The fight for NRL radio rights continues

According to a story today in the Fin Review, John Singleton’s Macquarie Radio Network is now ahead of Fairfax Media in the battle for the NRL AM radio rights.

In August, Macquarie Radio Chairman Russell Tate, whose station 2GB is the current rights holder, said they wanted to retain the rights but were cautious about having too many commercial competitors…

"We have an intention to remain the rights holder, we would like to be and hope to be….I think it would be difficult with too many rights holders. This is different to AFL in Melbourne. That would be a decision for the (ARL) Commission. We hope to retain the (exclusive) status we have enjoyed for the past couple of years."

2GB is apparently close to striking a deal with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC). However, a spokesman from the ARLC said no deal had been finalised.

Fairfax Media's 2UE is still in discussions with the ARLC and will apparently have another meeting with them this week to discuss what they can bring to the game.

It is suggested that the ARLC may give Fairfax, which joined Bill Caralis’s Super Radio Network for the bid, a small number of the eight games a week. If that occurred, Macquarie and Triple M would share the majority of the games.

Triple M want to expand their coverage by broadcasting multiple matches each weekend.

See more in the Financial Review here

While on Macquarie, John Singleton's Central Coast holiday home was destroyed on the weekend after a fire caused half a million dollars worth of damage.

A police spokesman said, "At this stage fire is being treated as suspicious until investigators prove otherwise."

Picture courtesy of The Daily Telegraph here