Telstra, ARLC Establish Media Joint Venture For NRL Coverage

Telecom company Telstra and the Australian Rugby League Commission "have established a media joint venture to report on the National Rugby League," as part of a sponsorship and digital rights partnership worth more than A$100M ($105.7M), according to Mitchell Bingemann of THE AUSTRALIAN. In a move "reminiscent of the Australian Football League establishing its own online media division," Telstra and the ARLC will set up a media unit and employ journalists to report on NRL matches and breaking news. The NRL media unit will also stream exclusive post-game access. Telstra CEO David Thodey said, "We're going to push a few boundaries I think and I think it's very exciting." Telstra Media Group Managing Dir Rick Ellis said that the joint venture would "establish a set of governance rules for the unit, tentatively dubbed NRL Media, and would begin hiring staff in the new year." Ellis said, "There will be a significant increase in staff. We will both provide expertise and Telstra will provide technical capability, but we will also get new staff" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/13).