The Pro14 cross-border rugby union league has today (Monday) concluded rights deals in the UK and Northern Ireland with pay-television broadcaster Premier Sports and free-to-air digital television channel FreeSports, with the former set to launch a new channel to showcase its coverage.
The initial three-season deals will run from 2018-19 to 2020-21 with all 152 games to be broadcast in high definition on Premier Sports HD, with no fewer than 21 games, or one per round, shown live on FreeSports.
The Pro14 currently has deals with multiple broadcasters across the UK and Ireland over four seasons, from 2014-15 to 2017-18, with Premier Sports and FreeSports representing new partners for the league.
The Pro14 said Premier Sports will make the league its “No.1 property” and will launch the Premier Sports 2 channel with innovative HD production of games, as well as highlights shows.
Martin Anayi, chief executive of Pro14 Rugby, said: “The partnership with Premier Sports will be a watershed moment for the Guinness Pro14, our clubs and their supporters. As an innovative global rugby championship full of world-class players we are always looking to raise our game and this relationship is a bold step for us. This will take coverage of the Guinness Pro14 to a new level and unlock the tournament’s vast potential.
“By better resourcing our clubs through increased central revenue, we will ensure sustainability so they can further invest from the ground up to drive success on and off the pitch so they can retain supporters and attract new fans of all ages. Now rugby fans will be able to watch every game in the Guinness Pro14 which offers them more action than ever and that’s a terrific achievement.
“The bidding for broadcast rights showed us just how much interest there is in the Guinness Pro14 since our expansion into South Africa and the significantly increased revenue will allow us to invest back into our clubs, a figure which has doubled over the last three years.”
Dermot Rigley, commercial and marketing director of Pro14 Rugby, added: “The production standards will be like nothing ever seen before in the Guinness Pro14 with each game broadcast in HD and complemented by expert analysis, TMOs (television match officials) at every game and highlights programmes.”
The Pro14 said it will shortly announce its Irish broadcast partner while negotiations continue with a local language broadcaster in the UK.