BBC reveals Six Nations broadcast schedule with emphasis on digital platforms as it battles ITV for audiences
The BBC has unveiled its shared broadcast plans for coverage of the 2016 RBS Six Nations, which this year includes a strong emphasis on its digital offerings as it competes with ITV for audiences’ attention.
Six Nations BBC coverage
This year’s broadcast of the tournament marks the first time that the BBC has not had exclusive rights to the tournament after financial woes forced it to partner with ITV in a bid to thwart Sky’s looming interest.
The hugely popular tournament pulled in more than 24 million viewers last year, a benchmark unlikely to be matched given the new six-year deal between the BBC and ITV, which gives the latter exclusive rights to broadcast six of the 14 matches this year.
In an attempt to convince rugby fans that the BBC remains the place to be for all things Six Nations the public broadcaster is promising a “strong BBC Sport digital offering” with some new additions to its coverage. It hopes this will ensure fans return to the BBC soon after watching coverage of the games which ITV will broadcast.
The BBC Sport website and app will offer fans the usual content for the tournament including live text commentary, video streams and clips, stats and social media content. However, in order to grab the attention of fans who may otherwise be distracted by ITV’s coverage, the BBC Sport app will for the first time send push alerts through the My Sport service which allows users to customise the content on the app.
While the BBC has the rights to more games, eight of the 14 games, ITV will show the majority of England’s games with broadcasting rights to four of their six matches. The main feather in the BBC’s cap will be the always highly anticipated Scotland vs England match.
As well as online and television the BBC will also provide Six Nations coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra.
Presenting the televised coverage will be experienced analysts John Inverdale and Gabby Logan who will be joined by big names such as Jeremy Guscott, Matt Dawson, Jonathan Davies, Keith Wood and Gavin Hastings.
Leading ITV's broadcasting lineup will be presenter Mark Pougatch who will be joined by a number of former players and coaches including Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Robinson, members of England’s victorious Rugby World Cup 2003 team, along with their coach Sir Clive Woodward.
The full broadcast list can be found here.