Optus Poised To Secure Rugby Rights

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Optus Sports looks set to be the new home of Australian rugby, with Rugby Australia still having not received a single offer for the broadcast rights.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting Optus will secure the rights on a cut-price deal, three weeks after the code put the rights on the open market.

It is believed Fox Sports, which has televised Australian rugby for almost 25 years, has not – and will not – sign RA’s nondisclosure agreement.

This means Optus is effectively the only option remaining for RA, with Network 10 likely to continue in its role as the domestic FTA broadcaster.

However, as Optus does not currently film and package any of the sports it broadcasts, the telco is looking to factor in production costs into what will likely be a cut-price deal.

Production costs are believed to be around $10 million a year.

RA’s existing deal, which was signed in 2015, is said to be worth $57 million a year.

A decision is expected to be announced in the next two weeks.

 




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