Rugby Union
Rugby World Cup boosts TF1’s financial results
French commercial broadcaster TF1 has pointed to the impact of a home Rugby World Cup (RWC) as group net profit and revenue for the media segment of the company rose year-on-year for the third quarter.
England semi-final defeat peaks at 8.7m to give ITV biggest audience of year
ITV, the UK commercial broadcaster, recorded its biggest audience of 2023, as 8.7 million people tuned into watch the closing stages of England's dramatic defeat to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-final.
TF1 falls short of Rugby World Cup TV record as France head out
France's thrilling Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa drew the best audience of the year for commercial broadcaster TF1, but it was not enough to set a new all-time tournament viewership…
Court rejects challenge to MultiChoice’s RWC sublicensing terms
A legal challenge filed by South Africa’s eMedia Investments against the terms of pay-television operator MultiChoice’s Rugby World Cup sublicensing deal has failed after being struck from the roll at …
IMG lands Premiership Women’s Rugby digital remit
IMG has successfully pitched for a digital content and analysis role with Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), England’s rebranded domestic rugby union clubs competition.
RWC opener drives record figures for TF1
France’s 27-13 win over New Zealand in the opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup generated record viewing figures in the host country, vindicating the move by commercial broadcaster TF1 to hold on t…
As World Cup kicks off, revamped RugbyPass shows the way for rugby’s stakeholders
Revamped content formats and platforms are at the heart of World Rugby’s push to change the game’s image over the course of the tournament, and it hopes that RugbyPass TV, its revamped D2C OTT service, can play its part in the reconnection.
United Rugby Championship lands on Sky Italia for first time
Sky Italia, the pay-television broadcaster, is to show the United Rugby Championship for the first time, after picking up rights for the next two seasons
SABC and SuperSport at impasse over Rugby World Cup deal
Public-service broadcaster the SABC has been unable to secure a sublicensing deal with pay-television broadcaster SuperSport for South Africa's matches at the forthcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup in France
NZR review delivers scathing attack on Super Rugby’s commercial appeal
A review of the governance of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has warned that the Super Rugby competition must be overhauled in order to become a viable commercial proposition
World Rugby lights up dark markets with global streaming platform launch
World Rugby has moved to plug gaps in the sport's global reach through the launch of free streaming platform RugbyPass TV in time for next month's Rugby World Cup
Starzplay follows beIN as RWC rights-holder in Mena
The forthcoming Rugby World Cup in France is to be streamed exclusively in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) by Starzplay, the subscription video-on-demand OTT service in the region
Sky NZ brings Stuff into 2023 RWC fold
Sky New Zealand has announced that 12 matches from the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be simulcast on news platform Stuff, with the pay-television operator appearing to favour the tie-up plus coverage on its…
Tributes paid to World Rugby head of broadcast Chris Synnott
Tributes have been received from across the sports industry for Chris Synnott, World Rugby’s head of broadcast and media rights, following his recent passing at the age of 51.
BeIN renews Rugby World Cup rights in Southeast Asia
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has acquired exclusive rights in several Southeast Asian countries to this year’s Rugby World Cup, which will take place in France from September 8 to October 28.
Sky Italia retains Uefa European Championship, NBA and Six Nations
Pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has announced rights renewals for a slew of sports properties, including the Uefa European Championship, the NBA, rugby union’s Six Nations and sailing’s America’s Cup.
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Women’s Sports Group to oversee Premiership Women’s Rugby rights sales
Women's Sports Group (WSG) has been commissioned to deliver the media rights strategy for Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR)
Heaselgrave leaves World Rugby after 18 months
Richard Heaselgrave has left his role as chief revenue and fan engagement officer at World Rugby just over 18 months after taking up the post, SportBusiness understands