Rugby League: Prime wins rights to NRL, Warriors matches

5.30pm

Prime Television has secured the rights to the 2003 National Rugby League (NRL) competition, including all New Zealand Warriors matches.

TV3 had the free-to-air rights for rugby league coverage in New Zealand this season.

The deal struck between Prime and Sky this week, will see Prime broadcast all New Zealand Warriors matches, five semi-finals, the grand final, the state of origin series and every rugby league test match played in Australia.

Prime said in statement it would also broadcast two games every week during the NRL round robin competition, double that carried by TV3 this year.

"Prime is looking forward to working with Sky TV and the New Zealand Warriors to build on the huge success of this year's NRL minor premiers," Prime Television New Zealand chief executive Officer Cameron Murray said.

Sky Television's chief executive John Fellet said having a free-to-air broadcasting partner was an important part of Sky's on-going involvement in televised sport in New Zealand.

- HERALD STAFF