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Six Nations will remain on free-to-air in the UK for the next four years - Getty Images/David Rogers
The Six Nations will remain on free-to-air in the UK for the next four years after a landmark deal was struck with ITV and BBC, Telegraph Sport understands.
The new deal means that ITV will now show all of England’s games, which means that Saturday’s match between Wales and England will be the last shown on BBC until at least 2030.
The deal, which is said to represent a significant uplift in the existing one of £90 million per year, will see ITV broadcast 10 games per Championship with the BBC showing the remaining five games, including Wales and Scotland home games as long as England are not involved.
The news will come as a huge boost to rugby supporters, amid concerns that it would go behind a paywall.
The new deal will also see the BBC show the men’s Under-20 Six Nations and the women’s Six Nations.
It is understood that negotiations moved swiftly after the BBC was encouraged by the strong viewing figures for the current Championship, which after round four were understood to have increased five per cent from last season, surpassing 75 million across the core markets.
TNT Sport had declared its interest in broadcasting the Championship, which is regarded as the biggest rugby tournament outside of the Rugby World Cup, but critically ITV declared its interest early in the negotiations and with the BBC also coming to the table, the combined offer represents the perfect balance of ‘reach and revenue,’ ensuring that the Championship is broadcast to the widest possible audience while giving the unions greater financial stability.
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