New league chief coy on TV deal

10 Feb 2012, 4:39 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Chairman John Grant says securing a new broadcast deal for rights to the NRL will be the first task for the new commission.

Australian Rugby League commission chairman John Grant forecast a "significant increase" but called for patience as the game's new administration negotiates the all-important new NRL broadcast deal.

Grant signed the documents that ushered in his independent commission and a new era - ending News Ltd's role in running the code - at 12.03pm (AEDT) at the new $20m headquarters Rugby League Central in Sydney on Friday.

Grant was bullish but would not put a figure on the amount rugby league could get on its new five-year broadcast deal when asked in relation to the $1.25 billion achieved by the AFL last year.

"The game is in fantastic standing on the field and is the most-watched football sport in Australia," Grant said.

"We have obvious things we need to deal with. The biggest is the broadcast rights as this will secure the funding we need for the next five years, but this will take several months so we need to be patient.

"A reasonable expectation would be a significant increase on the current deal which expires at the end of the season."

Long-serving NRL chief executive David Gallop remains a key figure in the negotiations in his new role as commission chief executive.

Gallop confirmed talks had begun this month with current rights holder the Nine Network but warned it would be wrong to tell clubs how much to expect the salary cap to increase before a deal was completed.

Gallop also admitted last week's Federal Court ruling where Optus were cleared of breaching copyright by showing sports online with a two-minute delay on handsets was a "great concern" because of the threat to the value of broadcast rights.

A coalition of the leading professional sporting codes has been in Canberra this week lobbying for copyright law changes to avert the threat and Gallop was hopeful it could be done quickly.

"This is an example of the technology overtaking the law and where rugby league is placed in terms of the negotiations it couldn't have come at a worse time," said Gallop.

"But the good news is that we got a good reception from the government. We're hopeful it can be recognised that this is something that needs to be fixed quick."

Grant defended the length of time it took to get the commission up and running and lauded the strength of the new board.

The other members are Gary Pemberton, the man widely credited with securing record broadcasting rights for the Sydney Olympics, Harris Farm founder and chairwoman Catherine Harris; brand strategist Ian Elliot, business heavyweights Peter Gregg and Jeremy Sutcliffe, respected indigenous educationalist Dr Chris Sarra and rugby league great Wayne Pearce.

"We recognise this has been a long time coming. It has been on the agenda for two-and-a-half years at least," Grant said.

"We're ready to go. But in terms of the significant outcomes, we are not just going to jump from the hip.

"We are going to try and understand the issues and ask the management team for balanced recommendations.

"When they do that, we will make decisions one way or the other."

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