More so than the value, at least this now allows proper long term planning, by the league and by clubs. Or would if we still had a licensing system

I assume the increased funding that was in the proposals for championship teams will come from this increased deal ...

So yes ... In a way.

Is that £200m the total for the new deal as a whole or the total for the extra five years? The new deal includes changes to the next three seasons too

Sky has 10.5m subscribers, Sky Sports doesn't.

They never actually release the figures, but best estimates range from 4 to 5 million.

It's disgraceful and terrible - it comes no where near the £152million union gets from BT etc etc etc



Here's hoping for a salary cap increase with that extra money!

Don't forget pubs and bars that have sky sports also, they aren't usually included in the subscriber figures as they are businesses.

Sounds good, what will happen to Premier Sports however in terms of championship games?

I had thought the last SL deal was £90M over 5 years, is this increased £127M to cover the additional Championship games? Or was the £90M wrong?

[urlhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/21/sky-tv-super-league-rights[/url

Quote ="Alf7"I had thought the last SL deal was £90M over 5 years, is this increased £127M to cover the additional Championship games? Or was the £90M wrong? [urlhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/21/sky-tv-super-league-rights[/url'" Weren't we going for "immediate renegotiations" after BT started sniffing around? Maybe sky agreed to pay an increase now as well (it's not like there's not space in the budget!) to make sure we signed for the next 5 as well? More interestingly is what I just read here: runningrugby.com//media/sky-secu ... ns-rights/? (I don't have an account but read the blurb - lions rights?)

Quote ="Alf7"I had thought the last SL deal was £90M over 5 years, is this increased £127M to cover the additional Championship games? Or was the £90M wrong? [urlhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/21/sky-tv-super-league-rights[/url'" Weren't we going for "immediate renegotiations" after BT started sniffing around? Maybe sky agreed to pay an increase now as well (it's not like there's not space in the budget!) to make sure we signed for the next 5 as well? More interestingly is what I just read here: runningrugby.com//media/sky-secu ... ns-rights/? (I don't have an account but read the blurb - lions rights?)

'As well as a new contract from 2017 to 2021, the RFL has agreed a number of changes to the current deal with Sky Sports that runs to the end of the 2016 season. These include regular live action from the Kingstone Press Championship in 2015 and additional coverage of Catalan Dragons home games from 2014.'

@rugbyleagueontv: Super League announce a new tv deal which includes extra coverage of ALL Catalan Dragons home matches, starting this season.

No need for any equipment sending over to France neither as all their games are televised in France so we would use that feed.

correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know Premier Sports don't currently pay for the Championship games?

The £200m is from 2017 - 2021. It's a separate contract to our current one. They e just effectively signed it early.

That's Is an outstanding figure if true. Well done RFL. Now if income like that the new structure has a chance...

Still will not get me to subscribe
to sky sports. They have messed the game around too much.

£200m... Still think that...

Why would it? If you're going to go on a trip out to Perpignan, you're not going to let TV coverage influence your decision, surely?

Anyway, I look forward to seven more years of Thursday night games. Joyous.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"Weren't we going for "immediate renegotiations" after BT started sniffing around? Maybe sky agreed to pay an increase now as well (it's not like there's not space in the budget!) to make sure we signed for the next 5 as well? More interestingly is what I just read here: runningrugby.com//media/sky-secu ... ns-rights/? (I don't have an account but read the blurb - lions rights?)'" I do have an account but the article contains no more detail on the deal.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"Weren't we going for "immediate renegotiations" after BT started sniffing around? Maybe sky agreed to pay an increase now as well (it's not like there's not space in the budget!) to make sure we signed for the next 5 as well? More interestingly is what I just read here: runningrugby.com//media/sky-secu ... ns-rights/? (I don't have an account but read the blurb - lions rights?)'" I do have an account but the article contains no more detail on the deal.

I think there's more money now as that why the relegated clubs will be getting substantial parachute payments.

I am deeply suspicious about the absence of any formally announced figure from either the RFL or SKY.

There is no reason to keep such a figure quiet if it is a good one. The RFL can crow about the increased investment, and SKY could shout about its commitment to the sport.

The silence is worrying. Far too many times, I've witnessed the RFL bent over and shagged by "partners", while someone at Red Hall explains why this is good for the game. So I don't feel confident until I see a big number in black and white.

I've been involved in international sports rights for many years and it does not surprise me in the least that no figure has been officially released. The RFL would not want to 'concretise' their acceptable price points by publicising the figure. Similarly, Sky would not want to confirm the figure as this would allow potential bidders for next time to go out and source a target sum of finance so as to strangthen their bid.

I don't especially approve of this style of business, but it is the way of it. In the last twelve months I've negotiated deals with major rights owners in sport and elsewhere and the figures are never released.

I'm interested in what you say, and it makes perfect sense. It's just that I seem to be very well aware of the amount which different broadcasters have paid for rights in other sports (or indeed the NRL), even though I don't even follow other sports.

Fundamentally, I don't trust the commercial competency of the RFL (based on reasonable evidence such as the Stobart deal). I very much want to be proved wrong, but a tweet from a journo isn't enough.

Well it should be a big number Roy or they should have waited a bit Longer. They seemed to have snapped other stuff up asap to keep BT at bay so a big deal was to be had from BT for sure imo. Im curious to see what each SL club will get as im hoping this will help London etc. stop losing money.

Quote ="Snoopy"Well it should be a big number Roy or they should have waited a bit Longer. They seemed to have snapped other stuff up asap to keep BT at bay so a big deal was to be had from BT for sure imo. Im curious to see what each SL club will get as im hoping this will help London etc. stop losing money.'" They did seem under pressure from the clubs: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... 0974805._/? In particular: “The brief we have given to the RFL now is to look at the commercial side of it,” said Gatcliffe. “Now we know what the structure is going to be, the instruction to the RFL on the clubs’ behalf is to talk to the television broadcasters who are the source of a lot of money coming into our sport. Though it would appear mission accomplished

Quote ="Snoopy"Well it should be a big number Roy or they should have waited a bit Longer. They seemed to have snapped other stuff up asap to keep BT at bay so a big deal was to be had from BT for sure imo. Im curious to see what each SL club will get as im hoping this will help London etc. stop losing money.'" They did seem under pressure from the clubs: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... 0974805._/? In particular: “The brief we have given to the RFL now is to look at the commercial side of it,” said Gatcliffe. “Now we know what the structure is going to be, the instruction to the RFL on the clubs’ behalf is to talk to the television broadcasters who are the source of a lot of money coming into our sport. Though it would appear mission accomplished

I've not seen them disclose the figures for ECB, Lions, Speedway or WWE by SKY. Neither have those governing bodies released the details.

I think the RFL had this up their sleeve, probably the reason why the rebels backed off and the reason why Big Mac was so into nailing his colours to the mast on the new structure.


It's quite an increase. Yes there will be money going to the SL2 clubs. But the proposed amounts don't touch this so it will still be an increase for SL clubs overall.

Even if every championship club got the full £600,000 of central funding (which they are not under the current deal. That only comes to £7.2 million a year. Leaving the SL clubs with the remainder.

Need a bit more detail but those seem fantastic figures, it's more than double the current one, I can see the reasons we may have such a good deal, but i can also see ways it may not be as first suggested

Needs more meat on the bones but at first glance really good deal