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By Ed Jackson
THE NRL says it's willing to take a pay hit on its new television rights agreement if it means it can have a fixed calendar of matches.
The NRL's current deal, valued at $500 million over six years, ends following the 2012 campaign.
But under the terms of that deal, the NRL has a rolling schedule which allows broadcasters - the Nine Network and Fox Sports - to pick and choose which matches they want to televise depending on a team's form and appeal.
So if it guaranteed the year's fixtures were locked in before the season started, NRL chief executive David Gallop says the game would accept less money for its next deal.
Gallop says the system should be changed to allow fans and clubs to know exactly where and when they are playing - even though he said it could cost the code up to $50 million on the negotiating table.
"A fixed schedule for us, the advantages for our fans and clubs will hopefully outweigh that equation," he said.
"The whole issue of how we allocate games on that rolling schedule ... is a very complicated exercise.
"We will definitely be going to them and say that's what we want and if they were to come back hypothetically and say 'okay, that's $50 million less' then we've got a commercial decision to make.
"I doubt they'll do that. I do think they'll come back and offer us less but I don't think it'll be enough to make us change our mind.
"I think that certainty has become a real imperative for the game."
Gallop, speaking at the NRL's second annual club members forum, also expressed his frustration with the sport's broadcasters, saying they had been guilty of breaking their contractual obligations at times, particularly with televising matches in Melbourne.
"We do agitate about it, on a week-to-week basis because, to be frank, from time-to-time they don't even comply with their contractual obligations," he said.
"You can't fine them, but I'd like to. I think we all share that frustration."
NRL marketing and commercial director Paul Kind said the new TV deal could also include a Sunday afternoon "twilight" fixture as that concept gained popularity with fans and broadcasters.
"When this deal was negotiated Friday night was the big night ... two Friday night matches looked like it was going to be a great outcome for us from an attendance point of view," Kind said.
"And now that Sunday afternoon idea seems to have warmed right up in the past 12 months."
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