Rugby league TV deal heading to market

Updated May 09, 2012 20:58:11

ARL Commission officials will meet rival networks Seven and Ten later this week for talks which the game's administrators hope will drive the new broadcast deal past the $1 billion mark.

The Commission this week received initial offers from current rights holders Network Nine and Fox Sports, and will head to the open market seeking the best offer.

While reluctant to disclose figures involved with the initial offer - which one report claimed fell well below $1 billion - ARLC chief executive David Gallop dismissed claims the Commission's financial target had been lowered.

"All I can say is we remain really confident in getting a very good result and nothing that has happened so far changes that," he said.

"We'll be having meetings with Channel Seven and Channel Ten later this week. We have done a lot of work to get a clear picture of the game's value given the results that it produces.

"We go into the next phase really confident about that and, having been through the exclusive stage, we're keen to move to the next stage."

Nine and Fox retain first and last bidding rights as part of their current deal with the league, but they would forfeit the right for last shot should either Seven or Ten beat their initial offer by 20 per cent.

Having put in separate bids, Nine and Fox will also put forward a joint bid for the three Commissioners on the broadcast deal sub-committee - chairman John Grant, Jeremy Sutcliffe and Ian Elliot - to consider.

Gallop said there had been no firm decision made on how the broadcast rights would be sold, with suggestions games could be broken up including the possibility of a lucrative State of Origin package.

"We've got a number of options and we're keen to explore the options that maximise the opportunity," Gallop said.

Gallop also dismissed any concerns over claims sluggish ratings and pay TV take-up rates following the AFL's new broadcast deal could hurt rugby league's final reward.

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted May 09, 2012 20:58:11

View the original article here

Tahu heading back to Knights

Updated May 19, 2011 14:53:00

Dual international Timana Tahu will return to former club Newcastle next season after signing a two-year deal with the Knights.

The 30-year-old joined Penrith from Parramatta in March in a bid to reignite his career, but his stint as a Panther was ended last round when he suffered a torn pectoral muscle and was ruled out for the season.

"I am so excited about coming home at a time when the club has commenced an exciting era with private partnership, a variety of new faces, a new stadium and the arrival of Wayne Bennett," Tahu said in a statement released by the Knights.

"My family is based in Newcastle and it will be a great feeling to again run out to a sea of red and blue in front of my family and friends."

Incoming coach Wayne Bennett is behind Tahu's return to the Knights, having previously coached Tahu in the Australian Kangaroos team.

Tahu made his first grade debut for the Knights as an 18-year-old in 1999.

He was part of Newcastle's 2001 NRL grand final win and was the club's leading try scorer in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

After five years in the top grade Tahu left the Knights to join the Eels where he spent three seasons.

He then switched codes to play rugby union for the Waratahs and earned four Wallabies caps but returned to Parramatta in 2010.

Tahu made headlines last season when he became embroiled in two racism rows, one including New South Wales State of Origin assistant coach and former team-mate Andrew Johns.

The centre has 11 State of Origin games and five appearances for the Kangaroos under his belt.

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, nsw, newcastle-2300

First posted May 19, 2011 14:39:00

View the original article here

Hohaia heading to St Helens

Updated April 12, 2011 10:03:00

New Zealand Warriors utility Lance Hohaia will leave the NRL at the end of the season after securing a four-year contract with English Super League club St Helens.

The 28-year-old is now in his 10th season in the NRL, only the third player after Stacey Jones and Awen Guttenbeil to reach the milestone for the Warriors.

Hohaia, the last remaining player from the 2002 team which made the club's only NRL grand final appearance, told his team-mates of his decision on Tuesday.

"It'll be sad when I do leave because this club has been such a big part of my life. I couldn't play for any other club in the NRL," Hohaia said.

"This is a great opportunity to go to St Helens and I'm really excited about it but, for now, all I want to do is give as much as I can to the Warriors for the rest of this season."

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said while Hohaia would be leaving at the end of the season, he would continue to have a key role in the team.

"Lance has made a great contribution to this club and has been a big part of it," he said.

"It's exciting for him having a contract like this at this stage of his career but for now I know he'll just want to keep doing all he can to help us this season. He remains an important part of our squad."

-AAP

First posted April 12, 2011 09:47:00

View the original article here