Source :- THE AGE NEWS
The NRL has made a $57 million offer to purchase a 50 per cent stake in the Super League in an attempt to revive the cash-strapped sport in England.
The Australian Rugby League Commission’s offer to Rugby League Commercial (RLC) is worth six £6 million per year ($11.47 million) over five years. That amount will provide distributions to the Super League clubs – many of which are in the red – over and above the funds they currently receive.
Sources not authorised to speak publicly said under the terms of the proposal, the NRL would take over the running of the Super League, with the funds coming from a joint venture with DAZN – the broadcaster who, along with Nine, the publishers of this masthead, recently completed a $5.3 billion broadcast deal for the NRL rights.
The plan is for DAZN and the NRL to partner on a “rugby league pass” offering to English fans, which would provide them with access to Super League and NRL matches.
There has been speculation for several years that the NRL was poised to take ownership of the game in England, but Thursday’s offer is the first and most important step in getting a deal done. Several NRL clubs have expressed a willingness to forge more strategic ties with clubs based in England should the deal go through.
The NRL wants to turn around the financial fortunes of a league in which the majority of the clubs are losing money.
Some reports in England described the NRL’s proposal as a “first offer”, but sources said it was likely to be a final one. While the English clubs will have time to process the terms of the deal, it’s likely a deadline will be placed on them to accept it before it is withdrawn from the table.
“RL Commercial can confirm that a first offer has been received from the ARLC (the Australian Rugby League Commission, which governs the NRL in Australia) as part of the sport’s recapitalisation project,” the Super League said in a statement.
“The Super League clubs have been informed this morning. Details of the offer remain confidential.”
There were reports in the UK that the NRL’s offer was going to be as high as £60 million ($114.7m). However, that was never going to be the case and has likely raised unrealistic expectations for the Super League and its clubs.
Negotiations with Sky Sports to broker a new television deal – currently worth about $40 million per year – have been put on hold until a decision is made on NRL ownership. The NRL is confident they will be in a position to drive a far superior deal with the broadcaster should they take over.
The NRL has used vehicles such as the World Club Challenge and its Las Vegas venture – which English clubs have been participating in – to help raise the profile of the Super League.
