Code rolls towards deal
RUGBY Australia’s revolutionary broadcast package has reignited interest from Optus, with the telco set to land the rights to the code.
Fox Sports is set to bid for club rugby only after Rugby Australia announced broadcasters could pick and choose content from their new package for 2021-25.
The Bulletin understands the new deal will involve Optus and Network Ten screening Wallabies Tests and Super Rugby, although there is some disagreement regarding the finer details.
Should Optus get the rights, it would add to its football content, having secured rights to the English Premier League and European Champions League, as well as the Japanese and Korean competitions, while it has been strongly tipped to take the Australian A-League from Fox Sports after this season.
When asked for comment, Optus said: “We don’t comment on rights, either current or future.”
An industry source said all conversations regarding deals of this nature were conducted under strict nondisclosure agreements.
Rugby Australia’s revelation on Monday that it would consider bids for parts of their 2021-25 package, as opposed to traditional deals where bidders had to take the whole offering, means prospective broadcasters can be creative with their pitch.
Hiving off different tournaments to different outlets may allow Rugby Australia to maximise the outlay on the code for the next four years, given all bids are expected to be lower than the $57 million a year it earns from rights under the expiring deal.
Sources said a bid from Optus would have to be around the $15 million to $20 million mark.
Fox Sports, having broadcast Super Rugby since its inception 25 years ago, has long held frustration with the diminishing rugby audience, particularly for Super Rugby, however it wants to retain some content for its pay television and Kayo streaming customers.
With a small but rusted-on supporter base for club rugby the best teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan and South America.
Rugby Australia is taking “the largest and most comprehensive collection of rugby rights ever put to the market in Australia”, Clarke said, but most intrigue revolves around the future of Super Rugby and whether the Tasman alliance will be broken not only for next year but the long term.
“We have put a deadline for the broadcast submissions for the fourth of September, so three weeks away, and before we enter into any final negotiations with a broadcast partner this has to be settled,” Clarke said.
“So D-Day is coming.”