Wales’ home international matches will remain on free-to-air television after the BBC signed a new rights deal for exclusive live coverage until at least 2018.
In a new four-year agreement between the corporation and the Welsh Rugby Union, all Wales international rugby matches in the November’s Autumn Internationals period are guaranteed to be shown across the UK on either BBC One or BBC Two.
The contract also ensures viewers will be able to watch Wales’ 2013 British and Irish Lions stars take on some of the world’s leading nations across TV, radio and online.
Welsh language channel S4C will also continue to screen Wales home international matches live under the terms of the new deal.
It is the first time that the WRU TV rights agreement with the BBC has stipulated that all Wales matches must be shown on network TV, as part of a deal which is expected to make a significant contribution to the financial stability of Welsh rugby over the coming seasons.
“Set against the mouth-watering prospect of the returning Welsh British and Irish Lions coaching staff and players facing Test matches against South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia at the Millennium Stadium this autumn, this announcement is incredibly significant for the future of Welsh rugby,” said Roger Lewis, WRU Chief Executive.
“A seat to watch Wales take on four of the top sides in world rugby this November has increased in value, though not in price, as a direct result of the heroics of the likes of Leigh Halfpenny, Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones in Australia this summer.
“Simultaneously, the appetite of an international rugby watching television audience has been whetted and it is fitting that we are able to confirm today that all our Autumn Internationals will be shown live on BBC network television until the end of 2018.
“The new agreement with BBC network will ensure that coverage of our important series of Autumn Internationals is UK-wide, guaranteeing a significant television audience which will have positive knock on effects for all of our stakeholders.
“We are delighted to be able to extend our working relationship with the BBC through to 2018 and have recognised the importance of making Welsh rugby available, to as wide an audience as possible.”
The agreement with the BBC also covers potential one-off Test matches, such as the fixture played out in June before a summer tour, but does not include any games which will be scheduled in the ‘warm-up’ period before the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
It is also the stated intention of the WRU to ensure Saturday afternoon kick-offs become standard for Autumn Internationals as of 2014, meaning a move away from hosting Friday night games.
“As part of our negotiations, we have ensured that both Welsh and English language radio commentary for international matches will be available for exploitation by the BBC and there is also an option for S4C to show live international matches simultaneously with the BBC network transmissions,” adds Lewis.
This new deal comes at a time when Wales have restored their reputation as Europe’s premier rugby attraction.
A live television audience of almost 10 million watched their exhilarating victory over England in the Six Nations decider at the Millennium Stadium in March on BBC One, peaking at 9.5m.
In Wales itself, the match drew the third biggest audience for any programme, with the exception of the opening and closing ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympics.
Barbara Slater, BBC Director of Sport, says: “We’re very pleased to have renewed our broadcast deal with WRU.
“The Autumn Internationals are popular with audiences and so it is great that BBC Sport will continue to offer comprehensive live coverage of these top international fixtures across all platforms.”
The BBC has been a long-standing rights partner of Welsh rugby and it is thought that the WRU were keen to hold onto free-to-air TV coverage.
England’s home internationals have been shown on Sky Sports since 1997, while Ireland have recently followed the RFU in choosing to take lucrative TV deals with Sky Sports.
From 2014, Wales and Scotland’s home internationals will be the only Autumn Tests to be broadcast on free-to-air television. The SRU recently signed a similar long-term deal with the BBC.
Director of BBC Cymru Wales, Rhodri Talfan Davies says: “Many are calling this a golden age of international rugby in Wales – and I know millions of sport fans right across the UK will be delighted that Wales’ Autumn Internationals will be available live and uninterrupted on the BBC until the end of 2018.
“BBC Cymru Wales has been at the heart of Welsh rugby coverage for years – both domestically and internationally – and I’m thrilled that this agreement ensures that everyone in Wales will continue to share in the drama and excitement of these mouth-watering clashes against the southern hemisphere’s finest sides.”
WALES’ AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS 2013
Sat 9 Nov: Wales v South Africa – 17:30
Sat 16 Nov: Wales v Argentina – 14:30
Fri 22 Nov: Wales v Tonga – 19:30
Sat 30 Nov: Wales v Australia – 17:00
All four matches live on BBC TV & S4C
