‘We will take the rights elsewhere’: Rugby League chairman threatens NRL’s broadcast partners
Peter V'landys is openly threatening the NRL's broadcast partners, despite failing to lock in a deal he claimed would be completed by mid-year
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has threatened to sell the NRL broadcasting rights to another network if current rights holders Nine and Foxtel team up in order to strike a joint bid.
“If they collude, it will be at their peril,” he told The Australian Financial Review’s Zoe Samios.
“We will take the rights elsewhere. If they think they can behave as monopolists, they will be in for a shock.”
Overall in 2024, the NRL/NRLW rated 186.8m to the AFLs 148.8m – all fixtures in Australia. (Including Origin and internationals).
2025 was much the same.
Love him or hate him, PVL is an absolute colossal of a director and he has driven incredible success. NRL is now the most watched sport in Australia and the wider pacific, while crowds are massively up, which is in itself is a testament as it might just be the easiest and best sport in the world to watch at home (except maybe golf).
With the GF ratings in for the NRL – highest rated sporting event in the country – what PV has said in this article is accurate and he and the sport have the right to ask what they want!!