UK free-to-air broadcaster ITV has secured a two-year extension to its agreement with Premiership Rugby, though pay-TV network TNT Sports will retain some rights.
ITV will provide televised coverage of the tournament whilst TNT will provide simulcast coverage. Both broadcasters will cover the full duration of the tournament, including the final game.
A new highlights show is also included in ITV’s coverage. The outlet will air the ‘Gallagher Premiership Unleashed’ programme on Wednesday nights, set to cover the 2024/25 season.
Simon Massie-Taylor, Premiership Rugby CEO, said: “Premiership Rugby is thrilled to extend our relationship with ITV and to continue to provide free-to-air access to Gallagher Premiership Rugby with seven blockbuster fixtures on top of the revamped weekly highlights show.
“The 2023/24 season saw ITV viewership records smashed for The Showdown 5 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium between London rivals Saracens and Harlequins – and again for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2024 – adding to an impressive year-on-year increase in overall audience share.”
The deal marks the Premiership’s latest extension of a long-running commercial arrangement. The English rugby union top-flight notably renewed its sponsorship arrangement with Gallagher in September, with the insurance firm continuing as its title sponsor.
Meanwhile, the rights arrangement further complements an expanding sports media portfolio held by ITV. The company broadcast the 2024 Euros this summer, along with the BBC, and also agreed in principle to cover the EFL Cup alongside pay-TV broadcaster Sky.
Niall Sloane, Director of ITV Sport, said: “Viewers are eagerly anticipating the new Gallagher Premiership Rugby season on ITV1 and ITVX this Autumn. As well as last season outperforming the previous on linear, on ITVX streams for the matches and highlights were up by +14% also with 1.8m.”
The renewal comes after murrings in UK and Irish media that the United Rugby Championship (URC) – which consists of teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales – was considering a merger with England’s Premiership Rugby.
This was later denied by the URC. However, if such a merger were to come to fruition it could come with substantial commercial opportunities across media and data rights, sponsorship and marketing, and other areas.
