Canberra - Arabstoday
Australia's Seven, Nine and Ten TV networks are set to fight for the broadcast rights of the State of Origin rugby league series. The annual three-match series is one of Australian rugby league's biggest events. According to Australia's Daily Telegraph, the broadcasters are preparing for the newly-formed Australian Rugby League Commission to split the high-rating property from the rugby league's general television rights deal. NRL chief executive David Gallop said: "We are in an exclusive negotiation period with the incumbent rights holders [Nine]. "But State of Origin football is getting bigger and bigger every year so it's hardly surprising that it is being looked at as a compelling television property by all networks, should the opportunity arise."