NBC, Digicel team up

 By JACK AMI

IT is welcomed news for Papua New Guinea fans of the Australia’s National Rugby League because games will now be viewed on free-to-air television. 

This was made possible through a partnership between Digicel Play and the National Broadcasting Commission at the National Football Stadium yesterday.

This means local fans can watch the NRL, Digicel Cup and Queensland Cup in their homes through Digicel Play and NBC TV’s quality-boosted networks.

The announcement was made by Digicel PNG Limited chief executive officer Maurice McCarthy in the presence of NBC acting managing director Kora Nou, Sports and Tourism Minister Justin Tkatchenko, NRL PNG in-country manager Mark Mom and NBC TV executive director Demas Keta.

McCarthy said three weekly NRL matches would be aired on NBC TV as well as Digicel Play. 

The partnership will see the ANZAC Test and the popular State of Origin series on both networks.

McCarthy said the PNG SP Hunters and Digicel Games would be exclusively aired by Digicel Play but there is a possibility for NBC to carry those matches in future when both parties review the agreement.

He said Digicel intended to work with the state broadcaster to allow viewers of either channel to watch the action at home.

Nou said the availability of NRL meant that the partnership was was a win-win arrangement for both NBC and Digicel Play.

Nou said through the partnership, there would be 100 per cent coverage throughout the country and the relationship with Digicel meant that the PNG people would enjoy NRL on whichever platform they chose.

“We are extremely happy as through this partnership we can now also broadcast NRL content to our viewers,” Nou said.

He said the announcement was a major boost for the local fans.