BBC Wales loses the rights to show live PRO14 games

LIVE Guinness PRO14 rugby will not be shown by BBC Wales next season.

The BBC failed to come to terms on a new agreement for the crossborder tournament, which is set to welcome new pay-TV broadcast partners, thought to be Premier Sports.

BBC 2 Wales currently shows a live regional game each weekend. The BBC also provide extensive radio coverage of the competition and had hoped to be one of the PRO14’s broadcast partners again in 2018-19.

However, despite, what they say was a “significantly increased financial bid” they have not been able to secure rights.

The PRO14 have said they are unable to confirm their broadcast partners while commercial negotiations are ongoing, but in a statement, BBC Wales said: “We’re proud of our record of covering live PRO14 rugby across television, radio and online and we offered a significantly increased financial bid in order to safeguard these rights on a free-to-air basis for hundreds of thousands of viewers in Wales, and across the UK.

“We know there will be a real disappointment at this outcome among hundreds of thousands of rugby fans who have enjoyed live free-to-air coverage on the BBC over many years.”

BBC hope to offer a highlights package on a Sunday evening and say they will be seeking discussions with tournament bosses.

Welsh language channel S4C are, meanwhile, hoping to continue with their coverage of live rugby, although they weren’t commenting on the issue yesterday.

The PRO14 issued a statement, saying: “After the successful expansion into South Africa the Guinness PRO14 is continuing to grow in strength with unprecedented interest leading to rising attendances, increased broadcast viewers and an upsurge in social media engagement.

“As PRO14 Rugby plans for the exciting seasons ahead, the Championship has overseen a highly-competitive tender process with multiple Pay and Free to Air operators across the UK & Republic of Ireland bidding for the broadcast rights in those territories. PRO14 Rugby is currently concluding negotiations for these rights ahead of the 2018/19 season and will confirm the final position to partners and supporters once the formal agreements are in place.”

WalesOnline reported in January that Premier Sports were set to come on board next season.

Operated by the Luxembourgregistered Premier Media, it’s a subscription sports channel which has been running since 2009. Customers will have to pay £9.99 a month to subscribe.

The indications are that the new TV deal will increase revenue for the four Welsh regions.