Nine and FOX Sports secure TV rights

9:45am - Reports this morning have confirmed that Channel 9 and FOX Sports have retained the television broadcast rights to the NRL for the next five years.

The Daily Telegraph first broke the story this morning, with Dean Ritchie confirming that Networks Seven and Ten had been informed of the decision.

The deal, reportedly worth $1 billion, will be confirmed within the next 24 hours. Details are still to come regarding broadcast arrangements, however early suggestions are that Channel 9 will retain three matches to FOX Sports' five.


10:30am - FOX Sports have confirmed via Twitter that they will broadcast at least 13 Sunday night football matches live, as well as retaining Super Saturday. FOX Sports will broadcast five matches live each round, all in high definition with no ad-breaks. Twitter - FOX Sports News


11:30am - ARLC press conference confirms the following:

• Channel 9 will show two Friday and one Sunday match
• Rounds 1 through 20 will be scheduled in advance
• Rounds 21-26 will be scheduled in full by Round 16
• Deal worth $1.025 billion, including $925 million cash and $100 million in contra advertising.
• Grand Final will move back to a 7:15pm kickoff from 2013 onwards
• ANZAC Day Roosters v Dragons clash permanently on Channel 9 from 2013
• 3 x Thursday matches over the course of the season