Its a frequently asked question and I've managed to get a response by contacting the NRL direct rather than potential broadcasters.

Not much being said though except......



So no deal done as of yet. I'll try them again if nothings announced in a couple of weeks.

I hope it's anything but ESPN. Channels 1-5 would be good, or even sky sports, but I can't help thinking it will end up on itv3 or something like that, where it won't introduce RL to a wider audience.

It's either going to be Sky or ESPN. If ESPN are in for the rights then I think they'll get them. Sky will only pick them up I think if no one else bothers and they can get them on the cheap.

Well if ESPN will make a better effort out of it, then they'd be the better choice I suppose.


Tbh as long as I can watch it i'll be fine.



P.S Will the station who gets the rights to NRL also get the rights to SOO?

The BBC/ITV/C4/5 won't touch them - not worth the money for the real interest in them. It's ESPN, Sky or nothing!

Am I right in suspecting that the ESPN on Freeview only starts broadcasting in the evening, therefore any live matches will not be shown unless on a delay?

Good work there, Bilko.

Yeah I think the Anzac Test and Origin games are lumped in to NRL rights.




12noon I think it is. Setanta was the same when it was on freeview.

I'm hoping for Sky Sports, I don't really want to fork out for ESPN just for the NRL.

Same here!
Although if it does end up at Sky I hope they don't do it as crappily as they did the last time they had it, just do what Setanta did and simply show the Fox/Channel 9 broadcast.

Would love it to be on Sky Sports if it's been shown here. Was gutted when Setanta disappeared last year and will lose ESPN soon so Sky would do very nicely

Is ESPN still free on Virgin?

Yes, if you have the full sports package.

Or XL tv package.

It wont be on itv3 as they dont show sport. Think your thinking on itv4 which bring it a much wider viewing public.

It will be espn or sky sports. I would guess espn

Simon likes this!

Other way round for me unfortunately...

Anybody who thinks ITV will pick the NRL up is really having themselves on.

or that ITV even shows anything worthwhile!!

Sky have just done a big 2-3min promo on what they are showing this year and no NRL was mentioned

you cant read anything into that. they dont show league half the time

When ESPN tried to get me on board last month they claimed they were showing the NRL this year.

We did well out of ESPN. We have the full package with the HD box. I ordered ESPN because I wanted to watch the UFC and then rang up to cancel it. Woman asked why I was cancelling and did I watch the channel alot? Said yes I watch it blah blah. So she said due to us having the full package and HD they will give us it free for the rest of the 12 months. Runs out in March I think.

See what we can arrange once its ran out again? If ESPN do get the rights to the NRL then we'll deffinately be keeping EPSN.

Nobody know anymore about this?

ESPN told my farther that.So he signed up with them for £4 a month