OK Gallop. Do your phony baloney job and negotiate hard this time. Rather than bend over backwards to accommodate News.
Get professional negotiators in to do this deal. Stay out of it you will only screw it up IMO.
Suggest the following should be non-negotiable:
120% above the AFL deal as it rates at least 20% better than where they kick behinds. If AFL negotiates a better deal the NRL would then get a rise in accordance with the AFL + 120%.
Length of deal should be a 3 x 3. Option only to be applied if the NRL agrees and wouldn't require other parties to agree.
Payments should at least factor in inflation +3% per annum.
A payment structure linked to ratings. If ratings are higher the payment also goes higher. If ratings go lower payments should have a floor where they will go no lower than the yearly set amount.
All News sports reports should lead with NRL stories first rather than AFL stories as they do at the moment.
A dedicated rugby league channel running 24 x 7 on the FOX network rather than having to share with union and ARL. Or if 7, 9 or 10 get the majority a HD channel dedicated entirely to rugby league. This would include all Toyota cup games, QLD cup, Sydney cup and country matches as well.
All Toyota cup games should be televised or replayed rather than just two.
If 7, 9 or 10 get the deal or part of it. These stations in all areas (including Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth) should be made to telecast NRL etc at the same time i.e. Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.