Skip to content

Nine CEO Matt Stanton coy on Premier League after rugby rights win

The Nine chief would not be drawn on a possible Premier League bid, after having clinched a major broadcast deal for the Rugby World Cup through to 2029.

John Buckley
Make us a preferred source
Nine’s deal with World Rugby includes World Cup coverage on Nine’s free-to-air network and digital broadcast platform, 9Now, as well as live and on-demand broadcasts on Stan Sport. AAP/Dean Lewins.

Nine Entertainment CEO Matt Stanton has played down speculation the company is pursuing broadcast rights for the English Premier League, after snaring Rugby World Cup rights through to 2029 as the company eyes a push to expand its sports offering.

Stanton, speaking to Capital Brief shortly after Nine announced its new Rugby World Cup deal on Monday, would not be drawn on the company’s interest in the highly coveted Premier League rights.

“Well, that contract’s not up for another three years,” Stanton said, downplaying the growing industry expectation that Nine will mount a bid for the Premier League.

Nine was first linked to a move for the competition by the Australian Financial Review in January. The Nine-owned publication reported the company was in talks with Optus over a deal for its sports streaming platform Optus Sport. The newspaper reported on Monday that those talks are ongoing.