Rugby League: New audience guaranteed for World Cup

THE American satellite and cable company, Prime International, have paid pounds 1.3m for exclusive overseas television rights for next year's World Cup and are targeting South Africa and South America in addition to the traditional rugby league nations.

Matt Tinley, the managing director of the Texas-based company, said: 'My aim is to show rugby league in every corner of the world.

'Although the World Cup is very important, we are hoping this is the start of what will be a long-term involvement. We are offering a genuine commitment to spread the game around the world.'

Prime, who serve 41 million homes in America, have opened talks with the Rugby League about covering the Stones Bitter Championship.

'We have been criticised in the past for accepting too low a price from the BBC,' Maurice Lindsay, the Rugby League's chief executive, said. 'This is a reminder to them that we live in a more competitive world.'

The competition will be held in England and Wales at the start of the 1995-96 season and coincides with the Rugby League centenary.