Super League rights up for grabs
February 7, 2011 · 0 Comments
Rugby Football League chairman Richard Lewis has said that the BBC and Sky will face stiff competition for broadcasting rights, with the possibility of ESPN tipped to make a bid to televise Super League from 2012.
The current broadcasting deals for both the League and the Challenge Cup (held by BSkyB and the BBC respectively), expire at the end of this season and the process of renewal has now begun.
Richard Lewis said : “We put the tender document out to prospective bidders last week and the broadcasters have a month to respond. I would think it will be at least a couple of months before we know what’s happening. We’ve had discussions with our long-standing partners like Sky and the BBC and we’ve had various conversations new entrants like ESPN, who are interested.”
He added: “They already show rugby union and it’s logical for them to take a look at rugby league. There is a lot of interest and I think it’s quite a buoyant market place for rugby league. I’m really encouraged.”
The Challenge Cup final is currently one of the Government’s ‘listed’ events, the sporting competitions tied to free-to-air terrestrial television, however other broadcasters are allowed to show matches from the earlier rounds.
“There are packages in the document,” added Lewis. “It’s really what the broadcasters say is best for them. It’s a free marketplace, it’s only the final that has to be shown on terrestrial television.”
Tags: BBC, Challenge Cup, ESPN, Sky, Super League
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