The NRL has officially announced a new TV rights deal that will extend through to 2034.
These negotiations have spanned a significant period, culminating in a groundbreaking agreement valued at $5.3 billion, making it the most lucrative in Australian sports history.
Additionally, the NRL will partner with Sky Sports in New Zealand, providing over 130 matches annually on their free platform.
The agreement is set to kick off in 2028 and is structured mainly in cash, as opposed to contra deals that involve advertising credits.
"Most of that is cash. 95 per cent is cash. 5 per cent is contra. That compares from the previous deal where the contra was 10 per cent," stated V'Landys during a media briefing to announce the deal on Tuesday.
He continued, "This hasn't been an accident. This has been achieved by some very hard working. In the past five years, we have changed the game, effectively doubling the audience."
V'Landys expressed gratitude, saying, "I give credit to everyone involved in the game. That was the strategy. Before we went to market we needed to have something to sell."
The new arrangement will yield a remarkable 90 per cent increase in cash annually when compared to the existing contract.
Moreover, it guarantees that both the State of Origin and the grand final will remain exclusive to the Nine Network.