The government rejects the opportunity to keep Six Nations on free television after 2021
Government rejects opportunity to keep Six Nations on free-to-air TV after 2021, while Sky Sports is now on pole position and takes over £ 300 million broadcast rights
- The government has turned down the opportunity to keep Six Nations on free television
- The government has declined a call to grant Six Nations Group A status
- Group A status would have kept it available on free-to-air channels
- Controversial decision has since been labeled a ‘real missed opportunity’
- Sky Sports in pole position to seal broadcasting rights to 2022-24 tournaments
The government has turned down the chance to insure Guinness Six nations only stays on free-to-air TV.
The government has declined a call to grant Six Nations Group A status, with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee calling the decision a “missed opportunity.”
There has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks that the competition could get behind a paywall – with Sky Sports frontrunners securing the £ 300m broadcast rights to the 2022-24 tournaments – and it resulted in a motion that began in early March. Parliament was introduced.
After the 2021 edition, The Six Nations will no longer be shown on television
That was reported in early March Sky is lining up to sign a £ 300 million deal to screen competition, leaving the BBC and ITV terrestrial channels on the sidelines with potentially huge implications for the sport.
Cardiff B Member of Parliament Kevin Brennan tabled a proposal which was also signed by 11 other Welsh MPs. He called for the Six Nations to be placed in the ‘A’ category of government sporting events, ensuring that they are shown live on free-to-air platforms.
But it remains in the Group B category and opens the door for Sky Sports to try to secure the broadcast rights to the Six Nations tournaments after the 2021 edition.
Rules prevent the BBC and ITV from making another joint bid after next year’s Six Nations, which could be the latter on free-to-air TV only.
Sky Sports is the leader in broadcasting rights for the 2022-24 tournaments
DCMS Commission Chair Julian Knight said: “The government today informed us that it rejected our call to revise the Six Nations Championship list to give it Group A status, which would have caused it to remained available on the free website. air ducts.
“It is very disappointing and a missed opportunity that the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport department is not even willing to consider our request.
“It would have given fans hope for the future to see that a national event that brings people together was protected for all. That is a message that becomes even more important in a time like this. ‘
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