Premier Sports to cover Champions Cup
THE Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be shown on Premier Sports in the UK next season, with tournament organisers EPCR agreeing a three-year deal with the subscription channel who already own the UK rights to the URC and Top 14.
All 63 Champions Cup matches will be shown live, plus two pool matches per round in the Challenge Cup, two last 16 matches and all matches from the quarter-finals onwards.
Premier Sports is planning to launch a 24/7 rugby channel at the heart of which will sit the Champions Cup. But the majority of English fans will now have to pay an extra £10.99 per month if they want to watch their team in Europe as well as in the Premiership on TNT.
Walking away
TNT (previously BT Sport) – who have owned the lion's share of the rights since 2017 – walked away from talks at the start of the summer and instead invested in the rights to show autumn internationals.
Unlike previous years when ITV have had a share of the rights, there is no national terrestrial coverage of the Champions Cup.
Jacques Raynaud, CEO of EPCR, said: “Premier Sports has huge ambition to become the home of club rugby in the UK and Ireland, along with their rights to Top 14 and URC competitions. We are delighted to join them on this journey.
“In addition to match day coverage, the creation of a 24/7 rugby channel represents a step-change in Premier Sports rugby coverage. The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be at the heart of this new offering.
“We have been able to work with Premier Sports to ensure new fixture times for English clubs, avoiding clashes with Premier League football to maximise viewing.”
Exclusive deal
Reynaud added: ‘This is an exclusive deal. There are a couple of carve outs. There will be a game per week on S4C and one Irish match on RTE in the first season. It is true free-to-air does have its advantages but it is also true that free-to-air is reinventing themselves.
“The fact that English fans had both European competitions and the domestic competition as part of one package was the exception. I accept that for an English rugby fan, there will be a change in habits. I think we have chosen a provider with a fantastic offering and a very affordable subscription.”
The Champions Cup kicks off on Friday December 6, with Bath hosting La Rochelle at 8pm.
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