As with Monday Night Football, regular Friday fixtures only commenced in the latter half of the season, due to the midweek competition.
From 2007 the Nine Network now broadcasts two NRL games in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory on Friday Night - one live at 7.30, and the second match replayed at 9.30.
[citation needed] In the past, a Nine News or Nightline update separated the two broadcast matches, however in 2008 this was discontinued.
[citation needed] From Round 5 of the 2012 NRL season, GEM, a sister station of the Nine Network, started showing Friday night NRL matches live into Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, pitting it against the Seven Network's live AFL coverage in those states.
[1] This allows Victorian NRL fans to see live games involving the Melbourne Storm if they are scheduled on a Friday night.