England’s Six Nations clash with Italy is set to miss out on live BBC radio coverage despite prior promises of every match on its two sporting stations.
Cricket’s Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand is instead scheduled for live coverage on Radio 5 Sports Extra in a surprise move. Chelsea’s Premier League game against Leicester will take prominence, meanwhile, on the main 5 Live station on Sunday.
Coverage of England’s penultimate Six Nations match has therefore been relegated to the BBC Sport website or app, in a blow for supporters unable to watch on television or access the internet.
A BBC source said the decision is based on the Premier League and Champions Trophy being behind TV paywalls, while the England match is available to watch on ITV.
But the omission from the two main channels goes against a pledge in 2021, when the corporation secured the audio rights for the men’s Six Nations from 2022 to 2025. “As per previous years, every home nation game throughout the competition will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live or 5 Live Sports Extra,” the BBC announced.
In January, broadcasting regulator Ofcom also said the BBC will “broadcast live radio coverage of all the matches in the 2025 Six Nations on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra”.
“BBC Sport is providing audiences with comprehensive multi-platform coverage of the Six Nations covering all the home nations including the Scotland vs Wales game this Saturday,” a BBC spokesperson said. “Commentary of England’s match against Italy will be on the BBC Sport website and app.”
The Six Nations’ current TV deal, for which live coverage is shared between ITV and the BBC, is in its final year, and Telegraph Sport understands the bidding process will commence after this year’s edition.
The BBC holds the rights to Wales and Scotland home matches, while ITV broadcasts all those in England, Ireland, France and Italy.
The omission of the match from the main radio channels was first reported by the Daily Mail. A BBC Sport press release ahead of the Six Nations this season stated: “Every home nations match will be available on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app with radio commentary.”
