The landscape of rugby league on TV has changed massively since the end of the 2023 season with Sky Sports securing a deal to broadcast all Super League games.
That deal by Sky Sports is set to run until the 2026 season and it’s now being reported today by Mail Sport that the BBC will have free-to-air Super League matches for the next three seasons as well.
This would indicate that the broadcast rights for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons are tied away with Sky set to showcase every single game, whilst BBC have secured the rights to 12 matches a season per the Mail Sport’s report.
It’s a huge shift in the rugby league broadcasting landscape and one that would seemingly see popular broadcaster Channel 4 edged out in favour of BBC.
Of course the BBC have covered the Challenge Cup but they will now run games on a Saturday night slot per The Mail, those games to be shown on BBC Two and starting from next month.
The RFL have worked alongside RL Commercial to secure TV deals, Rhodri Jones of RL Commercial having commented on the Sky Sports deal back when it was completed in October.
Jones stated: “Super League’s partnership with Sky Sports has been constantly evolving since the competition was launched in 1996, and we are excited to have confirmed this significant extension which will lift that partnership, and the Super League itself, to a new level.”
In relation to this new reported BBC deal the RFL are yet to confirm the news however they’ve revealed to Serious About Rugby League that an update can be expected this month, prior to the Super League season launch in mid February.
The RFL revealed to SARL: “As stated previously, RL Commercial has been in positive discussions regarding free to air coverage of Betfred Super League fixtures from the 2024 season, and we hope to be able to confirm details later this month.”
Super League is set to kick off with a Hull derby, Hull FC hosting rivals Hull KR on Thursday 15h February with both Tony Smith and Willie Peters set for their second season in charge of their respective sides.
FC will be hoping for a much improved year having missed the play-offs whereas Rovers will be keen to build on what was a strong season, albeit without silverware.
The Robins lost out on their first Challenge Cup since the 1980s when they fell short against Leigh Leopards in golden point, before crashing out in the Super League semi-finals to eventual champions Wigan Warriors.
