The President and MD for Warner Bros. Discovery UK and Ireland,Andrew Georgiou,has cast doubt on the financial prospects of Mike Tindall’s R360 rugby league. TNT Sports, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, holds broadcasting rights for the Gallagher Premiership and Autumn Nations Series.

Mike Tindall is spearheading the R360, a proposed 12-team franchise league featuring events worldwide in a grand prix format.The league would consist of a 16-match season split into two blocks,running from April to June and August to September.

While the concept reportedly attracts interest from players seeking fewer games and higher pay, as well as potential franchise owners from Premier League, F1, and NFL teams, it has failed to impress at least one major rugby broadcaster.

TNT Sports Expresses Concerns Over R360’s Financial Model

Andrew Georgiou questioned the financial foundation of the R360 project, stating that TNT Sports has no plans to broadcast the league if it launches.

“So if these folks believe that they are going to grow the revenue by putting this thing on, I think they’re delusional. I really do.”

During a media briefing, Andrew Georgiou recounted his extensive experience with similar proposals: “I’ve been involved in sport for 25 years. I can’t tell you how many of these PowerPoint presentations I’ve come across my desk with people who were absolutely certain that what they had on that page was going to be the new thing. It was going to be absolutely the new thing.”

He added that no one from R360 had approached TNT Sports with details about the format or schedule. Andrew Georgiou emphasized the critical question: “How are they going to grow the revenue by putting this event on? Where’s the money coming from? The media industry is going through a massive generational change…So I would just ask some pretty basic questions around, is this a commercially enduring model? The fact that it’s being likened to LIV Golf, I think is a perfect analogy. It’s a perfect comparison to what this is really going to be: Commercially unsustainable.”

Mike Tindall is behind the new R360 breakaway league (Getty Images)

The future of Breakaway Rugby Leagues

The viability of new sports leagues hinges on securing substantial revenue streams and navigating the evolving media landscape. Andrew Georgiou’s skepticism highlights the challenges facing ventures like the R360 in a competitive market.