Three-horse race for Six Nations

Sportfive pays about €2 million a year at present and negotiations are ongoing for a new four-year contract, from 2010 to 2013, covering all markets outside the six participating countries.

A new deal will cover only limited rights in North America after UK public-service broadcaster the BBC last year picked up the rights for the first-choice match each week at the same time as agreeing a £41 million-a-year deal for UK rights.