The cash paid is just one element to this. I hope that there is a larger cheque in the mail to Red Hall but simply jumping into bed with BT, if they were the highest bidder, has its risks. Sky has 10.5m subscribers, BT Sport has 2m. As a sport that constantly talks about the need to expand its reach, that's a big consideration.

This deal also gives the game some security, which it sorely needs right now.

I hope that the RFL / SLE didn'y panic into a sub-optimal deal. Assuming not, this is good news. Let's hope that Sky really big up SL in a bid to compete with BT's capture of other sporting rights and SLE responds by bigger thinking. Who knows we may even get 20 odd years later to big city clubs, playing in great stadia in front of big crowds! If London got therir act together, plus Toulouse, plus Salford / Manchester (with the good doctor seemingly buying up their clubs), Leeds, etc we could see a new era, especially is Barcelona can be enlisted and Paris again.

Probably sold for chocolate covered peanuts. BT should have got it.

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.



Good stuff

Very conspicuous with it's lack of figures. You'd of thought any major increase would of had them shouting from the rooftops.

My hope is they felt they set the precedent with first utilities to not announce figures, and will continue that with conviction.

My concern is they aren't that clever.

It's not an RFL announcement? Or have I missed something?

Quote ="FearTheVee"It's not an RFL announcement? Or have I missed something?'" www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... e-changing?

Quote ="FearTheVee"It's not an RFL announcement? Or have I missed something?'" www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... e-changing?

80 live matches in 2014 and 100 in 2015 onwards. That's good for me.

Ahhh, cheers.

how many do they show now?

70 at a guess? 2 each regular round plus playoffs and magic weekend?

All the more Eddie and Stevo!

I would have thought that SKY, as a public company, would have to release the figures in their accounts at some point.

You would like to think that there has been a significant amount paid. The competitive TV landscape will change massively in the next 7 years, so to commit to something for that period now is a considerable risk, so there should be a considerable £££ attached to it.

Not necessarily, they will have to publish figures like how much spent on securing rights, but it doesn't need to be on a sport by sport basis.

You would of thought so ... But having read the various articles out today the focus very much seems to be leaning towards how many games are shown as opposed how much we will get for those games. I hope "increased coverage" (that will be forgotten about as were scaled back again for competitive poetry and live backgammon in 2 years time) hasn't been the price paid by sky as opposed to £££

Clearly they wlil show more games they will be showing the championship matches aswell

+ all Catalan home games on red button.

Good news indeed.

Sure there will be some cynics but more matches means I wont be leaving Sky now.

Sky will have seen BT coming and got in early with a good offer. It makes sense for everyone and having more games, championship and new structure games on they'll be more money for the whole league

How do you know?

That would affect their attendances from away fans wouldnt it?

In Excess of £200M...?

[urlhttp://au.eurosport.com/rugby-league/new-bumper-tv-deal-for-super-league_sto4114623/story.shtml[/url

Having read Chris Irvine on twitter suggesting that we're increasing from £127m (the deal running to the end of 2016) to over £200m (deal running 2017-2021) I'm very happy indeed.

Well done rfl ...

Pleased to hear about this, more games on tv = more exposure for the game.
I'd like to know if it was Sky who contacted the RFL or the other way round about a new deal but either way it works in our favour.
I'm glad that Championship games are going to be available as i couldnt see them on Premier last year. This deal does make you wonder what that'll do to their channel now?

Only one problem, tweedledumb and tweedledumber need to go ASAP.

EDIT: Chris Irvine's Tweet at 10:30 today

Great news, first a awesome world cup now a new TV deal, things are looking up.. it can only get better!

Where does it say that?

But will they be paying for them?

So an extra £15m a year going into the sport.


Useless RFL. It's all cos Nigel Wood's a fat knacker. Incompetent pillocks.