BACKLASH BEGINS OVER SKY DEAL TO BROADCAST SIX NATIONS
ASERIOUS backlash was under way last night after it emerged that Sky was poised to land a rights deal for the Six Nations that would remove it from free-to-air television for the first time in its history.
The BBC and ITV currently share broadcasting rights to European rugby’s flagship tournament under a £90m six-year deal signed in 2015.
However, that runs out after next year’s tournament, and, according to a report in the respected The Rugby Paper, joint bids are not being accepted during the tendering process for the next broadcasting contract, which closes at the same time as this year’s competition on March 14.
One Welsh rugby insider last night told the Western Mail the situation was a “sad day” for the sport in Wales.
According to The Rugby Paper, the BBC and ITV were prepared to submit a joint bid to renew their deal, but have been told that only single bidders will be accepted. No reason has reportedly been given for this condition.
The move heightens the chances of the majority of thousands of Wales fans being unable to watch international fixtures on free-to-air television at home, as they have been accustomed to for generations.
“By ruling out any joint bids, it’s almost as if the Six Nations are clearing the way for Sky,” the paper quotes an industry source as saying.
“There is a very real danger that they will be prepared to sacrifice the big audiences on BBC and ITV for more money.
“Cricket did that and the popularity of the sport was hit as a consequence. If rugby chooses not to learn from that mistake, then they will be at risk of the same consequence from the same lack of exposure.”
Autumn Tests are thought to be part of the same TV package being discussed. But the jewel in the crown is the Six Nations.
In Wales in particular, interest in the tournament is extraordinary every year, highlighted in 2019 when Alun Wyn Jones and his team clinched the Grand Slam against Ireland.
Those watching the game on TV in Wales peaked at an 87% share of the total viewing audience at the time, with an 82% average.
Those numbers were acclaimed, with BBC Wales’ head of digital and marketing Richard Thomas saying at the time: “The stats were absolutely amazing.
“To have 82% of the people in Wales watching television on Saturday afternoon viewing the game is incredible. That might get you thinking what the other 18% were watching, but an 82% average share is equivalent to the audiences for the London 2012 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.”
As a Group B listed event, the Six Nations can be screened on pay TV provided network broadcasters are given secondary rights, as happens with England’s cricket matches.
But even an arrangement along those lines would lead to anger, with many unable to afford satellite TV and the tournament historically being about the drama as it unfolds.
A senior source within Welsh rugby told the Western Mail: “It would be potentially a sad day for the sport in Wales were coverage of matches to be taken off terrestrial TV.
“Yes, sport is business nowadays and money is hugely important, but so are TV audiences.
“There are many people in Wales who cannot afford satellite television, including people who are older and might not have the incomes of those in work.
“Also, not everyone wants to, or can, watch a game in a pub.
“International rugby is hugely popular in Wales but if this goes ahead a lot of people will miss out. I’d argue all those factors need to be taken into consideration.
“In a perfect world, a balance would be struck.”
In January, Welsh Labour MPs raised the issue in the Commons, and wrote to WRU chairman Gareth Davies, urging the union to do everything in its power to keep the Six Nations on terrestrial television.
Yesterday, Plaid Cymru’s leader Adam Price and Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts wrote to Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture and Media, demanding the tournament remain on freeto-air television.
Ms Roberts said: “For these iconic games to move beyond a paywall would be nothing short of disastrous for rugby in Wales.
“There are many in Wales who cannot afford satellite television and watching the games in a pub is not always accessible to everyone.”
On Twitter, rugby fans were almost unanimous in their condemnation of the plans, irrespective of national affiliation.
Ade Taylor said: “What a disaster this will be. For many people their only exposure to rugby is the Six Nations. Sky are desperate because they’ve lost Euro rugby, Euro football and WWE to BT. BBC & ITV can’t compete with that money. Sky win. Rugby loses. Very short sighted decision.”
And Fergal O’Shea said: “Rugby is too niche a market for a pay wall. Viewing numbers will go down in my opinion. Less people seeing the games will negatively affect interest and overall growth of rugby. Disappointing.”
Former BBC Wales head of sport and ex-Wales wing Nigel Walker told the Western Mail: “Would it be a blow to the majority of people in Wales if the tournament went behind a paywall and they had to pay to access matches?
“Of course it would, because we know that the percentage of the population who are interested in rugby in Wales, and particularly in the national team, is higher than in all the other countries.
“It’s part of our fabric, it’s part of our being and it’s something we’re very proud of. When we were arguably the dominant team in the world in the 1970s, it gave people in Wales a sense of huge pride.
“That sense of pride is still there when the team does well.
“I’d be disappointed if the Six Nations went off terrestrial television – that’s my personal view.
“But the driver behind change is often business and money. “That’s not breaking news.”
It was suggested last month that the home unions were indeed seeking a compromise, based on one match per round being shown on free-to-air TV.
Sky has reported increased viewing figures recently, but the network TV companies still dominate the battle for ratings.
Wales v England last year attracted close on nine million UK watchers on the BBC and the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa on ITV attracted a peak audience of 12.8 million.
Sky have lost a number of highprofile sporting events in recent times, including rugby, so they would be ultra-keen to acquire a tournament as historic and as popular as the Six Nations.