RFL set to make huge TV deal decision

Sky Sports will always be the home of Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow’s famous Grand Final try, it will always be the home of St Helens’ Wide to West moment, the home to Wigan Warriors’ amazing comeback against Bradford Bulls in 2007 and many of the great games in Super League history.

Sky Sports were in many ways a driving force behind the Super League brand and the summer era.

Sky have had the rights to the greatest game of all in the UK for around three decades and to many Sky’s coverage of the game is all they have ever known.

They have covered 25 Grand Finals and a 26th is on its way but there has been a question over whether their coverage will continue but a decision is expected this week.

The TV deal with Sky Sports, Channel 4 and Viaplay’s deals are set to expire.

It has been a major talking point for months now and was addressed earlier this year by RL Commercial’s Rhodri Jones.

“Next two to three weeks I would say and then after that we can then develop the calendar four to six weeks hopefully,” he said on BBC Five Live.

“We’ve got multiple broadcasters interested.”

Asked if there will be an increase in broadcast revenue, Jones said: “We’ll have to see where we land.”

“I think on the Broadcast deal, we’ve been so reliant on one number coming from one broadcaster.

“We’re one of very few sports competitions that don’t stream every game.

“I think the mix of the broadcast platform for us going forward is going to look different. So maybe less emphasis on that one number that we get from the main broadcaster and maybe the culmination of the total means that we come out in a better position.”

In a huge surprise twist however, reports from the Daily Mail today have claimed that officials at the RFL are disappointed with the offer from Sky, a £25 million per year contract and TNT Sport have emerged as a potential contender.

Previously known as BT Sport, the newly named TNT Sports are the home of the Champions League in football as well as having rights to Premier League football.

According to the Daily Mail, TNT are now “a big threat” to Sky’s coverage of the sport.

Serious About Rugby League confirmed that the RFL has received more than one bid for the rights to the sport in 2024.

A decision of which bid to accept is set to be made this week.