Borthwick backs Curry after racial slur controversy calling it a ‘World Rugby matter’
Fears are growing that the Six Nations may not remain on either BBC or ITV as World Rugby may bundle the TV rights with their new series, the Nations Championship. In 2026, the controversial new competition will commence and could join a package alongside the European competition involving England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy.
The Telegraph have claimed that the new summer and autumn biannual competition’s creation has opened the door to the possibility of broadcast contracts grouping the Nations Championship with the Six Nations. It could also include club competitions such as the Premiership and Heineken Cup.
There have long been calls to the UK government that the Six Nations should be added to the ‘crown jewel’ protected terrestrial TV events alongside the likes of the football World Cup, FA Cup and Wimbledon. However, those pleas have since been resisted and curiously the tournament’s current contract with BBC and ITV ends after the 2025 edition.
Any such package combining the Six Nations and Nations Championship would likely be sought by BBC and ITV, but insiders have claimed that a new ‘Rugby Channel’ could be created instead which may also appeal to a growing audience in the US.
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Recent reports have also suggested that the World Cup could also be lost by terrestrial TV, after the tournament had been broadcasted by ITV this autumn.
Several MPs across both parties have called for the Six Nations to remain free-to-air, raising concerns about the pitfalls of streaming despite the government confirming that they have no current plans to review the group A list that protects live coverage of sporting events.
Committee chairman and Preseli Pembrokeshire Conservative MP Stephen Crabb said: “The UK Government must address this disparity as a matter of urgency and bring forward the long-awaited Media Bill to ensure new prominence rules can protect the PSBs.
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“Sport in Wales faces acute financial challenges, and we recognise the tension that exists between maximising television audiences through free-to-air broadcasting and maximising the revenue available from going behind a paywall.
“But it is the strong view of the committee that our national teams should be available to watch free-to-air. For Welsh rugby, which is fighting to rediscover its soul and reverse the decline in grassroots participation, this is especially important. The Six Nations competition must remain free-to-air.”
Earlier this month, a government minister confirmed that the list of protected events could be amended if the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) called for it. This came amid concerns that further competitions could be kept behind paywalls, with Amazon Prime Video broadcasting the Autumn internationals since 2020 and now fresh fears that the Six Nations and World Cup may be lost by the BBC and ITV.
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