Super League Expansion May Put Vital Partnership With Sky Sports In Jeopardy

Super League’s semipermanent business pinch Sky Sports that bankrolls nan athletics could beryllium jeopardised by plans to expand nan title to 14 teams adjacent season.

The existing 12 Super League clubs voted successful favour of description earlier this week pursuing nan recommendations of a strategical reappraisal led by nan Rugby Football League chair, Nigel Wood, but nan Guardian has learned that nan scheme has yet to beryllium endorsed by their broadcast partner.

Under nan position of nan existent deal, Sky broadcasts each Super League crippled live, but it is understood that nan costs of televising an other crippled crossed 27 rounds adjacent twelvemonth would beryllium astir £500,000. The Guardian has been told Sky is reluctant to prime up nan further costs for matches it did not bargain successful a tender process that concluded almost 2 years ago, and has nary volition of expanding its authorities fees to support 2 other clubs.

Sky’s three-year woody to supply exclusive unrecorded sum of Super League enters its last 12 months adjacent season, and while location is nary proposal of nan broadcaster terminating that contract, elder sources person indicated that nan description could impact negotiations complete early deals. RL Commercial officials are understood to person been locked successful discussions pinch Sky since nan ballot connected Monday astir what description intends for nan existing contract, and person yet to person nan reassurances they are looking for.

Sky has been Super League’s broadcast partner since nan title launched successful 1996 and astir 170 games will beryllium shown unrecorded this season, but nan worth of nan statement has dropped importantly successful caller years. Officials who were coming astatine nan gathering astatine Headingley that approved description person privately admitted that 1 of their large concerns was really nan broadcaster would respond to nan decision, arsenic good arsenic really nan other games will beryllium financed.

Super League clubs are receiving a full of £21.5m from Sky this twelvemonth compared to £40m successful 2021. The comparison pinch different sports is besides alarming, pinch their £21.5m authorities interest little than Sky pays to televise conscionable 3 Premier League games, while nan broadcaster is investing astir £20m a twelvemonth successful nan Women’s Super League from adjacent play successful authorities fees and accumulation costs.

Sky’s declining financial backing for rugby convention is simply a awesome interest for nan athletics arsenic it prepares to participate nan last twelvemonth of its TV deal, peculiarly fixed nan constricted liking from elsewhere and really reliant rugby convention is connected its income from nan Sky Sports contract. TNT Sports made a speculative connection for nan existent rights, but it has since spent £200m connected a caller five-year woody for Premiership Rugby truthful whitethorn not bid again. IMG, nan sports trading agency that manages nan grading process which determines Super League membership, are presently starring a tender process for nan adjacent broadcast rhythm opening successful 2027.

Sky declined to comment, but 1 root astatine nan broadcaster said that rugby convention was fighting for its future. In different complication, Sky besides broadcasts Australia’s National Rugby League, which has held talks astir buying a 33% liking successful Super League but made clear it sees it arsenic a 10-team competition. Sources successful Australia person indicated description to 14 teams efficaciously kills immoderate dream of nonstop finance into Super League successful nan adjacent future.

With nary further TV money forthcoming pursuing description , nan Super League clubs person besides yet to determine really nan other 2 teams will beryllium funded adjacent season. A number of clubs are understood to person based on powerfully that they will not judge a trim successful their ain cardinal payments from nan Sky deal. Some Championship clubs vying for promotion arsenic portion of description plans person indicated they would beryllium consenting to participate nan title pinch nary cardinal distribution for 1 play successful 2026.