Salford set to take £280K hit in Sky TV broadcast deal
AN agreement has been reached between Super League and Sky regarding the revenue received for TV rights for this season.
Because no matches have taken place since mid-March and the campaign is likely to be shortened when it does get back under way in August, the deal has been renegotiated.
However, the money will be deducted from the payment due to be made for the 2021 campaign, meaning teams will receive a reduced amount of central funding.
No figures have been published alongside the confirmation of the new agreement, but it is thought each club - including Salford Red Devils - will take a £280,000 hit next year.
“Rugby league’s 25-year relationship with Sky Sports has been built on a genuine partnership that has never been more evident than during the Covid-19 crisis,” said Super League chairman Robert Elstone.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement which acknowledges the disruption to Sky Sports’ Super League schedules but gives our clubs greater financial certainty moving forward in these challenging times.
“Our resilience will continue to be tested - but we are grateful to Sky for their ongoing support.”
Meanwhile, one of the most respected figures in the NRL’s recent history has called on the Australian competition to ‘take over’ Super League.
Phil Gould - a former player, coach and administrator - believes that joining forces will boost rugby league’s growth worldwide, particularly in North America, where he acknowledges the progress made by Toronto Wolfpack.
“We’ve survived the ‘heart attack’, now it’s time to put things right and start living, put the fun back into life,” Gould said.
“We still have plenty more to do. In fact, everyone in rugby league has plenty more to do.
“Right now the NRL needs to resurrect a second tier so that those NRL-contracted players not playing at the moment get some badly-needed match practice.
“The NRL should be assisting (read: take over) the English Super League. I’m serious.
“We need the UK strong. We also need to take advantage of the inroads the UK Super League has made into Canada and the US.”