ITV and BBC Sport have agreed a new four-year deal to air the men’s Six Nations live for free until 2029.
The four-year partnership between the two broadcasters will see BBC Sport live TV coverage, highlights and digital clips of the men’s Six Nations including five live matches involving Scotland and Wales each year.
ITV will show ten live matches each season across ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player, plus highlights and exclusive content on ITV Sport.
Live coverage of the Women’s Six Nations and U20 Six Nations will also be shown across BBC TV channels and the BBC iPlayer.
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Hayley Valentine, Director, BBC Scotland, said the partnership is a “brilliant collaborative effort” and that she is “thrilled” to provide the coverage of the tournament for the next four years.
She said: “This announcement is fantastic news for rugby fans across Scotland, who watch the Six Nations in huge numbers. I’m delighted that the free-to-service which is enjoyed by so many has been extended by this agreement. It has been a brilliant collaborative effort, and I am thrilled that the BBC, alongside ITV, will continue to provide the very best coverage of the tournament.
“It’s another great boost for rugby fans as we look forward to BBC Sport’s coverage of the Women’s Six Nations 2025 across linear TV and iPlayer which begins later this month.”
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said the Six Nations is always one of the top sporting tournaments in the UK every year and is looking forward to airing the matches.
He said: “This is a monumental deal for rugby fans and ITV as we ensure the Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship stays on free-to-air television. We are also proud to be the home of all England matches for the duration of the deal including England’s much revered clashes with Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The tournament is always one of the sporting highlights of the year, so we look forward to continuing to work with Six Nations Rugby and each union and federation moving forward.”
Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: “The significance of these new and innovative free to air partnerships for the Six Nations cannot be overstated. By strengthening rugby’s relationships with ITV and BBC, the sport can continue to give as many fans as possible in the UK access to enjoy live coverage of the Six Nations. These partnerships allow us to maximise audience reach whilst generating critical revenue for the game, enabling each Union and Federation to protect and grow the sport in their country in the coming years.”
“The increased commitment from the free to air sector is testament to the appeal and status of our iconic Championships. The commercial environment in which rugby is operating is extremely challenging and the battle for audience attention has never been greater, but the Six Nations stands alongside the very greatest occasions in world sport, which is reflected by these partnerships. Going into another incredible conclusion to the Men’s Championship, all parties are incredibly excited to build on this momentum and audience growth, to deliver the best possible experience for fans over the next four years.”
