Premiership Rugby: BT Sport signs new broadcast deal through to 2024
- Published
Former England players Ugo Monye and Lawrence Dallaglio are among BT Sport's summarisers
Premiership Rugby has agreed a new deal with BT Sport which will see the broadcaster show matches until 2024.
The channel will have exclusive rights to show English rugby's top tier of domestic competition, which it first aired in 2013.
Crowds have been limited this season amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but the broadcaster has shown every game live.
The amount BT Sport has paid has not been disclosed, although it has been reported as being more than £100m., external
"This has been an extremely difficult year for sport, this is a partnership that extends beyond the TV screen, and we hope this agreement helps to give rugby clubs in the UK some certainty for the future in these difficult times," said managing director Andy Haworth.
"We will continue to play our part in bringing the best TV coverage of top flight club rugby to our viewers, whilst they are not able to attend live sport."
'What happens after 2024 will be fascinating' - analysis
Chris Jones, BBC rugby union correspondent
In a time of great uncertainty, this provides a level of clarity and security to the financially stricken Premiership clubs, even though the final figure is thought to be a little lower than BT offered to pay earlier this year.
The Premiership had hoped a broadcast bidding war would push the price up, but in the absence of other firm offers and in the midst of the pandemic, it is a compromise that suits both parties.
What happens to the rights deal after 2024 will be fascinating.
By then a worldwide all-encompassing rugby broadcast platform or channel may be a reality, while private equity giants CVC will have had time to stamp its commercial footprint on the sport.
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