DELIGHTED Giants chief executive Ralph Rimmer has hailed the striking of an improved Sky TV deal as good for the game and good for his club.
News of the £53m five-year deal brings to an end months of negotiations between the Rugby Football League and Sky to continue to screen live Super League matches, as well as international games.
A £10m offer from the BBC is also on the table to screen the Challenge Cup and show Super League highlights on Sunday Grandstand.
Negotiations on that front are believed to be going well.
But whatever outcome is reached on that front, Rimmer believes the future for rugby league is looking bright.
"Everyone involved in the game should be delighted with the Sky outcome," said Rimmer.
"Getting an improved deal is a credit to the way the RFL executive have handled the negotiations.
"But it's also a credit to the way the Super League clubs stuck together to demand a better deal.
"These negotiations weren't easy, which is summed up by the fact the document drawn up for the deal is 85 pages long!
"But now the talks have been concluded, Super League clubs can put five-year plans in place.
"That will definitely be the case with the Giants.
"We now have more of an idea what our budgets we will be for the next few years, which will enable us to build for an even brighter future, both on and off the field.
"This deal enables us to put another important piece of our jigsaw in place right now."
Rimmer reports this latest news is another reason why Giants' spirits are high.
The club has memories of the 36-0 pre-season thrashing of Castleford fresh in their minds, with a game at Leeds on Sunday still to come before the start of Super League.
And with season tickets continuing to sell well ahead of the Giants opening League fixture at home to Castleford on Sunday, February 22, the McAlpine mood is positive.
"The Giants are really buzzing right now," added Rimmer.
"I think the mood is as good as I've ever known."
