Eprc Competitons Find Home On Supersport
European Professional Club Rugby (EPRC) has announced a new multi-year deal with pan-African broadcaster SuperSport for coverage of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.
Under terms of the agreement, SuperSport has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights to both competitions in South Africa, as well as other key territories in sub-Saharan Africa, over a three-year period.
EPRC’s deal with SuperSport follows another recent broadcast agreement with US sports streaming platform FloSport.
According to a statement, ‘the deal is part of a groundbreaking alliance which will see the Heineken Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup bundled with key fixtures in the URC and the TOP 14 allowing viewers in America unprecedented access to all four competitions on the one digital platform.’
During the 2022/23 European rugby season Edinburgh Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, London Irish, Northampton Saints, Ospreys, Sale Sharks and Saracens will all compete in the Heineken Champions Cup, European rugby union’s top-tier European tournament.
Meanwhile, Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Newcastle Falcons, Worcester Warriors, Wasps, and Dragons RFC will compete in the second-tier competition, the EPCR Challenge Cup.
“Broadcast partnerships are a vital component of our strategy to bring the competitions to even wider audiences, and we are very pleased that SuperSport have joined as an official broadcast partner for the new cycle,” said EPCR Chairman, Dominic McKay.
“Following on from what was a magnificent finals weekend in Marseille last May, we are confident that SuperSport will deliver for us in terms of viewership growth and innovation as we welcome South African clubs into the EPCR fold.”
Tex Teixeira, Chief Content Officer at SuperSport, added, “Our South African teams have a proud tradition and are respected global rugby brands. Now being able to participate in top European competitions against some of the best clubs in the world is great progress for our teams and, more importantly, rugby fans locally and internationally.
“As with the URC, we are committed to collaborating closely with our key partners and to continue to build stars and household names. We will aim to find the right balance between taking care of our traditional and loyal customers while creating alternate, more edgy offerings for younger and more casual rugby fans.”
Both EPCR finals which are scheduled for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in 2023.
