Rugby Union
Premiership Rugby abandons plan to scrap relegation ‘after BT intervention’
Premiership Rugby’s plan to halt relegation and grow its league to 13 clubs next season has been put on hold due to opposition from pay-television broadcaster BT Sport, its domestic broadcast rights-holder.
LNR heightens TV rights guarantee requirements after LFP’s Mediapro woes
France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) has introduced more stringent financial guarantee measures and altered the payment schedule in its recently-launched domestic rights tender in the wake of the c…
French rugby’s Top 14 follows LFP by launching domestic rights tender
The executive board of France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) has approved the issuing of a domestic broadcast rights auction for the top-tier Top 14 in a sales process launched in the same week as t…
SA Rugby comes out fighting for exclusivity amid regulatory overhaul
Jurie Roux, chief executive of South Africa Rugby, has pushed back against proposals from the country’s broadcast regulator, ICASA, that would impose restrictions on media-rights contracts.
Six Nations rights sale restart in UK delayed to February
Six Nations Rugby, the organising body of the annual national team tournament, has slightly delayed to February the restart of its sales process for broadcast rights in the UK to the Six Nations and Autumn…
World Rugby appoints LiveWire to social media role, adds Godson to broadcast team
LiveWire Sport, the UK-based digital content agency, has been appointed in a two-year agreement with World Rugby to lead the international rugby union governing body’s social channel management and paid m…
BT Sport and Premiership Rugby finalise TV rights renewal
BT Sport has finalised its retention of domestic broadcast rights to Premiership Rugby in an agreement that will extend the UK pay-television broadcaster’s coverage to 2024.
Rugbypass’s market retreat hits Six Nations, EPCR values in Apac
Rugby union digital media platform Rugbypass has stepped back from the rights market after putting its streaming business ambitions on pause, resulting in falls in the value of Six Nations and European Professional Club Rugby rights it previously held, in replacement deals in the Asia-Pacific region.
BT Sport ‘drops Premiership Rugby rebate’ in pursuit of new deal
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport is reportedly closing in on an extension to its rights deal with Premiership Rugby after electing not to pursue a compensation claim for disruption to the rugby union…
Sky Italia secures two-year EPCR rights deal
Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has agreed a two-year broadcast deal for rights to European Professional Club Rugby competitions
Kenyan Rugby Union signs free-to-air domestic deal with Mediamax
The Kenyan Rugby Union has agreed a new five-year domestic rights deal with media group Mediamax Networks, boosting national coverage
Nine recruits Shaw as head of rugby on back of landmark rights deal
Australian commercial broadcaster Nine Entertainment has recruited Murray Shaw, an experienced sports production executive in Australia, as its head of rugby
Big-hitter absence clears path for boutique agencies in Lions’ international rights sale
Boutique agencies were at the fore in the sales process for international rights to the British & Irish Lions 2021 tour of South Africa, with the bigger players opting not to participate due to the carving out of key territories.
Free season ticket holder access as BT Sport to air all Premiership Rugby matches
UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport is to broadcast all Premiership Rugby matches played behind closed doors this season and will offer free access to club season ticket holders until at least the end…
Rugby Europe hires River Media Partners, Sports Media Venture to sell rights
Rugby Europe, the administrative body for rugby union in Europe, has hired the River Media Partners and Sports Media Venture agencies to develop its media and sponsorship rights revenues
EXCLUSIVE: Six Nations rights sale in UK to resume in January after Covid pause
Six Nations Rugby, the organising body of the annual national team tournament, will restart its sales process in late January for broadcast rights in the UK to the Six Nations and Autumn Internationals,…
Mediaset lands free-to-air Autumn Nations Cup rights in Italy
Commercial broadcaster Mediaset has acquired rights in Italy to the new Autumn Nations Cup rugby union competition
Nine to launch Stan Sports streaming service after Rugby Australia rights capture
Australian broadcaster Nine Entertainment is launching a premium sports streaming service, Stan Sports, following its acquisition of Rugby Australia domestic media rights