Six Nations future on BBC in danger with new broadcaster set to bid

Many had anticipated that the tournament’s protected status on free-to-air television might be reconsidered, but that is not the case.

The current UK broadcasting agreement, which is set to expire in March, divides the rights between the BBC and ITV, with Welsh-language options provided by S4C. This arrangement has ensured that the Six Nations remains accessible to millions of fans across the UK.

The situation recalls 2015, when pay-TV broadcaster Sky made a bid to air Six Nations matches, only to be outmaneuvered by a joint effort between the BBC and ITV, keeping the tournament on free-to-air television.

A BBC boss admitted that the financial pressures on the corporation when it came to sport were increasingly stark. “We need a well-funded BBC if we are going to be able to continue to afford sports rights,” she told MPs.

“Sports rights in the UK have more than doubled in the past decade. BBC’s income in real terms has gone down 30%. It is incredibly difficult for the BBC to maintain, across a range of sports, the expectations of those governing bodies.”

Pressed by John Nicolson MP, she said: “With the Six Nations, like anything, we will have to assess the affordability at the time. Because it is very difficult for the BBC, on that trajectory of income, to continue to afford everything that we have. The truth is we’re probably not going to be the highest bidder, and it will come down to individual governing bodies as to how they balance that reach and revenue.”

With the BBC potentially stepping back from future deals, ITV now faces stiff competition to retain exclusivity over the tournament’s broadcasting rights. Major players like TNT Sports, Sky, Netflix, and Prime Video could all enter the bidding war, making the situation more competitive than ever.

The debate over keeping the Six Nations free to view is highly politicised. Earlier this year, the Welsh government appealed to the then Minister for Media, Tourism, and Creative Industries, Julia Lopez MP, to grant the tournament A-grade protected status on terrestrial TV. The request was denied, and despite a change in government, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) confirmed to Mail Online that there are still "no plans to review the listed events regime."

TNT Sports, which recently entered the rugby broadcasting market, is emerging as a strong contender to take over the rights. Backed by Warner Brothers, the broadcaster has already struck a joint deal with the BBC to air FA Cup matches and could explore a similar hybrid model for the Six Nations. This compromise might provide a solution that satisfies both fans and commercial broadcasters, making it the most likely outcome.

As per this year, the 2025 Championship will see BBC and ITV sharing coverage in the UK, with S4C offering Welsh language options. France Television will be the home of the Championship for French fans, RTE and Virgin Media will once again cover the games in Ireland. In Italy, Sky Italia will continue their coverage of the Championship in 2025. The host broadcast coverage will also be complemented by widespread international broadcast coverage and a World Feed service.

Commenting on the 2025 Guinness Six Nations fixtures, Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said:

“The Guinness Men’s Six Nations is an appointment to view each year, delivering blockbuster entertainment for fans all over the world. The Championship never fails to deliver unpredictable excitement and experiences for fans to look forward to and then savour. 

"The announcement of the next instalment of fixtures is always keenly anticipated by fans, and with tickets now available for the 2025 fixtures, coupled with extensive broadcast coverage of the games, fans can already begin looking forward to what is in store as the action for the remaining rounds of this year's Championship plays out."

Groundbreaking AI technology has unveiled its jaw-dropping forecasts for the next two decades of Six Nations glory, and the results are nothing short of mind-blowing.

According to the cutting-edge predictions, England is poised to clinch victory in a staggering five out of the next 20 tournaments, while Scotland is primed for a historic triumph, marking their first title since their Five Nations conquest in 1999.

However, the road ahead seems daunting for Wales, as the AI oracle forecasts a prolonged wait until 2041 for their next taste of Six Nations glory.

Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses such as England, Ireland, and France are slated to dominate the competition, casting a shadow over Welsh aspirations.

Check out the next 20 Six Nations winner's below.

2025: France

2026: Ireland

2027: England

2028: England

2029: Scotland

2030: France

2031: Ireland

2032: England

2033: Ireland

2034: France

2035: Ireland

2036: England

2037: Scotland

2038: France

2039: Ireland

2040: England

2041: Wales

2042: France

2043: Ireland