NRL boss David Gallop claims rugby league fans and administrators should be buoyed by the AFL securing a new broadcasting deal worth in excess of $1 billion.

The AFL on Thursday announced a five-year, $1.253 billion deal had been struck with Foxtel, the Seven Network and Telstra for the rights to show the game on television, internet and mobile platforms from 2012.

NRL broadcasting rights are due for renewal ahead of the 2013 season, with many in the game hoping for a similar payday, which would represent a significant upgrade on the current deal with the Nine Network and Fox Sports worth $100 million per year.

"Everyone in rugby league should be excited by that outcome, it shows the hunger for sports rights and the number of media platforms that want rights," Gallop told AAP.

"If you look at our results in terms of ratings, then we are entitled to be very optimistic about how we're placed.

"It's a result that we should be encouraged by."

Gallop confirmed that he hoped to have a deal in place by the end of 2011, but prolonged negotiations in the establishment of the independent commission are stalling the commencement of talks.

"No-one wants to commence negotiations until the structure's finalised, but we've got a year longer to run than the AFL, so we've got plenty of time to get the deal done," Gallop said.

As current rights holders, the Nine Network have first and last bidding rights in the fight to show NRL, which regularly outstrips the AFL in terms of nationwide ratings.

The Seven Network have indicated they are keen to make a play for NRL rights, with chairman David Leckie on Thursday claiming his station's huge investment in AFL would not impact on their ability to bid for rugby league.

The NRL has indicated it would look be willing to explore the possibility of sharing games to maximise the game's earning potential, with State of Origin seen as the jewel in the crown for broadcasters.

Leckie indicatedhis network - which secured four AFL matches per round with the remainder on Foxtel - had not ruled out on-selling some of its rights to either Nine or Ten.

There was speculation that any deal with Nine could result in Seven being handed an NRL game in return, with Nine currently broadcasting two games on Friday nights - one live and one on delay - and another match on one-hour delay on a Sunday.

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