Rugby Union
Eir Sport swoops for Rugby World Cup rights in record deal
Irish pay-television broadcaster Eir Sport has acquired rights in the country to a host of World Rugby tournaments, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Canal Plus claims first with Top 14 final coverage, Bolloré position questioned
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has claimed a first with its coverage of Friday’s final of club rugby union competition the Top 14, while Vincent Bolloré is reportedly set to quit as chairman later this summer.
Premiership Rugby converts first deals under new international rights agreement
Premiership Rugby, the organising body for the top division of club rugby union in England, has confirmed three television rights deals that will result in the Premiership being broadcast in more than 50 African countries from September.
LNR lands Japanese rights deal for Top 14
Japanese pay-television broadcaster Wowow has agreed a multi-year deal with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby for rights to the Top 14, the top division of French rugby union.
Eurosport converts Six Nations rights in Asia
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights in a host of Asian markets to the 2017 Six Nations rugby union tournament.
Eurosport partners up with French Rugby Federation, lands NHL rights in Russia
International sports broadcaster Eurosport has agreed a global rights partnership with the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and has acquired rights in Russia to North American ice hockey league the NHL.
France Télévisions renews France U-20 rugby union rights
Public-service broadcaster France Télévisions has extended a rights deal for the France rugby union U-20 national team.
BT ponders selling Premiership Rugby games to free-to-air
BT Sport, which holds exclusive Premiership Rugby live rights through to the 2020-21 campaign, is considering sublicensing a package of live free-to-air rights during the 2017-18 season, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Canal Plus retains Top 14 rights
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has retained rights for the Top 14, the top division of rugby union in the country.
BBC secures rights to Japan-Scotland rugby Tests
The BBC Scotland division of UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has acquired rights to the Scottish rugby union team’s two-Test series against Japan.
LNR grants extra time in Top 14 tender
The Ligue Nationale de Rugby, the operator of the Top 14, has extended the deadline for offers in its tender for domestic rights to the top division of French rugby union.
LNR launches new tender process for Top 14 rights
The Ligue Nationale de Rugby, the operator of the Top 14, has opened a new tender for domestic rights to the top division of French rugby union.
AOL and One World Sports back launch of Pro Rugby
The Professional Rugby Organization has agreed rights deals with North American pay-television broadcaster One World Sports and US media company AOL for the launch of its new Pro Rugby league.
Brazilian rugby secures landmark broadcast deal
The Brazilian Confederation of Rugby (CBRu) has agreed a rights deal with commercial broadcaster RedeTV that will lead to rugby union being granted free-to-air exposure in the country for the first time.
France Télévisions keeps hold of Six Nations and FFR
France Télévisions last month retained its hold on Six Nations and national team test rugby in long-term deals, increasing its fees for both by about 25 per cent.
Watching Brief (Vol.121) Special Focus: Rugby Union – Six Nations Championship
John Manning, research analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, examines television audiences for this year’s Six Nations Championship
Omnigon to drive development of The Rugby Channel
Digital services firm Omnigon has been selected by the Rugby International Marketing arm of national governing body USA Rugby to develop its new OTT platform, The Rugby Channel.
StarHub secures World Rugby Sevens deal
Singaporean pay-television broadcaster StarHub has agreed a rights deal for the World Rugby Sevens Series.