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Chances are you’re about to lose: Gambling slump a new reality for sports and media

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In this edition of On Background, the questions hanging over gambling advertising, media companies and the biggest deal in town; a News Corp loyalist spotted in Nine’s offices; Sky cancels another guest; and Kyle and Jackie O’s KIIS of death.

On Saturday, Australia’s most powerful sports executive Peter V’landys will welcome a raft of influential media executives into his director’s suite at Sydney’s Royal Randwick to watch the field cross the finish line of the $20 million Everest race.

V’landys’ ability to attract such a crowd is unique. As Racing NSW CEO, he has significant pull, but as chair of the Rugby League Commission he will command extra attention from media bosses from News Corp, Nine, Seven, Foxtel and others attending this weekend.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys is chasing a big money deal for the NRL broadcast rights. Credit: Getty

This year’s edition is particularly important as the NRL will officially begin courting offers for its next broadcast rights arrangement next month. But V’landys has a problem. The money helping fund mammoth sporting deals, like the AFL’s $4.5 billion contract in 2022, is drying up, in particular from one sector he is intimately familiar with: gambling.

Peter V’landys (centre) knows how to pull a crowd, like Lachlan Murdoch (left), but can he get his magic number?

If it feels like this NRL process has been going on for years, it’s because it has. V’landys, with the help of the media, has built up the importance of the new contract that will begin in 2028. Pressure is mounting on everyone to get what they want: V’landys, the teams, the broadcasters, the sponsors and even the fans.

For Nine and Foxtel, not having the NRL would be a killer blow.

PVL, as he’s known, has made it clear the minimum requirement is matching the AFL. To do so, he’s stoked competitive tension for some time, claiming directly, or indirectly through the media, that the likes of Netflix, Disney and Amazon are interested.

As are Seven, according to a recent report in........

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