Premiership Rugby secures ITV broadcast extension
Premiership Rugby has confirmed a two-year extension of its free to air (FTA) broadcast partnership with UK commercial network ITV.
The renewed agreement will see ITV broadcast seven live matches per season, including the Premiership final for the 2024/25 season.
In addition to the live coverage, the deal introduces a revamped highlights show, Gallagher Premiership Unleashed, which is scheduled to air on a weekly basis.
Notably, the new format will see social media influencers Ruckstar Lizzie, Squidge, and Rugby Nause take over hosting duties, replacing last season’s presenters Topsy Ojo and David Flatman. This shift marks a significant change in the presentation, aimed at engaging a younger and more diverse rugby audience through digital and online personalities.
The first match included in the new deal will be the West Country derby between Bath and Bristol Bears on Saturday, 5th October, followed by Leicester against Gloucester 19th October.
Harlequins’ clash with Leicester Tigers on Saturday, 28th December, will also feature in the free-to-air lineup, with details of the remaining games to be confirmed in due course.
All seven games broadcast on ITV will also be available simultaneously on TNT Sports, following the network’s recent renewal with the pay-TV provider.
ITV had previously shared the broadcasting rights for certain Premiership matches with TNT (formerly BT), including last year’s final between Bath and Northampton Saints.
Simon Massie-Taylor, Chief Executive Officer at Premiership Rugby, said, “The 2023/24 season saw ITV viewership records smashed for The Showdown 5 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium between London rivals Saracens and Harlequins – and again for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2024 – adding to an impressive year-on-year increase in overall audience share.”
Niall Sloane, Director of ITV Sport added, “Viewers are eagerly anticipating the new Gallagher Premiership Rugby season on ITV1 and ITVX this Autumn. As well as last season outperforming the previous on linear, on ITVX streams for the matches and highlights were up by +14% also with 1.8m.”
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