Qatar-based sports broadcasting giant beIN Sports may bid for the pay-television rights to screen National Rugby League matches from 2018, creating a well-funded potential competitor to Fox Sports.

The NRL would benefit from other bidders to compete with Fox Sports and Foxtel, whose half-owner News Corp is on a campaign to unseat NRL chief executive Dave Smith after he snubbed the pay-TV giant by striking an exclusive $925 million five-year free-to-air deal with Nine Entertainment Co two weeks ago.

beIN Sports, which did not respond to requests for comment, is interested in bidding for the pay-TV rights and has said as much to the NRL. Credit:Getty Images

beIN Sports, which did not respond to requests for comment, is interested in bidding for the rights and has said as much to the NRL, sources said.

Owned by the Al Jazeera network, beIN Sports started operating in Australia last year when it took over the Setanta Sports Network. The Setanta channel, which is carried through Foxtel, Fetch TV and digitally over the internet was rebranded beIN Sport.