The Rugby Broadcast Report Issue 26: Rugby Media Rights Update & TV Guide – Virgin Media Secures FTA Nations Championship Rights in Ireland
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Welcome to the Rugby Broadcast Report, a weekly newsletter covering the latest developments in rugby media rights, alongside a broadcast and kick-off guide.
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It has been another busy week on the rugby media rights front, including ITV’s in-play adverts for the Six Nations, Virgin Media securing the Nations Championship in Ireland and Premier Sports offering alternative commentary-free coverage and the return of a popular RTÉ programme.
If you’re looking for rugby to watch this weekend you can find the full Irish and UK TV guide listed below, along with links to various streaming platforms.*
Story of the week
In the rugby media rights space, by far the biggest story of the week has been the news that ITV will show adverts during the broadcaster’s live coverage of the 2026 Six Nations. Regular readers of this newsletter might remember that this is something that was flagged last year in Issue 21 of the Rugby Broadcast Report.
The reaction to the news on social media has been quite negative, although there is a considerable number of industry observers who recognise that such adverts are necessary to ensure the tournament stays on FTA TV.
On the one hand, most fans want the Six Nations to remain on FTA TV but are not happy with adverts taking place during live play due to the interruption caused. However, it is important to note that the live feed will still be visible to viewers and that only part of the screen will contain the adverts.
On the other side of the argument, there are those who accept that such measures are necessary to ensure that FTA broadcasters can continue to generate sufficient income to cover the broadcasting fees.
Finally, it is also worth highlighting that these types of adverts are commonplace around the world and as noted in the Guardian, RTÉ has been trialling such adverts in its racing coverage.
While the immediate reaction of viewers might be negative, it is likely something that fans will become accustomed to and will simply forget about in years to come – just like the adverts between the anthems and kick-off.
Quote of the week
We also talked in detail to the pay-TV market – and the streaming market – just to make sure that we understood where this could possibly go, and there was a real understanding, I think, from the pay-TV market, of the importance of Six Nations being on free-to-air, and an understanding of the role that this tournament plays in British culture, French culture, and Irish culture too. – Tom Harrison (Six Nations CEO)
In an insightful interview with SportsPro this week, Six Nations CEO Tom Harrison revealed that during discussions with pay-TV and streaming providers, it was clear that they both understood the significance of the Six Nations being on FTA TV. This should come as no surprise to most, particularly given the overwhelmingly negative reaction to the speculation that the Six Nations could end up behind a paywall during the rights negotiation cycle in 2025.
Harrison also revealed that there was a time during the negotiations where he thought that a hybrid solution – with a split between pay-TV and FTA providers – was the most likely outcome. However, the size of the offer from the FTA broadcasters was substantial and ensured that the coverage could remain on FTA TV until 2029 at least in Ireland and the UK. The interview is well worth a read and I will be providing more information from the discussion in next week’s newsletter.
The broadcast number
£63 million – the annual rights fee paid by ITV and the BBC for the new Six Nations broadcast deal that runs from 2026 to 2029. According to the Guardian, it is understood that ITV is paying more than two-thirds of the £63 million per year.
Alternative Six Nations coverage
As revealed during Premier Sports’ coverage of the URC last weekend and in Wales Online this week, the broadcaster will provide an alternative live feed during its coverage of the Six Nations, using spider-cam footage with no commentators – viewers will hear the referee and the atmosphere in the stadium instead. This is similar to the alternative feed provided by Amazon when the streaming service showed the Autumn Nations Series a number of seasons ago. As a reminder, Premier Sports will show one game per round in this year’s Six Nations.
Separately, the Rugby Pod is hosting a live watch-along on its YouTube channel during the Six Nations opener between France and Ireland on Thursday night.
Rights watch
There has been more good news on the FTA front, with Virgin Media announcing this week that the broadcaster has secured the broadcast rights to the new Nations Championship, which kicks off this year. Virgin Media will also broadcast fixtures from the Summer Nations Series and the Autumn Nations Series.
RugbyPass has picked up the Super Rugby broadcast rights in the US this season. The tournament was previously shown on FloSports. There is still no update on a broadcast deal for Ireland or the UK. Sky’s deal with SANZAAR ended in 2025.
Despite speculation that Against the Head could be scrapped this year, it has been confirmed that the popular rugby programme will return to RTÉ during the 2026 Six Nations, airing every Monday.
The Fijian Drua and the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation have extended their broadcast partnership for a further three years, ensuring all Fijian Drua games will be available on FTA TV in Fiji.
FTA broadcast teams:
RTÉ and Virgin Media have confirmed their Six Nations line-up. RTÉ coverage will be led by Jacqui Hurley and she will be joined by Jamie Heaslip, Simon Zebo, Stephen Ferris, Fiona Coughlan, Jim Hamilton, Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan. RTÉ is also providing commentary in Irish. Virgin Media's coverage will be led by Joe Molloy with Conor Murray, Rob Kearney, Andrew Trimble, and Ian Madigan. Matt Williams is not included in this year’s line-up. Dave McIntyre and Alan Quinlan will be on commentary duty.
The BBC’s reduced Six Nations coverage will be provided by Gabby Logan, Martin Johnson, Sam Warburton, Tommy Bowe, Jonathan Davies, Chris Paterson, Danny Care, Nigel Owens, Andrew Cotter, Sonja McLaughlan and Lee McKenzie.
On S4C the line-up includes Sarra Elgan, Lauren Jenkins, Gareth Charles, Gwyn Jones, Rhys Priestland, Jamie Roberts, Andrew Coombs, Jonathan Davies, Sioned Harries and Nicky Robinson.
Here’s your full TV guide for this weekend’s action:
Thursday 5 February
8:10pm – France v Ireland (Six Nations) – ITV1 & ITVX / Virgin 1 & Player
Friday 6 February
7:15pm – Ireland XV v England A (International) – Premier Sports 1 & Online / NOW
7:15pm – Italy U20s v Scotland U20s (U20s Six Nations) – BBC iPlayer / Virgin Media Player
7:35pm – Currie v Kelso (Scottish Premiership) – BBC ALBA / BBC iPlayer / YouTube
7:45pm – Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (PREM Rugby Cup) – TNT Sports 1 / discovery+ / NOW
7:45pm – Bedford Blues v Ampthill (Champ) – Clubber TV
7:45pm – Richmond v Nottingham (Champ) – Clubber TV
7:45pm – England U20s v Wales U20s (U20s Six Nations) – S4C & Clic / BBC iPlayer / RTÉ Player
Saturday 7 February
5:30am – Verblitz v Yokohama (League One) – Premier Sports Rugby & Online / Unavailable live in Ireland
12:00pm – Bristol Bears Women v Ealing Women (PWR) – YouTube
12:00pm – Netherlands v Spain (Rugby Europe Championship) – RugbyPass TV / Rugby Europe TV
12:30pm – Sale Sharks Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women (PWR) – BBC iPlayer
2:00pm – Cambridge v Caldy (Champ) – Clubber TV
2:10pm – Italy v Scotland (Six Nations) – BBC One & iPlayer / Premier Sports 1 & Online (UK only) / Virgin Media 1 & Player
2:30pm – Lansdowne v Old Belvedere (AIL) – YouTube
2:30pm – Trinity v Old Wesley (AIL) – YouTube
2:30pm – Chinnor v Hartpury RFC (Champ) – Clubber TV
2:30pm – Worcester Warriors v Doncaster (Champ) – Clubber TV
3:00pm – Ealing Trailfinders v Coventry (Champ) – Clubber TV
4:40pm – England v Wales (Six Nations) – ITV1 & ITVX / RTÉ 2 & Player / S4C & Clic
7:00pm – Belgium v Portugal (Rugby Europe Championship) – RugbyPass TV / Rugby Europe TV
8:00pm – France U20s v Ireland U20s (U20s Six Nations) – BBC iPlayer / RTE News / RTE Player
Sunday 8 February
5:30am – Sungoliath v Mitsubishi (League One) – Premier Sports Rugby & Online / Unavailable live in Ireland
12:00pm – Switzerland v Georgia (Rugby Europe Championship) – RugbyPass TV / Rugby Europe TV
1:00pm – Leicester Tigers Women v Saracens Women (PWR) – YouTube
2:00pm – Cornish Pirates v London Scottish (Champ) – Clubber TV
3:00pm – Germany v Romania (Rugby Europe Championship) – RugbyPass TV / Rugby Europe TV
3:00pm – Harlequins Women v Exeter Chiefs Women (PWR) – TNT Sports 1 / discovery+ / NOW
*TV guide subject to change. The website version of this newsletter will be updated if required.
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