Rugby Championship

Six Nations future on terrestrial TV uncertain – what are the implications for rugby and its fans?

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Paralympic Games, Rugby Championship, Rugby union, Sky, Survival, First Nations in Manitoba, Legislation, BBC, Government, Television, Culture, Amazon, WRU, Synovial joint, Welsh, Sky Sports, ITV, Channel, Welsh Rugby Union, Six Nations, Entertainment

But the high-octane drama risks being overshadowed by off-field events that could also threaten the principles of public service broadcasting.

Key Points: 
  • But the high-octane drama risks being overshadowed by off-field events that could also threaten the principles of public service broadcasting.
  • Viewing figures for the Rugby World Cup in 2023 were 19% higher than the 2019 tournament, and 30% higher than in 2015.
  • Free-to-air Six Nations games regularly draw between 3 and 4.5 million viewers in the UK.
  • So, when the current broadcasting deal ends in 2025, the Six Nations could very well end up behind a paywall.

Financial woes

  • It faces a stark future both on and off the field, with players leaving Wales for more money and salary caps being introduced for those who stay.
  • The SNP’s Gavin Newlands recently reiterated calls for broadcasting to be devolved so that the Six Nations remains free-to-air.
  • The Irish Rugby Union has also previously warned about the “substantial financial damage” to rugby if the Six Nations was classified as free-to-air.

Lessons from cricket

  • Free market proponents point, for example, to how Sky’s long-lasting commitment to cricket has led to innovation and technical advances such as multiple cameras and data-rich, TV-friendly statistical analysis.
  • It results in a quality of coverage that the BBC or ITV might struggle to match with more meagre budgets.
  • But test cricket offers a cautionary tale.
  • Having hauled in millions of new enthusiasts, cricket failed to keep them watching.


The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Global Rugby Apparel Market 2019-2023 | Growing Participation of Women to Boost Growth | Technavio

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 20, 2019
Other Sports, Retail, Fashion, Sports, Sports, Rugby union, Women's rugby union, Rugby World Cup, Rugby Championship

View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190519005054/en/

Key Points: 
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190519005054/en/
    Technavio has published a new market research report on the global rugby apparel market from 2019-2023.
  • This global rugby apparel market 2019-2023 research report also analyzes other important trends and market drivers that will affect market growth over 2019-2023.
  • Popular female rugby tournaments include Women's Rugby World Cup, Caribbean Women's Rugby Championship, Women Rugby at Olympics, and Women's Six Nations Championship.
  • Along with the growing participation of women in rugby, the growth in development programs of rugby unions, the introduction of new rugby tournaments, and the customization of rugby apparel are some other major aspects that are expected to boost the growth of the overall global market during the forecast period, says a senior analyst at Technavio.