The NRL has announced its $1.8billion broadcast deal today which will reach more fans across the globe than ever before covering free-to-air, Fox Sports and Telstra with the new agreement expiring at the end of 2018.

Rights are yet to be sold for State of Origin, International fixtures and radio rights.

It was expected that real change would not come until 2018 but has been brought forward to 2016.

The highlights include:
Telstra Premiership matches will be held five days a week in 2016 – from Thursday to Monday inclusive – before reverting to four days a week (Thursday to Sunday) in 2017

• From 2017 the Monday night game will be moved to Friday at 6pm

• Nine Network will telecast games live and free to air on Thursday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoon in 2016

• FOX SPORTS will show all eight games every weekend – including five exclusive telecasts each weekend.Super Saturday, featuring three live games, will be retained by FOX SPORTS.

• The last five Saturday night games of each season will be telecast on free to air television in the build up to the Finals series

• From 2017 FOX SPORTS will run a dedicated Rugby League channel – giving the game more exposure than any time in the game’s history

• News Corp Australia will use its local media and newspaper resources to promote the game wherever it is played

• And it will use its worldwide resources to take NRL on to the global stage where we believe over time its incredible appeal will see an army of new fans emerge

• Telstra will remain the naming rights partner of the NRL and will telecast the game digitally on its mobile network as well as replays and highlights on its new Telstra TV platform in 2016.

“We have delivered the very best outcome for the game as a whole,” ARLC Chairman John Grant said.

“In revisiting the number of free to air games in this agreement we were responding to the value both Nine and News Corp Australia saw in the Saturday game.

“Compared to our current schedule, this result still means more games live and free for our fans and gives grass roots and elite clubs and organisations immense financial benefits.

“The ARL Commission has been working on a revised schedule to incorporate the 18 Thursday night games in 2016 in conjunction with the television rights negotiations without increasing the number of 5 day turn-arounds for players.

“This will be released this afternoon”.