NYC Toyota Cup Ground Breaking TV Deal
28th February 2008
The NRL’s newest competition – the Toyota Cup – will be televised live nationally as part of a ground-breaking new TV deal. Fox Sports Chief Executive, Mr David Malone, announced the one-year deal that will broadcast live, on average, two games per week, as well as all the Toyota Cup finals and a simulcast of the Toyota Cup Grand Final with Channel Nine. Sky TV in New Zealand will also broadcast the Warriors’ home Toyota Cup matches to their New Zealand audience. “This broadcast partnership highlights the excitement the Toyota Cup is generating among the players, clubs, fans and our media partners,” NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today. “The Toyota Cup will feature the future stars of our game and we thank Fox Sports for their efforts in ensuring as many fans as possible are able to enjoy watching this competition.” The TV deal, which has provisions for a four-year extension, is another positive boost to the inaugural national youth competition, which will revolutionise the game’s development pathways. “NRL coverage on Fox Sports has been an incredible success and to be able to announce that we will also be broadcasting two Toyota Cup games live each week, showcasing the future stars of the NRL, is another exciting step in our partnership with the NRL," Mr Malone said. "The broadcast of the Toyota Cup on Fox Sports will give our viewers even greater coverage of Rugby League and is also a further example of our commitment to this great game.” The Toyota Cup provides a blueprint on how to prepare players for the demands of professional sport and for life after football, as well as giving fans the chance to watch the game’s next generation of players, coaches and referees hone their skills in a unified competition. “The Toyota Cup is the first competition of its kind in Australian sport and the broadcast partnership with Fox Sports highlights the significant role it will play in developing Rugby League’s future stars,” Toyota Manager of Promotion and Events, National Marketing, Wayne Gabriel, said today. “This competition will showcase the best young footballers in Australia and offer an exciting pathway to the NRL, and Toyota is proud to be part of that development.