BT Sport Secure Champions Cup TV Rights

BT Sport has secured the rights to screen the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in Ireland and the United Kingdom for the four-year cycle until summer 2022

At present the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup is split across Sky Sports and BT Sport, however the competitions will now move to one pay-TV broadcaster from the 2018/19 season – BT Sport.

In a statement released this morning, EPCR said they have “reserved the rights for free-to-air coverage in the UK and Ireland, allowing EPCR to meet its key objective of taking its matches to a larger audience and will take those rights to market at a later date. It comes after a boost in revenue was announced in France for the same period, with an option for increased free-to-air coverage.”

EPCR CEO Vincent Gaillard added, “The interest that we have seen through the tender process shows how the tournaments continue to go from strength-to-strength. Having one premium pay-television broadcaster in BT Sport will simplify the viewing experience for those fans and coverage on free-to-air television will give greater exposure to our outstanding rugby experiences.”

One season remains on the existing deal with both BT Sport and Sky Sports sharing the rights to broadcast the competitions.