he future of free-to-air coverage for the Six Nations Championship in the United Kingdom has been thrown into doubt, with the BBC hinting at the possibility of withdrawing from broadcasting the esteemed tournament.
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Under the current agreement, broadcasting rights in the UK are divided between the BBC and ITV, with S4C providing Welsh language options, ensuring continued accessibility for fans.
However, the 2025 edition is the last Six Nations Championship under the current broadcast contract. This uncertainty arises from a recent governmental decision not to include the tournament in the list of “crown jewels” sports events, which are mandated for live free-to-air broadcast.
Barbara Slater, the BBC’s outgoing director of sport, conveyed concerns to MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport select committee in November, suggesting that the network might struggle to financially sustain its share of the broadcasting rights alongside ITV.
This situation hearkens back to 2015 when Sky, a prominent pay-TV broadcaster, sought the rights to air Six Nations matches. However, their bid was thwarted by a joint effort between the BBC and ITV.
With the BBC potentially stepping back, ITV faces a challenge to maintain exclusivity over the tournament’s broadcasting rights. Competing against formidable contenders such as TNT, Sky, Netflix, and Prime Video, ITV’s grip on the prestigious event appears increasingly uncertain.
As the 2025 Championship approaches, fans of the Six Nations eagerly await further developments on the fate of its broadcasting rights, with the looming possibility of pay-TV overshadowing the cherished tradition of free-to-air coverage.
2025 Six Nations Fixtures
ROUND 1
- Friday 31 January
- France vs Wales – 8.15pm
- Saturday 1 February
- Scotland vs Italy – 2.15pm
- Ireland vs England – 4.45pm
ROUND 2
- Saturday 8 February
- Italy vs Wales – 2.15pm
- England vs France – 4.45pm
- Sunday 9 February
- Scotland vs Ireland – 3pm