ARU Secures Huge Five-Year Media Rights Deal With Fox Sports

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has agreed a major new media rights agreement with Fox Sports and Network Ten which will run from 2016-2020.

The deal will see the ARU receive a total of AUD $285m in media rights revenue from the total package of SANZAAR agreements, medstore which is a 148% increase on revenue achieved from the previous media rights arrangements (2011-15).

Fox Sports will continue its partnership with Rugby after retaining the Australian rights for Test matches played in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as the expanded 18-team Asteron Life Super Rugby competition which will for the first time feature teams from Argentina and Japan in 2016.

All Qantas Wallabies domestic Tests, New Zealand and South Africa domestic Tests, all matches in The Rugby Championship, and every Super Rugby match will be broadcast Live on Fox Sports.

Network Ten will remain the Australian free-to-air broadcaster after finalising a deal with Fox Sports to simulcast all Qantas Wallabies domestic Tests, the Bledisloe Cup, and all matches played by the Qantas Wallabies in The Rugby Championship.

The new media rights deal also sees Fox Sports remain a partner and exclusive broadcaster of the National Rugby Championship (NRC) for the next five years.

Fox Sports will also continue to broadcast the New Zealand and South Africa domestic competitions, the Mitre 10 Cup (NZ) and Absa Currie Cup (SA).

ARU CEO, Bill Pulver said: “These new media rights arrangements are a wonderful result for our game and we thank FOX SPORTS for its incredible support of Rugby over the past two decades.

“With these new media rights arrangements in place the ARU will have surplus funds to re-invest in the game from grassroots through to the Wallabies and to address strategic priorities to grow the game including community Rugby, women’s Rugby and our development pathways.

“Early in 2016 we will announce a new five-year whole of game strategy for Australian Rugby that aligns with our media rights cycle and sets the direction and vision for the game of Rugby in Australia.”

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