Channel Nine could lose State of Origin rights as rival station ‘launches $150million bid’ to steal footy’s crown jewel

Channel Seven has reportedly launched an audacious bid to to snatch the rights to the State Of Origin series from rival broadcaster Channel Nine.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys and the code’s CEO Andrew Abdo met Seven CEO James Warburton and director of sport Lewis Martin in a Sydney restaurant last week.

They were discussing the broadcaster’s $150million bid alongside Foxtel to broadcast the interstate series on Seven and Fox League, plus the Kayo and 7plus streaming services, according to the Daily Telegraph. 

The State Of Origin series always features among the most-watched programs in Australia, delivering a ratings bonanza to Nine (pictured, Queensland after winning the 2023 title) 

Footy supremo Peter V’Landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo were photographed meeting Seven’s CEO and director of sport in a Sydney restaurant last week

Game Three of State Of Origin this year (won by NSW, pictured) rated higher than the corresponding game from last year

While the three-match series always features at or near the top of Australia’s most-watched programs every year, it has started to lose a little of its shine despite remaining a ratings bonanza. 

Despite a very healthy 3.3million viewers tuning in for the opening game this year in Adelaide, the numbers from 2013 are still far superior at 3.949million.

The network’s bid will include the men’s, women’s and Under 19s interstate fixtures with a pledge to heavily promote each game not just in the NSW and Queensland markets but nationally also in the rival AFL markets, the publication reported.

Seven and Fox would spend in the vicinity of $30 million a year – $10 million per game – over five seasons.

In addition to the Origin bid, Seven also reportedly wants to obtain an NRL game for each Sunday afternoon once the tendering is open again. 

Seven CEO James Warburton’s Origin bid would be a game-changer for not just the game, but the TV landscape in Australia  

The Everest at Randwick is worth $15million and is Racing NSW’s showpiece event which V’landys successfully negotiated with Channel Seven for coverage

Warburton and Martin have an established and strong relationship with V’landys because of Seven’s coverage of major racing carnivals, as the footy supremo also heads up Racing NSW.

He met with the network honchos last month to discuss their ongoing partnership and coverage of the world’s richest turf horse race, The Everest, which is run each year at Royal Randwick in Sydney.