Jun 1, 2026 – 1.34pmFoxtel has launched a high-stakes bid to protect its decades-long relationship with the NRL, offering to buy the sport’s entire suite of free-to-air and streaming rights to counter – and cut out – media rival Nine Entertainment.The pay television and sports streaming giant behind Kayo Sports, Binge and the Foxtel cable business pitched its plans to Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys and outgoing NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo last Tuesday morning. Hours later, Nine did the same.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles