UK broadcaster ITV has signed an extensive seven-year broadcast partnership with World Rugby, rugby union’s governing body.
The free-to-air channel will have the exclusive UK broadcast rights to the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups until 2023. The first event of the new agreement will be the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup held in Ireland, while the partnership also covers the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
ITV was the host broadcaster of the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015, producing the world and domestic feeds for all 48 matches. Its renewal will take its partnership with rugby union's showcase global event to eight editions.
Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with ITV in an exciting long-term deal that will showcase our biggest 15s events, including Rugby World Cup, women's Rugby World Cup and our annual World Rugby Under-20 Championship, to a free-to-air audience in the UK.
“As host broadcaster and a free-to-air giant, ITV was at the heart of the success story, bringing fans closer to what was the best-attended, most-viewed, most-competitive and most socially engaged Rugby World Cup ever and while this was a highly competitive process for one of rugby's most prized broadcast rights, we were impressed by ITV's passion for the sport and continued broadcast innovation.”
The next men’s Rugby World Cup will be played in Japan, marking the first time that the tournament will be hosted by an Asian country. In the UK, the World Cup final is the only rugby union event protected for free-to-air live coverage under the country’s ‘crown jewels’ legislation.
UK broadcaster ITV has signed an extensive seven-year broadcast partnership with World Rugby, rugby union’s governing body.
The free-to-air channel will have the exclusive UK broadcast rights to the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups until 2023. The first event of the new agreement will be the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup held in Ireland, while the partnership also covers the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
ITV was the host broadcaster of the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015, producing the world and domestic feeds for all 48 matches. Its renewal will take its partnership with rugby union's showcase global event to eight editions.
Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with ITV in an exciting long-term deal that will showcase our biggest 15s events, including Rugby World Cup, women's Rugby World Cup and our annual World Rugby Under-20 Championship, to a free-to-air audience in the UK.
“As host broadcaster and a free-to-air giant, ITV was at the heart of the success story, bringing fans closer to what was the best-attended, most-viewed, most-competitive and most socially engaged Rugby World Cup ever and while this was a highly competitive process for one of rugby's most prized broadcast rights, we were impressed by ITV's passion for the sport and continued broadcast innovation.”
The next men’s Rugby World Cup will be played in Japan, marking the first time that the tournament will be hosted by an Asian country. In the UK, the World Cup final is the only rugby union event protected for free-to-air live coverage under the country’s ‘crown jewels’ legislation.
