell Tate, Macquarie Media’s executive chairman, said his radio audiences “love the passion, enthusiasm and professionalism the team brings to the coverage”.
“Ray Hadley’s ‘Continuous Call Team’ is the game’s most successful and longest running commentary team in the code”, Tate said.
“It has dominated ratings and established loyal audiences in Sydney on 2GB, in Brisbane on 4BC, throughout regional New South Wales and Queensland, and in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.”
Regional markets will receive the coverage through a sub-license rights deal with Crocmedia, an Australian radio sports syndicator.
The deal will expand the game’s reach by more than 80% in regional areas, through NRL Nation. NRL Nation will call four matches each round — Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – across the Super Radio Network, Grant Broadcasters , Resonate Regional Radio, Coastal Broadcasters, Capital Radio Network, CAAMA Network (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association) and QRAM (Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media).
Tate said Crocmedia was well established in regional markets, and said the rights also allowed syndication of the ‘Continuous Call Team.’
“Regional networks and stations will therefore have access to every NRL game played every week and the combined effect of a broader regional station base and access to more NRL games will significantly expand the game’s radio reach,” he said.
NRL CEO, Todd Greenberg, said the newly expanded contract was of benefit to the sport.
“We’ve got one of the most loyal and extensive fan bases in Australian sport and this partnership with Macquarie Media Limited and Crocmedia makes our great game even more accessible for our fans in regional NSW and Queensland – bringing them a new call from top NRL talent each week,” Greenberg said.
Crocmedia CEO Craig Hutchison said the NRL partnership was a key component of the company’s ‘whole of sport’ expansion strategy.
“We are thrilled to add a broadcast partnership with Macquarie Media and the NRL as the latest addition to our growing stable of sport properties with an incredible ensemble of on-air talent,” Hutchison said.
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