Rugby Union

This year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to be the most widely viewed edition of the national team tournament to date, with the event to be broadcast live to more than 110 countries.

Pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has secured exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to European club rugby union’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions after agreeing a fresh four-season contract.

European Professional Club Rugby increased the value of its media rights in France by about 50 per cent late last month from deals with beIN Sports and France Télévisions.

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC and pay-television operator Sky have acquired rights to the Scottish rugby union team’s upcoming summer tour.

UK-pay television broadcaster Premier Sports has acquired rights to the International Champions Cup pre-season club football tournament and the Irish national rugby union team’s summer tour matches.

Irish pay-television broadcaster Eir Sport has acquired rights to the national rugby union team’s upcoming tour of Japan and the United States.

Social video production, editing and sharing platform Tellyo has entered into a partnership with rugby union league the Pro12.

The Six Nations has increased the value of its international media rights by at least 20 per cent in a renewal with Pitch International, while choosing to retain rights in the US and Canada.
USA

Media group NBCUniversal extended its commitment to rugby union in the US this week, buying World Rugby rights for a significantly higher guaranteed fee.

European Professional Club Rugby, the organising body of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup rugby union competitions, has extended its rights deals with French pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports and public-service broadcaster France Télévisions.

Fijian commercial broadcaster FBC has secured rights in the country to the Top 14, the top division of club rugby union in France, and the International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy national team competition.
USA

The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal has agreed a wide-ranging rights partnership with World Rugby.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has entered into a partnership with telecommunications company Vodafone.

The Pitch International agency has extended its international rights deal with the Six Nations rugby union tournament, according to reports.

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has acquired rights to the England rugby union team’s upcoming tour of Argentina.

Welsh public-service channel S4C has acquired highlights rights to the British and Irish Lions rugby union team’s upcoming tour of New Zealand through a sublicensing agreement with pay-television broadcaster Sky.

Premiership Rugby, the governing body of the top division of English rugby union, has struck a four-season rights deal with UK commercial broadcaster Channel 5 which will grant it live exposure on terrestrial television for the first time.

Six Nations international media rights are currently on the market with the incumbent, Pitch International, facing competition from rival agency IMG.