Nine Network Adds New Rugby Coverage

LONDON, November 14: IMG
Sports Media has sold the TV rights to the Rugby Football League's (RFL) Super
League and Carnegie Challenge Cup competitions to Nine Network in Australia as
part of a new three-year contract beginning in 2009.

Nine will air up to 70
Super League games and nine Challenge Cups games live, while also replaying
matches at more convenient times for Australian viewers. The sport accounts for
the five highest-rating TV programs in both Sydney and Brisbane for the year to
date.

"Rugby
League is one of Nine's premium franchises through the NRL Premiership, State
of Origin and International coverage," said David Gyngell, the CEO of Nine
Network. "So embracing the English Super League competition is a natural
extension of our commitment. Not only will our audience see more high-quality
rugby league, but with many former NRL stars now playing in the U.K., we'll be
watching a lot of very familiar players."

Richard
Lewis, the executive chairman of the RFL, commented: "On the back of a
successful World Cup in Australia it is excellent news that more homes than
ever before in Australia will be able to take in the engage Super League and
the Carnegie Challenge Cup over the next three years. Super League is growing
in popularity both at home and abroad all the time due its fast and free
flowing nature, and this new agreement means more people can take in the sport
whilst at the same time providing more revenue for our clubs."

IMG's
head of sales and acquisitions, Ben Nicholas, added: "This is a tremendous
new broadcast contract for the RFL in what is a key market for Rugby League. It
will take the sport to a vast audience every week throughout the season, and as
the market leader for Rugby League in Australia, Nine Network are sure to
enhance the sport's international exposure."

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski