Super League reportedly eyes new broadcaster amid Sky Sports uncertainty

There has been an new update in the latest news revolving the next Super League TV deal, with a new broadcaster reportedly a front-runner to make a bid.

Super League has been shown on Sky Sports since it’s inception in 1996, and has the company have broadcasted every major final, as well as international fixtures and World Club Challenge matches. The current deal between the league and the broadcaster runs until the end of 2026, and if reports are to be believed, the upcoming season could be the last year that UK rugby league is shown on the TV channel.

A report from CityAM has outlined that the RFL have started to look elsewhere when it comes to finding someone to show their matches, and one company is believed to be in pole position to seal the deal.

Dazn are an online broadcasting company who currently stream a variety of sports to over 200 different countries. Founded in 2015, the company held rights to show major sporting events such as the Club World Cup in football.

It is reported by CityAM that preliminary discussions have been made with the company, and have progressed as far as Dazn chief executive Shay Segev being on the guest list at the opening Ashes Test match Wembley last weekend.

The RFL are planning ahead, as they try to get a deal done in good time before the contract between them and Sky Sports ends at the end of next season.

Super League broadcast deal vital for future of English rugby league

It cannot be underestimated how crucial this new TV deal will be. With Super League increasing to 14 teams, it means that more money is needed to be spread across the top flight, and it’s money that the current governing body don’t have.

Sky’s Super League coverage deal from 2021 to 2023 was thought to be around the £40 million mark. However the current deal, signed ahead of 2024, was just under half of that, with £21 million going to the sport, despite them showing more games in the current contract.

Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter V’landys has said this week that if the UK game doesn’t get an improved TV deal, and a significantly increased one at that, then he can see a “train crash” happening, with club owners then becoming unwilling to keep sustaining losses.

The increase to 14 team is a move reportedly not liked by Sky Sports, because if they agree to show the seventh game every week, it will cost them over £500,000 in production costs.

That extra game is not part of the current broadcasting contract, meaning Sky are not obligated to show at least one of the games per week next year. It is unclear at this point the coverage plans are for that seventh game.

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