Henley boosted by BT Sport deal

UK rowing showpiece the Henley Royal Regatta has enhanced its exposure in its home market by agreeing a rights deal with pay-television broadcaster BT Sport.

Under the agreement, BT Sport will broadcast live coverage of racing from 1pm on June 29 to July 1, with the full day’s action from this year’s event shown live on July 2-3.

BT Sport will show the Regatta for the first time with its coverage complementing its live streaming via video-sharing platform YouTube, which is provided on a global basis.

UK sports production and media company Sunset+Vine last year struck a deal to stream live coverage of all five days of the 2015 Regatta, which is held on the River Thames in England. The coverage was shown on the regatta’s channel on YouTube, as well as via its official website.

Andrew Preece, Sunset+Vine’s executive producer for the Henley Royal Regatta, said: “To have secured a live broadcaster of BT Sport’s stature, so quickly in our association, is great news. BT Sport’s commitment to broadcast the entire five-day regatta can only help to further the reputation of this prestigious event to a domestic audience known to embrace rowing when it is available to watch.”