The NRL and Nine are reportedly on the verge of inking a $600 million deal for broadcast rights of the game for the next five years.
With the deal being worth nearly an extra $30 million a year to the NRL, it is believed that Nine will be doing more to promote the game on their channels.
The most famous Nine product apart from live coverage of the game was The Footy Show, which aired on the network from 1994 to 2018.
While it was axed following the ’18 season, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio believes it or a similar mid-week show could return as a part of the new rights deal.
He says the catalyst of this could be NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.
“Andrew Abdo comes from a commercial background,” Riccio explained on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“He doesn’t come from a sports administration background, he comes from a commercial one.
“In his ideal world, he wants rugby league on television seven days a week.
“Now if Nine are about to invest in the NRL as we have suggested up to a staggering $600 million, that has to go beyond just the live game element each weekend.
“You can bet your bottom dollar that other programs are being discussed.
“Other platforms and other coverage of the game is being discussed as part of this negotiation.”
While no deal has been officially signed between Nine and the NRL, it is believed that it’s a formality that the rights will be finalised in the near future.