Welsh public-service channel S4C has struck a deal to show live coverage from this season’s Challenge Cup club rugby union competition.
S4C has signed a sublicensing deal with UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport for the rights to Welsh regions’ matches during the competition.
S4C will provide live coverage of one match per round during the group stages of the 2019-20 Challenge Cup. Coverage will begin in round one with Scarlets’ home match against London Irish on November 16.
S4C will then cover the Pool Five clash between Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers on November 23. Four further group-stage matches will be shown, with two in December and two in January. English-language commentary will be available for selected matches.
BT Sport secured exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup through a fresh four-season deal with European Professional Club Rugby signed in July 2017. BT previously shared the rights with Sky but began its exclusive coverage of the competitions from the 2018-19 season.