BBC admits it could be unable to afford Six Nations rugby with the organisation dealing with an ‘extremely tough’ problem to safe rights amid monetary constraints

The BBC and ITV at the moment share rights to broadcast the Six Nations till 2025Concerns have emerged over whether or not the BBC can afford rights transferring forwardReports have prompt Six Nations rights may very well be offered as a part of a bundle By Michael Pavitt For Mailonline Revealed: 23:45 GMT, 21 November 2023 | Up to date: 23:45 GMT, 21 November 2023

The BBC’s outgoing director of sport has admitted the organisation might lose out on rights to broadcast the Six Nations amid issues the match won’t be proven on terrestrial tv.The match has historically been proven on free-to-air tv, however the occasion shouldn’t be protected just like the FIFA World Cups, Olympics and Wimbledon.Considerations have been raised over whether or not the match will stay reasonably priced for the broadcaster, after studies emerged that the Six Nations may very well be offered as a part of a bundle with a brand new World League.  Barbara Slater advised the Tradition, Media and Sport Choose Committee that the organisation’s monetary constraints have made bidding for sporting rights ‘extremely tough’.’We’d like a well-funded BBC if we’re going to have the ability to proceed to afford sports activities rights,’ stated Slater, who will retire subsequent 12 months. The BBC at the moment shares rights to broadcast Six Nations matches with ITV till 2025 The BBC admits it faces a tough choice over rights to point out the match, with their protection led by Gabby Logan’Sports activities rights within the UK have greater than doubled previously decade. BBC’s earnings in actual phrases has gone down 30 per cent.’It’s extremely tough for the BBC to take care of, throughout a spread of sports activities, the expectations of these governing our bodies.’With the Six Nations, like something, we must assess the affordability on the time. As a result of it is vitally tough for the BBC, on that trajectory of earnings, to proceed to afford every thing that we have now.’The reality is we’re most likely not going to be the best bidder, and it’ll come all the way down to particular person governing our bodies as to how they stability that attain and income.’The BBC has been a long-standing broadcaster of the Six Nations, however was pressured to affix forces with ITV in 2015 to make sure the match remained on free-to-air tv.The broadcasters agreed a file £460million deal final 12 months to maintain the rights for the 2022 to 2026 cycle.ITV are the ‘senior associate’ for the tournaments and maintain rights to England, Eire, France and Italy residence video games, whereas the BBC present Scotland and Wales residence matches.Slater’s ITV counterpart Niall Sloane admitted to MPs there was ‘no assure’ the Six Nations and Rugby World Cups will stay on free-to-air tv.

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BBC admits it could be unable to afford Six Nations rugby with the organisation dealing with an ‘extremely tough’ problem to safe rights amid monetary constraints

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