Channel Seven has fired the first major shot at rival Nine ahead of the next NRL premiership broadcast rights cycle with a new footy show going to air starring Broncos premiership winner Corey Parker.

The NRL’s current $1.7billion, five-year broadcast agreement with Nine and Foxtel expires at the end of the 2027 season and Seven has signalled its intent to challenge for the rights. 

Formal negotiations for the next cycle are beginning, with ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys targeting a deal worth between $3billion and $4billion across seven to 10 years from 2028.

That figure would place the NRL within reach of the AFL’s most recent agreement. 

The AFL signed a $4.5billion, seven-year television deal in September 2022 with the Seven Network and Foxtel, running from 2025 to 2031. 

League powerbrokers have made it clear they believe the NRL can close the gap and potentially exceed previous benchmarks.

Seven has fired a big shot at Nine with its new NRL show The Agenda Setters, starring (left to right) Luke Keary, Corey Parker, Aaron Woods, David Riccio, Jelisa Apps and Matt White  

Nine has remained the NRL’s free-to-air broadcaster under its current long-term agreement (pictured left to right, Nine stars Brad Fittler, Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater)

Seven’s launch of The Agenda Setters: Rugby League, airing on Monday nights from March 9, is part of a broader play to demonstrate its readiness to be a serious bidder. 

The network has already secured the 2026 Rugby League World Cup rights for $12million and is expanding its league footprint ahead of rights talks intensifying.

Corey Parker’s role is significant as he is not just another retired player on a panel. 

Parker is a 347-game Brisbane Broncos premiership winner, a 19-time State of Origin representative for Queensland and a 13-Test Kangaroo. 

He has credibility across both clubland and representative football and has built a strong media profile since retiring, including nine seasons with Fox League and more recently as a full-time breakfast host on SENQ alongside cricket legend Ian Healy.

Parker has promised the new program will pull no punches. 

‘I’m very happy and proud to say I will be part of the Agenda Setters. It’s a one-stop shop for Rugby League news. Headlines and controversies. Raw and opinionated,’ Parker said. 

The NRL great confirmed that the network is entering the fight for the next broadcast deal.  

Nine has partnered with Foxtel in a deal worth $1.7billion through until the end of the 2027 season

NRL bosses Andrew Abdo (left) and Peter V’landys (right) have stressed protecting the fan experience during rights discussions

‘Channel 7 have the exclusive rights to the NRL World Cup, they’re trying to get their foot into the sport,’ he said.

Nine remains locked in as the NRL’s free-to-air partner until the end of 2027, retaining exclusive grand final and State of Origin rights under the 2021 agreement. 

However, the next cycle is expected to attract broader competition. International streaming services such as Amazon, Netflix and DAZN have been linked as potential entrants, and the ARLC is open to exploring split rights packages.

The planned expansion of the competition to Perth in 2027 and Papua New Guinea from 2028 is also expected to increase inventory and commercial value, adding further leverage to negotiations.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys is keeping all options open at the negotiation table. 

‘We’ve started and we’re talking to some interested parties. But one of the things that we’re going to be very, very careful about is not to ruin the experience for the fans,’ he said.