Who is paying $4-5 billion for the NRL rights in Australia? Not Netflix.
ALSO: Two years of the failed Hubbl
For the past decade plus, every time the TV rights for an Australian sport comes up, there are always rumours being stoked that an international streaming service is going to suddenly go all in on the sport and snare the rights away in some manner.
With the NRL TV rights up soon and negotiations underway, it is seeking a massive $3-4 billion payday, seeking more than the 2022 AFL deal which saw the rival football league strike a $4.5b, League CEO Peter V’landys has been talking up international interest.
But that interest doesn’t seem to exist. Netflix has come out publicly and said that it will not be bidding.
The current agreement expires next year and is worth $1.7 billion, with Nine and the DAZN-owned Foxtel sharing the rights.
The AFR reports that Netflix has quashed talk that it will make a go at it.
Exec Brandon Riegg:
“We can certainly look at it, but it’s probably more of a volume play,” he said.
“We’re not at the point where it makes sense for us. It runs a bit counter to the event size strategy we’ve been following.”
Netflix continues to be disciplined around where it is spending its money and continues on its strategy of live one-off events rather than expensive weekly sports rights that only really drive interest in local markets. Netflix’s live events instead have more of a global interest.
It’s also a strategy that fits within a larger context of Netflix recently talking about signing retransmission deals around the world following its deal with TF1 in France. Could we see a deal where Netflix pays a fee to a broadcaster like, say, Channel Nine in Australia where it would live stream its linear channels and catch-up content, splitting ad-revenue. It would possibly be a way to get live sports onto the Netflix platform without the expense.
I wouldn’t expect to see that reality anytime soon, but it certainly fits in well with where Netflix appears to be taking its business.
Meanwhile Peter V’landys is taking the NRL out to market at a time where ad revenue is falling, we’re on the cusp of a global recession, and local networks are feeling the squeeze. The idea that the NRL TV rights will go for a figure higher than the AFL’s 2022 $4.5 seems fanciful, but maybe the business case can be made by a bidder.
Related thought: I have questioned for a few years what interest Paramount has in continuing to own local Australian broadcaster Ten. The only answer that anyone has ever given me is that it makes it possible to buy sporting rights for any sports currently on the anti-siphoning list. This gives Australian broadcasters first bite at any sports deemed culturally significant, ahead of rivals who would have the sports behind a paywall.
If Paramount doesn’t put in a bid for the NRL / doesn’t win a bid for the NRL, is that the signal that it will sell-up?
2 years of Hubbl
Today marks the second anniversary of the on-sale launch of Australian streaming hardware Hubbl. Launched at a pricey event on Sydney Harbour by Foxtel, Hubbl offered a TV with built-in Hubbl software and a plug-in box for those not wanting to splash out on a new TV. The platform is a local version of the UKs Sky Stream box and the US’ Xumo Stream Box.
Since then, Hubbl spent an obscene amount of money on an advertising campaign, followed by a decision to put Hubbl into ‘maintenance mode.’ Foxtel has been quite clear in saying that consumers shouldn’t expect to see further Hubbl hardware or investment into the platform.
But two years in… I’m using my Hubbl still every day. The remote control fits nicely in my hand. My four-year old kid (the future owner of the ABW empire) is able to use it pretty easily. And it provides very quick access to streaming linear stations – news, kids channels, and music videos are the main focus in our household.
I would never go as far as to say that I love my Hubbl, but in a world where it has been over three years since Apple has released an update to its streaming box, it is a vital part of life at ABW HQ.
Am I the only one still using it?
News Desk
Doc has been renewed for a third season at Fox. Read: THR
The Audacity has already been renewed for a second season ahead of the April 12 series debut. Read: Deadline
Fox News stepped further into State Media territory by inserting video of Donald Trump saluting fallen troops from Syria, replacing footage of him wearing a gaudy baseball cap during a transfer ceremony for soldiers killed in his Middle East conflict. Read: Deadline
Former MSNBC chief Rashida Jones has just been named CEO of Piers Morgan’s content company Uncensored. Read: Variety
Bill O’Reilly is launching a new podcast to be produced by the Fox-owned Red Seat Ventures. It’s called We’ll Do It Live, which annoys me as it feels like he is trying to take ownership of his viral video flameout. That belongs to the people now, Bill. Read: Variety
Nintendo is seeking a refund from the Trump administration over tariff payments. Read: Deadline
Jeff Daniels is joining the cast of Apple TV’s The Morning Show for season 5. But, unfortunately he won’t be reprising his role as the blowhard TV news guy from The Newsroom. Read: Deadline
Peacock will be the home for SNL UK from March 22. The media release says it is “proud to introduce bold new British voices to a global stage.” Weird considering Peacock is US only… Read: thefutoncritic
For decades I have been obsessed with Ted McGinley. With his role in Shrinking, the world has noticed him again, which is really lovely. And so, today there’s this rather nice feature about his career revival in the New York Times. You will learn next to nothing new about McGinley, but, again, it’s nice to see him profiled. Read: NYT
Trailer Park
Margo’s Got Money Troubles debuts on Apple TV April 15.
"Margo's Got Money Troubles" is a bold, heartwarming and comedic family drama following recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margo (Fanning), the daughter of an ex-Hooters waitress (Pfeiffer) and ex-pro wrestler (Offerman), as she's forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them. The series also stars Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Rico Nasty and Lindsey Normington.
XO Kitty is back for season 3 at Netflix April 2.
Harry Styles. One Night in Manchester is streaming now on Netflix.
Crookhaven debuts on the BBC March 22.
The series, filmed in Northern Ireland, has been created for television by Justin Young (Death In Paradise, Sanditon, Dickensian, Ripper Street). Centred around pickpocketing genius Gabriel (Lucas Leach) and his arch-rival, headmaster’s daughter Penelope (Carmel Laniado), the series follows a group of eight very different, young international students as they go head to head in the competition for the infamous Crooked Cup – all while battling a terrifying enemy, The Nameless.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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