BBC Northern Ireland has secured a four-year deal to provide live free-to-air coverage of selected Ulster matches in the Guinness Pro12.
BBC Two NI will screen every Ulster home and away match that is not scheduled for live broadcast on Sky Sports, with those matches that Sky select to air on BBC Radio Ulster.
The new TV deal with BBC Northern Ireland also includes live coverage of any match involving Ulster in the end-of-season play-off stages, including the final itself.
Matches being broadcast live on BBC NI Television will be streamed online via the BBC Sport NI website, with video highlights of all matches also going up on the website, while all BBC NI Pro12 broadcasts will be available to watch again via BBC iPlayer.
BBC NI’s face of sport Stephen Watson returns to present live TV coverage on BBC Two NI, with match commentary being led by Jim Neilly, while expert analysis and co-commentary will come from a range of ex-players, including Ryan Constable, Bryn Cunningham, Andy Ward, Tony McWhirter and Maurice Field.
Sky Sports are the Pro12’s new broadcast partners for the 2014/15 season, with the pay-TV channel set to air 30 live matches during each season for the next four years.
Separate deals have been negotiated with terrestrial broadcasters – BBC Wales and S4C, plus BBC Scotland and BBC Alba – ensuring free-to-air rugby is widely available across all three nations, as well as nationwide via the BBC Sport website.
BBC Northern Ireland’s Director Peter Johnson commented: “Live Friday night Ulster rugby has proven to be very popular with a wider viewing audience at home, with the games regularly being amongst the most watched programmes on BBC Two in Northern Ireland.
BBC Sport NI’s Editor Shane Glynn added:”It’s the beginning of a new era for Ulster – with a new coach and a group of new and exciting signings to replace some of the experienced players who retired or moved on at the end of last season.
“It’s shaping up to be a fascinating season and we’ll bring audiences live coverage of every match, on TV or radio.”
Guinness Pro12 Chief Executive John Feehan said: “BBC NI have significantly contributed to a huge increase in the popularity of rugby in Northern Ireland with first class coverage of the Ulster games over the last number of seasons,” added Mr Feehan.
Ulster Rugby Chief Executive Shane Logan also paid tribute to BBC Northern Ireland’s continuing coverage of the sport.
“There is now more interest in rugby in Ulster than ever before and that is thanks in many ways to the excellent coverage that BBC Sport NI has given the sport in recent years.
“The large viewing figures reflect the excitement that Pro12 rugby generates but are also testament to the comprehensive and insightful coverage that the BBC Sport NI team provide.”
Ulster’s opening match of the season away to the Scarlets will be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster on Saturday, September 6, with the home game against Zebre on Friday, September 12, on BBC Two Northern Ireland.
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