Industry Shorts: Six Nations, Motogp, Rangers

The Guinness Six Nations could leave free-to-air TV in the UK, according to multiple reports.

In the build-up to the March bid deadline for TV rights to the competition from 2022 onwards, multiple outlets have reported that Sky Sports could table a bid of up to £300 million, while Six Nations organisers are said to have ruled out joint bids. That would mean the current scenario, where the tournament is shown on both the BBC and ITV, could not continue.

A Six Nations spokesperson called the reports ‘highly premature’, stating: “The Six Nations are in the process of seeking bids for various sets of media rights but these are not due for some time.

“All of this is highly premature and speculative as no proposals have yet been received by any interested party. We would not rule anything out at this stage and the unions will collectively review and make a decision based on the nature of the offers received.”

MotoGP has called off the first two races of its season – which was set to start across the weekend of 6-8th March 2020 – due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The first race of the season, in Qatar, has seen its elite race cancelled because of the country’s travel ban on those entering from Italy. Six MotoGP riders are Italian, while some teams are based there, as is the series’ parent company Dorna. Meanwhile, the season’s second race, in Thailand, has been provisionally postponed at the request of the Thai government, with officials looking into the suitability of an alternative date later in the season.

Elsewhere, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has cancelled the meeting of its AFC Executive Committee, originally set to be held in Bahrain on 14th March, because of the outbreak.

Clarity Sports, has announced a three-and-a-half year partnership with Scottish Premiership side Rangers, becoming the club’s Official Team Travel Supplier. 

As part of the deal, Sportsbreaks – a new subsidiary of Clarity made up of former Thomas Cook Sport members – will also provide fans with the chance to see Rangers domestic fixtures through their Match Break packages, including for the Old Firm derby against Celtic.

Consulting firm Proviti has announced a new partnership with English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick and Jennifer Kupcho, the winner of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament. 

As part of the sponsorship programme, both players will wear the Protiviti name on their shirts during all golf-related appearances and may also promote Protiviti’s philanthropic efforts including the company’s global ‘i on Hunger’ programme.

Writer and broadcaster Colin Murray will launch a new 12-part podcast series entitled Colin Murray’s 52, which will see sporting guests – including David Haye, Chris Waddle and Stuart Pearce – answer a series of questions related to love, life and even time-travelling from a deck of 52 cards, each of which contains a random question. 

Sponsored by Grosvernor Casinos, each episode will be recorded in front of a live audience in cities across the UK including Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester and Brighton.

Debuting on 23rd March, the final recording will take place in Brighton on 3rd April.