Rugby union: All change as BT clinch deal for live rugby coverage
Broadcasters Sky Sports and ESPN have lost the rights to screen top-flight domestic rugby in England after the Aviva Premiership struck a deal with telecommunications provider BT worth £152million.
The four-year agreement is one of the biggest deals in the history of club rugby.
From the start of next season, BT will have the exclusive live broadcast rights to show Aviva Premiership Rugby and the JP Morgan Asset Management Sevens.
BT will also have exclusive live rights to matches played by Premiership clubs in any future European competitions from 2014-15 for three years.
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Live Premiership matches are currently split between BSkyB and ESPN, and it is understood that the new BT coverage will be available through both Sky and Virgin television packages.
BT have recently expanded their portfolio by purchasing rights to some matches in football's Premier League.
Their deal with domestic rugby will see them show up to 69 matches per season (around three a week, plus semi-finals and final) from the Premiership for the next four seasons.
Mark McCafferty, chief executive of Premiership Rugby, the umbrella body made up of the 12 Premiership clubs, said it was a "game-changing agreement".
"We are delighted to have concluded our discussions with such an ambitious partner who will help bring Premiership Rugby to new audiences," he said.
"BT is a company at the cutting edge of technology and that is one of the reasons it makes them such an exciting broadcast partner for Premiership Rugby."
One of the players expected to light up BT's coverage next season is new Leicester Tigers winger Vereniki Goneva.
The Fijian has made a stunning start to his time at the club with six tries in five starts.
Many people had the 28-year-old as a direct replacement for departing Samoan Alesana Tuilagi, but director of rugby Richard Cockerill says they are two "completely different" players.
"Niki comes here as a 28-year-old who has lots of experience and has played 25 Test matches, whereas Alesana came to us as a young man who was very raw," Cockerill.
"Niki has good footwork, a great step and will beat a player. Alesana is a beast who will give you the 'Samoan sidestep' and run straight over. They are totally different players.
"Niki understands the game and he has been very solid."
Comments
by CheshireTiger
Sunday, September 16 2012, 9:01AM
“I'm reading "bringing premiership rugby to new ordinances" as the price will be less than the current (at least £600/year) sky & sky sports & espn package you have to buy?
I agree that the espn coverage is great but (Will greenwood aside) sky's is rubbish, we have to turn the sound off when Barnes is on. I just want to see the rugby, good commentary is a bonus.
As the the name suggests, I get to make few trips to welford road these days and this subscription is my equivalent to a season ticket.
I just hope bt keep giving tigers the lions share of %age coverage!”
by adrianh40
Friday, September 14 2012, 2:28PM
“its not just theHealy/Kay partnership dont forget about Leicester's own Nick Mullins, the finest Rugby Commentator on TV & Radio”
by Oadbylad
Friday, September 14 2012, 8:34AM
“If the PL is screened through the BT Vision format which in its self is on the decline (if indeed it ever arised lol) it will mean all prospect viewers will need a BT land line and a subscription
http://tinyurl.com/3j92xbd
as i dont have nor need a landline it will work out expensive
But i agree with the other posters i hope some of ESPNs format is kept and BT take notice”
by leicesterish
Friday, September 14 2012, 8:20AM
“Been thinking exactly the same thing, I only take ESPN for the Rugby. Sky were quite cunning, they announced that they'd won the rights to show the European and domestic cups but forgot to mention that they'd lost the league rights. What does it mean I wonder? Sky being outbid for a major sport? They either didn't try very hard because the figures are down and they want to concentrate on roundyball, or BT know that rugby viewing is up and pulled out all the stops to secure a major market share.
I just hope Healy and Kay catch a ride somewhere, they're a breath of fresh air as far as i'm concerned, in fact the whole ESPN front of camera guys are worth watching even a dour Worcester/Sale game for.”
by BrumFoxile
Thursday, September 13 2012, 3:35PM
“this will spell the end of my ESPN subscription!
wonder how much extra the BT package will cost?”
by leicesterish
Thursday, September 13 2012, 10:27AM
“Gutted! I love ESPN's coverage and the Healy/Kay partnership makes me chortle every time. I also love SKY's coverage in spite of one eyed Stuart Barnes and his Tigers-hating diatribe. Ho hum, no doubt it'll mean yet another new format, new pundits, more altered kickoff times and, guess what - yet more money!”
by Oadbylad
Thursday, September 13 2012, 10:19AM
“http://tinyurl.com/8v85qbx”