The National Rugby League is poised to announce a historic rights agreement with Fox Sports, with the News Corp-owned pay-television broadcaster believed to have acquired the rights to the crucial Saturday night game from the free-to-air rights holder Nine Entertainment Co for around $175 million as part of the five-year deal.

Fairfax Media understands that the NRL commission will meet on Thursday morning to sign off the deal, with an official announcement expected later that day or in the coming days. Estimates suggest the total NRL rights package could be worth $1.8 billion over five years, including pay television, free-to-air, digital and international rights.

Fox Sports to set to have Saturday exclusivity for the NRL. Credit:Quinn Rooney

Nine signed a five-year $925 million contract with the NRL in August, when the league broke with tradition and negotiated the free-to-air rights separate from the pay television rights. The current NRL television deal runs until the end of the 2017 season.

The Saturday game is seen as crucial for Fox Sports so that it can maintain exclusivity over NRL games played on that day. Nine had previously been prepared to sell back the game for $40 million per year, while Fox Sports was prepared to pay $30 million. It is understood the parties met in the middle at close to $35 million.