Channel 5 secures World Snooker Tour broadcast rights
Channel 5 has secured UK free-to-air broadcast rights to two key events on the World Snooker Tour (WST) calendar — the Players Championship and the Tour Championship — marking the network’s first rights acquisition in the sport.
The agreement ensures continued free-to-air visibility for two of snooker’s premier ranking tournaments, both of which were previously held by ITV. From the 2025–26 season, the Players Championship will be staged from 16–22 February 2026 at the Telford International Centre, followed by the Tour Championship at Manchester Central from 30 March to 5 April 2026.
The partnership signals Channel 5’s strategic move to expand its presence in live sport, following its recent deals with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for free-to-air T20 internationals, and its sub-licensing agreement with DAZN to show the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
WST Chairman, Steve Dawson, said, “We are delighted to welcome Channel 5 to the World Snooker Tour. Their commitment to free-to-air sport aligns strongly with our strategy to deliver elite snooker to the widest possible audience.”
The agreement further strengthens snooker’s FTA footprint in the UK, with WST reporting robust domestic viewership figures across the 2024 season. The new partnership is expected to build on that momentum and support the sport’s continued global expansion.
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