The NRL are reportedly on the verge of inking a new $600 million TV rights deal with Nine for the next five years.
If the deal goes through, it will be the richest TV deal in league history, further strengthening the game’s financial backbone.
Having steered the competition through lockdowns, relocations and expansion, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio believes the NRL “would be stuffed” without Peter V’Landys at the helm as he stands on the precipice of inking the new TV deal.
“The game would be stuffed, really,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Honestly, in no uncertain terms, some of the challenges and hurdles that he’s faced, I can’t remember another administrator in the NRL previously that would’ve been able to pull off what has been achieved so far.
“That includes relocation of the competition this year, last year playing behind bubbles, they were hurdles at that time that needed to be jumped and the NRL were able to do that.
“This next move, the significance of the new Nine deal, which could pocket up to $600 million for the game, is of major significance.
“For the layman, the current Nine deal sits around $95 million a year, it’s going to jump up to as much as $120 million over the next five to six years.”
While Channel Seven expressed an interest in claiming the State of Origin TV rights, Riccio is certain Nine will claim the “hot ticket items” in their new deal.
“It’s a significant negotiation for the NRL, everyone’s talking about State of Origin and the Grand Final, they’re worth way too much money for the Nine,” Riccio explained.
“That’ll be part of their negotiating package I’m for certain, I can’t see them walking away from those hot ticket items as far as Origin and the Grand Final is concerned.
“This a major, major move.”
While nothing has been made official as of yet, Riccio believes that negotations are “far down the track” with the NRL recently announcing the inclusion of their 17th franchise.
“The NRL wouldn’t have brought in The Dolphins if they weren’t far down the track in negotiations,” Riccio said.
“That’s why they have the money to bring in the 17th team.”