Sport Netball No. of teams 8 Level on pyramid 1 Number of teams 8 Motto All On The Line TV partner Nine Network | Inaugural season 2017 Country Australia Sponsor Suncorp Group Date founded 2016 Levels on pyramid 1 | |
Official website | ||
Suncorp Super Netball (also known non-commercially as the National Netball League) is the premier netball league in Australia. The inaugural season commenced in February 2017.
Contents
Founding of Suncorp Super Netball
In 2008, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand joined forces and created a Trans-Tasman league, the ANZ Championship as a successor to the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in Australia and the National Bank Cup in New Zealand, both of which were retired after 2007. The ANZ Championship saw netball become a semi-professional sport in both countries, with increased media coverage and player salaries. The 2016 season was the last of the competition, as Netball Australia looked to create a nationally exclusive league with a significantly improved broadcasting and media deal. This instigated the creation of Suncorp Super Netball, announced in May 2016. The new league consists of the five current Australian ANZ Championship teams; the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Vixens, NSW Swifts, Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever, in addition to three new teams, the Collingwood Magpies, Giants Netball and Sunshine Coast Lightning. The three new teams are owned and operated by three clubs in the popular Australian Football League and National Rugby League football codes.
Broadcasting
The Nine Network and Telstra are the official broadcasters of Suncorp Super Netball. Netball Australia signed a 5 year deal with the entities, with the arrrangenent commencing from the 2017 season. Under the provisions of the deal, Nine will televise a Saturday night double-header each round live on either their primary channel or on secondary channel 9Gem. Nine will also televise the two remaining matches on delay.
Mobile platform Telstra provide live coverage of the two matches not part of the double header and also simulcast Nine's two live matches. The service is available via Telstra TV and on the Netball Australia app.