Sports broadcasting contracts in the United Kingdom

This article refers to sports broadcasting contracts in the United Kingdom. For a list of sports broadcasting rights in other countries, see List of sports television broadcast contracts.

Certain sporting events are protected by the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events and must be broadcast live and free-to-air on terrestrial television in the UK.

Football

Television

Broadcasting Contracts for Football (Television)
Event Broadcaster Broadcast Details
FIFA World Cup Finals BBC Sport and ITV Sport[1] All 2018 and 2022 matches live
FIFA Confederations Cup BBC Sport (2013) No announcement about 2017 onwards
European Championship Finals BBC Sport, Sky Sports and ITV Sport All Euro 2016 matches live on BBC Sport and ITV; qualifying matches live on Sky Sports and ITV
Copa América BT Sport (2011) No announcement about 2015 onwards
Africa Cup of Nations British Eurosport and ITV Sport All matches live on British Eurosport to 2015;[2] 4 group matches plus both semi-finals and final live on ITV in 2015. Daily highlights every night on ITV repeated on the channel the following day.
CONCACAF Gold Cup BT Sport (2013) Live
AFC Asian Cup British Eurosport Live in 2015
FIFA Club World Cup BBC Sport (2012) No announcement about 2016 onwards
UEFA Champions League Sky Sports and ITV Sport;

BT Sport (From 2015)

 ITV (18 live matches including final) and Sky Sports (129 live matches including final) until 2015

***2015–18: Live on BT Sport (with at least 1 match per British team and the final broadcast free-to-air each season); highlights on ITV***

Copa Libertadores Premier Sports 32 live matches per season
UEFA Europa League BT Sport and ITV Sport (highlights only from 2015) ITV (29 live matches including semi-finals and finals) and BT Sport (25 live matches per season) until 2015

***2015–18: Live on BT Sport (with at least 1 match per British team and the final broadcast free-to-air each season); highlights on ITV***

Copa Sudamericana Premier Sports 30 live matches per season
Premier League BBC Sport (highlights), Sky Sports and BT Sport Sky Sports (116 live games (packages B, C, D, E and F)) and BT Sport (38 live games (packages A and G)) until 2016; BBC Sport (highlights)

***2016–19: Sky Sports (126 live games (packages A, C, D, E and G)) and BT Sport (42 live games (packages B and F)[3][4][5] ; BBC Sport (highlights)[6]***

FA Community Shield BT Sport and BBC Sport Live on BT Sport until 2018, highlights on BBC Sport
FA Cup BBC Sport, BT Sport and S4C BBC (16 live matches including one semi-final and shared final per season) and BT Sport (25 live matches including one semi-final and shared final per season) until 2018; one additional match per round involving Welsh clubs on S4C or BBC Wales
The Football League Sky Sports and BBC Sport Sky Sports 75 live matches per-season, plus live play-off matches and final (50 Championship, 25 shared between League One and League Two) until 2015;

*** 2015–2019: 112 live matches per-season, plus live play-off matches and final *** Highlights on BBC Sport[7][8][9]***

Football League Cup Sky Sports and BBC Sport Sky Sports, 15 live matches per-season, including semi-finals and final until 2019; highlights on BBC until 2015
La Liga Sky Sports Over 100 live matches per season until 2015
Copa del Rey Sky Sports Live until 2015
Bundesliga BT Sport and ITV Sport Live on BT Sport until 2017; highlights on ITV
Serie A BT Sport[10] Live until 2018
Coppa Italia Sky Sports Live
Ligue 1 BT Sport[10] Live
Primeira Liga BT Sport Live
Eredivisie Sky Sports Live until 2018[11]
Major League Soccer Sky Sports Live until 2019[12][13][14]
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and Campeonato Paulista BT Sport[15] Up to 100 live matches per season
A-League BT Sport[16] Live
Argentine Primera División Premier Sports 76 live matches per season
Belgian Pro League Premier Sports live
Football League Trophy Sky Sports and BBC Sport 2 other matches and Final live on Sky Sports until 2019; highlights of final on BBC until 2015
Football Conference BT Sport 30 live matches per season until 2018
England football team Sky Sports and ITV Sport All qualifiers and friendlies live on ITV until 2018; highlights of all 2016 European Championship and 2018 World Cup qualifiers on Sky Sports[17]
England under-21 national football team BT Sport Home friendlies and qualifiers live until 2018
Wales football team Sky Sports and ITV Sport (highlights) All European Championship qualifiers live until 2016 and World Cup qualifiers live until 2018 live on Sky Sports; highlights on ITV[17]
Scotland football team Sky Sports and ITV Sport (highlights) All qualifiers and home friendlies live on Sky Sports until 2018;[17] highlights on ITV
Republic of Ireland national football team Sky Sports, Premier Sports and ITV Sport (highlights) Qualifiers live on Sky Sports; home friendlies live on Premier Sports (until 2018); highlights on ITV
Northern Ireland football team Sky Sports and ITV Sport (highlights) All European Championship qualifiers live until 2016 and World Cup qualifiers live until 2018 on Sky Sports; highlights on ITV[17]
Scottish Professional Football League Sky Sports, BT Sport and BBC Alba Sky Sports and BT Sport 70 live matches between both broadcasters per season to 2017,[18] highlights on BBC Scotland until 2016. BBC Alba 3 live Premiership matches, 35 delayed matches on Saturday evenings and 16 live lower division matches until 2015.
Scottish Cup Sky Sports and BBC Scotland Sky Sports 9 live matches including Final until 2018.
Scottish League Cup BBC Scotland 4 live matches including Final until 2016
Scottish Challenge Cup BBC Alba Live until 2015
Scottish Junior Cup BBC Alba Final live
Scottish Youth Cup Sky Sports Live until 2018
Welsh Premier League S4C Primarily on Sunday afternoon.[19]
Welsh Cup S4C One Live game from Round 3 onwards, plus highlights
NIFL Premiership BBC Northern Ireland (highlights) Highlights
Irish Cup Final BBC Northern Ireland Live
Northern Ireland Football League Cup Final BBC Northern Ireland Live
Northern Ireland Milk Cup BBC Northern Ireland Live
FA Women's Cup BBC Sport Final live
FA Women's Super League BT Sport and BBC Sport (highlights) 12 live matches per season on BT Sport plus weekly highlights; highlights on BBC
FIFA Women's World Cup BBC Sport and British Eurosport All games live on BBC and British Eurosport in 2015
UEFA Women's Championship BBC Sport and British Eurosport Live
FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup British Eurosport Live until 2016[20]
UEFA European Under-21 Championship No announcement about 2015 onwards.

Radio

Radio Station Events
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra 128 live Premier League commentaries per season (to 2016); live commentaries from the Championship, FA Cup (until 2018), League Cup, Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, International qualifiers and friendlies involving England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland plus 16 live FA Women's Super League games and FA Women's Cup Final.

Live commentary from 2014 FIFA World Cup

BBC World Service 5 Live commentary on Sportsworld on approximately 50 Premier League matches per season plus commentary on selected FA Cup matches and League Cup Final
Talksport Live commentary on 64 Premier League matches per season and reports on all other matches (to 2016); live commentaries from Football League play-off finals, FA Community Shield, FA Cup, Football League Cup, UEFA Champions League and England friendly internationals

Live commentary from 2014 FIFA World Cup

Absolute Radio 32 live Premier League commentaries per season (to 2016)
BBC Local Radio Local commentaries on Premier League, Championship, FA Cup and League Cup matches
IRN Reports and goal flashes from all Premier League matches plus selected FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League matches for UK commercial radio network

Commentaries on local radio stations including Radio City, Signal Radio, Free Radio 80s, Swansea Sound, Wish FM, Tower FM and Peak FM

BBC Radio Scotland Live commentary from all Scottish Premiership matches plus Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and Scotland international matches
Radio Clyde and other Bauer Radio stations in Scotland Goal flashes from Scottish Premiership and Scottish Championship matches on Clyde 1 and other FM stations

Saturday afternoon match commentaries from Scottish Premiership and Scottish Championship matches on Clyde 2 and other AM stations

BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru Commentary on all Swansea City, Cardiff City matches with reports or commentary on Newport County and Wrexham matches
BBC Radio Ulster Reports and live commentary on Irish League, Irish Cup, Irish League Cup, Setanta Cup and Northern Ireland International matches.

Rugby Union

Television

Radio

Commentary on Six Nations, Autumn Internationals, Aviva Premiership and European Rugby Champions Cup matches
Live commentary on 2015 Rugby World Cup

Reports on Aviva Premiership, Six Nations, Autumn Internationals and European Rugby Champions Cup matches

Reports on Six Nations, Aviva Premiership and European Rugby Champions Cup matches for UK commercial radio network

Commentary on all Wales international matches
Live commentary on all Wales matches in 2015 Rugby World Cup
Commentary on British and Irish Lions tests on BBC Radio Cymru

Commentary on all Ulster European Rugby Champions Cup matches and selected Ulster Pro 12 matches.
Live commentary on Ireland Six Nations and Autumn International matches
Live commentary on all Ireland matches in 2015 Rugby World Cup

Commentary on all Scotland Six Nations matches
Live commentary on all Scpt;amd matches in 2015 Rugby World Cup

Cricket

Television

Radio

Test Match Special Live commentary on all England home Test, ODI and T20 matches until 2019
Commentaries on England overseas tours and World Cup matches

Reports every 15 minutes plus wicket flashes on England Test, ODI and T20 matches

Reports every 15 minutes plus wicket flashes on England home Test, ODI and T20 matches.

Commentary on all 2015 County matches on BBC Sport website. Selected matches on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and on BBC Local Radio.
All Derbyshire matches on BBC Radio Derby 1116 AM, all Worcestershire matches on BBC Hereford and Worcester 738 AM and all Hampshire matches on BBC Radio Solent 999 AM.

Hourly reports from England home Test, ODI and T20 matches for UK commercial radio network

Tennis

Television

Radio

Commentary on Wimbledon, US Open, French Open, Australian Open, ATP World Tour Finals, Queens Club Championships plus Davis Cup and selected ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events

Commentary on Wimbledon men's and women's singles finals

Reports on Wimbledon, US Open, French Open and Australian Open

Reports on Wimbledon for UK commercial radio network

Golf

Television

Radio

Commentary on The Open Championship, U.S. Open, US Masters, PGA Championships and the Ryder Cup

Reports on The Open Championship, U.S. Open, US Masters, PGA Championships and the Ryder Cup

Reports on The Open Championship for UK commercial radio network

Commentary on the Scottish Open on 810 MW

Motor Sport

Television

Radio

All Formula One races live, qualifying sessions and some practices on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
Live commentary on British Moto GP

Live commentary of the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix

Live commentary on Isle of Man TT races on Manx Radio TT on 1386 AM

Boxing

Television

Radio

Commentary on major fights involving British boxers

Multi-disciplines events

Television

Radio

Athletics

Television

Radio

Reports and commentary from IAAF World Championships, European Athletics Championships, IAAF Diamond League and UK Athletics major events
Commentary on London Marathon

Rugby League

Television

*** 2017-21: 80 live games per season on Sky Sports ***[46]

Radio

Snooker

Television

Radio

Reports on World Snooker Championships, UK Championship and Masters events

Reports on World Snooker Championships

Horse Racing

Television

Radio

Commentary on all major races with full coverage of Cheltenham Festival, The Grand National and The Derby until 2016[51]

5 Live commentary on The Grand National

Reports and commentary on major meetings including Cheltenham Festival, The Grand National and The Derby

Equestrianism

Television

Darts

Television

Radio

Reports from PDC World Darts Championship

Rowing

Television

Radio

Commentary on The Boat Race

Cycling

Television

Radio

Tour de France reports on Five Live; commentary on Sports Extra and BBC Sport website
UCI Road World Championships and World Track Championships: Live on Sports Extra

Swimming

Television

Triathlon

Television

Gymnastics

American Football

Television

Radio

Ice Hockey

Television

Field Hockey

Television

Basketball

Television

Baseball

Television

Winter Sports

Sailing

Gaelic Games

Television

Radio

GAA live coverage of the Ulster Club and Ulster Senior Football Championships, and games in the National League, qualifiers and All-Ireland Championship involving Ulster counties until 2017

Shinty

Television

Netball

Television

Badminton

Squash

Bowls

Television

Australian Rules Football

Beach Volleyball

References

  1. ↑ "BBC and ITV win rights to 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cup finals". BBC Sport. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Eurosport renews Africa Cup of Nations exclusive rights for next two editions". Eurosport Corporate. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Sky Sports wins live Premier League rights". Sky. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Rumsby, Ben (10 February 2015). "Premier League TV deal: Sky Sports break bank to dominate £5.136bn contract". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Sky Sports wins live Premier League rights to end of 2018-19 season". Sky Sports. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Sale, Charles (29 January 2015). "BBC retain Premier League highlights until 2019 with £204m deal after ITV fail to submit bid". Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "PREMIER LEAGUE: Sky Bet League clubs set to receive more funding from TV deal and Premier League". MK Web. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Sky Sports extends Football League deal for further season". Sky Sports. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  9. ↑ Joynson, Danielle (19 February 2015). "Sky Sports extends Football League broadcast deal by one season". Sports Mole. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 BT acquires more live football rights | touchline.tv
  11. ↑ Sky Sports launches European football channel
  12. ↑ "Sky Sports adds even more choice with MLS deal". Sky. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Sky Sports wins rights to broadcast Major League Soccer". Sky Sports. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. ↑ Andrew, James (25 February 2015). "Sky Sports to show MLS live as broadcasters win TV rights to show Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard". Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "BT bulks out soccer rights portfolio". Sportspromedia.com. 29 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "BT Sport will show live football conference matches" (Press release). BT. 3 July 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "UEFA Euro 2016 and FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers live on Sky Sports". Sky Sports. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "Second SPFL season live on BT Sport". BT Group. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Welsh Premier League and Sgorio at the heart of our schedule". S4C. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "Eurosport signs major 4-year agreement with FIFA". Eurosport Corporate. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  21. ↑ "RWC UK Broadcast details announced" (Press release). Rugbyworldcup.com. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  22. ↑ "BBC extends Six Nations contract". BBC News. 23 November 2011.
  23. ↑ Sky Sports secures six long-term rights agreements across six different sports | Rugby Union News | Sky Sports
  24. ↑ "CRICKET: ECB announces new four-year deal with Sky Sports". Sport On The Box. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  25. ↑ "CRICKET: Channel 5 retains England highlights". Sport On The Box. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  26. ↑ "Sky Sports snap up Test cricket from Australia, South Africa and India". The Guardian. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  27. ↑ Sky Sports announces new deal with ICC to cover biggest events in international cricket | Cricket News | Sky Sports
  28. ↑ "Wimbledon stays on the Beeb". The Sun. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Laughlin, Andrew (30 January 2012). "Eurosport renews French, US Open rights deals". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  30. ↑ "TENNIS: ITV secures French Open rights". Sport On The Box. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  31. ↑ "Eurosport and the Australian Open extend their relationship for a further five years" (Press release). Eurosport Corporate. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  32. ↑ Sweney, Mark (10 April 2012). "BBC to broadcast Queen's Club tennis for five more years". The Guardian (London).
  33. ↑ Sky press release: Sky Sports wins more PGA TOUR Golf
  34. ↑ "Eurosport & Infront extend Superbike deal". Sportindustry.biz. 29 October 2012.
  35. ↑ "BSB - Eurosport extends BSB deal". Road Racing WOrld. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  36. ↑ "Sky Sports to show GP2 & GP3". Sky Sports. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "SGP on British Eurosport" (Press release). speedwaygp.com. 14 March 2013.
  38. ↑ "Formula E secures live free-to-air UK television deal with ITV". Formula E. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  39. ↑ BBC Press Release
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 Laing, Greg (8 February 2013). "Channel 4 secures Paralympic Games rights for 2014, 2016". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "BBC to broadcast Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games". BBC. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  42. ↑ "BBC Sport extends Bupa Great Run coverage until 2018". BBC Sport. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  43. ↑ "BBC to show World Championships". BBC News. 24 November 2011.
  44. ↑ "Eurosport signs new Athletics deal". Yahoo! UK. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  45. ↑ "More League on Sky!". Sky Sports. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  46. ↑ RFL chief Nigel Wood delighted with new Sky Sports rugby league deal | Rugby League News | Sky Sports
  47. ↑ BBC seals deal to show next two rugby league World Cups
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 GMT (9 January 2013). "Snooker: BBC retains rights to three major championships". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  49. ↑ "Eurosport extend partnership with World Snooker". Yahoo! Eurosport. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  50. ↑ "RACING: Channel 4 wins Grand National, Derby and Royal Ascot rights". Sport On The Box. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  51. ↑ "BBC Radio 5 live signs new deal with Racecourse Media Group". Racecourse Media Group. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  52. ↑ "Sky Sports and PDC agree new five-year deal". Sky Sports. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  53. ↑ BDO World Championships: BBC extends TV deal until 2016
  54. ↑ "ITV lands new Tour de France deal". ITV. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  55. ↑ "Giro d'Italia - Eurosport signs four year broadcast deal for Giro d'Italia". Yahoo! UK. 4 March 2013.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Klompus, Jack (31 August 2013). "NFL and Super Bowl to air on Channel 4 in UK". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  57. ↑ Sky Sports secures new five-year NFL rights deal from 2015
  58. ↑ Premier Sports Facebook page - timeline photos
  59. ↑ Premier Sports Facebook page
  60. ↑ "EuroHockey Championships to be covered by BBC in host nation". sportbusiness.com. 1 February 2015.
  61. ↑ BT Sport becomes new home of squash on UK TV