Super League IX

Live Super League IX matches were broadcast in the United Kingdom by Sky Sports in the first year of a new five-year television deal.[1] The contract was signed less than three weeks before the start of the season.[2] The deal, worth £53 million, represented a 15 percent, or £7 million, increase on the last contract.[1][3] The contract would run until the end of the 2008 season and also cover the international game minus the 2008 World Cup, which is worth £5 million of the total amount.[1][4] It was speculated in the media that clubs would receive around £700,000-£800,000 per year from the deal - less than the £1 million clubs received in 1995 when British rugby league agreed to switch to a summer season.[1][3] The clubs had received in initial offer of £55.5 million from Sky, one of two offers rejected; after that offer was declined the amount was reduced with the final figure agreed being settled later after an intervention by Maurice Lindsay.[3][4] Sky's offer took into account their dissatisfaction with the - BBC requested - proposed move of the Challenge Cup Final to between May and August in 2005, which they believed was too near to the October Grand Final.[3] An RFL spokesman said: "To increase our overall take in a falling market is a major step forward for our game".[4] Vic Wakeling speaking for Sky said: "Our relationship with rugby league is one of the longest in the 12-year history of Sky Sports and we are delighted to be announcing the same again in terms of Super League and international rights.[2]

The BBC secured secondary broadcast rights to show the Super League play-offs and Grand Final nationally with a provision to show match highlights of regular season games.[3] Previously, a deal with the BBC had seen a Sky highlights package shown in the BBC's northern regions.[3]