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These are the non-negotiables. The 14 NRL match-ups that are all but guaranteed to be played twice in a significantly reduced 2020 season, as the broadcast partners prepare to sit down and nut out the draw over the next week.
Latrell Mitchell versus his old club, Wayne Bennett against the Broncos, the grand final replay - they are just some of the blockbuster games that are expected to feature twice in a shortened 20-round season.
Clubs are anxiously waiting to find out who they will have to square off against, with the NRL to consider broadcast preferences, ratings, rivalries and competition fairness when allocating the five teams that each side will have to play twice.
Under the current broadcast arrangement, Channel Nine gets 65 picks (30 placed) of the 192 game season - selections that were made last August in preparation for the 2020 draw. That is expected to be reduced proportionally to the length of season. The NRL also picks 10 free-to-air games, while Fox Sports gets to provide its preferred time slot for certain games.
There were 12 fixtures that were scheduled to be played on free-to-air TV twice in the original draw, which were deemed the most valuable to the Nine network given they indicated a desire to broadcast both legs of the fixture.
Because Nine was asked to make its picks before the finals, its selections didn't include the Roosters-Raiders grand final rematch. It was later added to Nine's schedule by the NRL, who is given the authority to select 10 free-to-air games on top of Nine's 65.
While some may come as a surprise, Nine often choose two teams from different states to maximise ratings by reaching a wider audience.
It's why the Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos feature so regularly on free-to-air TV. The Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs are also a big hit with broadcasters.
Other key match-ups outside the non-negotiable list that are expected to be included twice include Valentine Holmes against the Sharks and the rescheduled traditional ANZAC Day game between the Roosters and Dragons.
The Herald looked at Nine's selections from the original draw and factored in television ratings and rivalries to compile a list of the teams that will most likely square off against each other twice in 2020. See chart below.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/who-your-nrl-team-will-play-twice-in-2020-20200510-p54rkb.html
Latrell Mitchell versus his old club, Wayne Bennett against the Broncos, the grand final replay - they are just some of the blockbuster games that are expected to feature twice in a shortened 20-round season.
Clubs are anxiously waiting to find out who they will have to square off against, with the NRL to consider broadcast preferences, ratings, rivalries and competition fairness when allocating the five teams that each side will have to play twice.
Under the current broadcast arrangement, Channel Nine gets 65 picks (30 placed) of the 192 game season - selections that were made last August in preparation for the 2020 draw. That is expected to be reduced proportionally to the length of season. The NRL also picks 10 free-to-air games, while Fox Sports gets to provide its preferred time slot for certain games.
There were 12 fixtures that were scheduled to be played on free-to-air TV twice in the original draw, which were deemed the most valuable to the Nine network given they indicated a desire to broadcast both legs of the fixture.
Because Nine was asked to make its picks before the finals, its selections didn't include the Roosters-Raiders grand final rematch. It was later added to Nine's schedule by the NRL, who is given the authority to select 10 free-to-air games on top of Nine's 65.
While some may come as a surprise, Nine often choose two teams from different states to maximise ratings by reaching a wider audience.
It's why the Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos feature so regularly on free-to-air TV. The Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs are also a big hit with broadcasters.
Other key match-ups outside the non-negotiable list that are expected to be included twice include Valentine Holmes against the Sharks and the rescheduled traditional ANZAC Day game between the Roosters and Dragons.
The Herald looked at Nine's selections from the original draw and factored in television ratings and rivalries to compile a list of the teams that will most likely square off against each other twice in 2020. See chart below.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/who-your-nrl-team-will-play-twice-in-2020-20200510-p54rkb.html
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