ITV will probably be with out the rights for 4 sports activities occasions in 2026.
ITV Sport has misplaced TV rights for 4 sports activities occasions (Picture: LAT Photographs, LAT Imagesvia Getty Photographs)
ITV has misplaced the broadcasting rights for 4 iconic sporting occasions in 2026, with its snooker protection set to take a big hit. Regardless of having an in depth sports activities portfolio, which boasts this summer season’s World Cup, the broadcaster will now not air the Gamers Championship and Tour Championship.
ITV had beforehand introduced a one-year extension to indicate the World Snooker Tour occasions in September 2024. The printed rights for these competitions have since been snapped up by Channel 5, which may even host the British Open, dealing an extra blow to ITV. Ben Frow, Chief Content material Officer for five and Paramount UK, expressed his delight on the deal: “We’re delighted to deliver the World Snooker Tour to five.”
He added: “The Tour Championship, Gamers Championship and British Open are high rating tournaments that includes the world’s finest gamers and making them out there to view on free-to-air TV continues our mission to maintain elite reside sport accessible for followers throughout the UK.”
In September, World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson mentioned: “We’re delighted to be working with 5 for the primary time and so as to add a brand new broadcaster to our tour. Snooker has a protracted historical past of offering followers with free-to-air occasions with intensive reside protection so that is unbelievable information for everybody who follows our sport.
“The Gamers Championship and Tour Championship are elite occasions contested solely by the most effective of the most effective. Gamers are striving all season to climb the one 12 months checklist and earn a spot in these prestigious tournaments.
“And from 2026, 5 may even broadcast the British Open which is a historic occasion with its personal distinctive identification together with a random draw. We stay up for working with the 5 workforce on these occasions and guaranteeing that an impressive product is delivered to snooker’s constantly big viewers.
“Our sport had unbelievable viewing figures all through final season and we count on to see that pattern proceed as we develop internationally.”
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The three snooker competitions aren’t the one sporting spectacles leaving ITV this 12 months. Warner Bros Discovery and Eurosport secured a deal to broadcast the Tour de France till 2030, bringing an finish to the free-to-air tv protection of the celebrated biking race.
ITV had held the broadcasting rights for the biking occasion since 2001. It has beforehand been reported that Warner Bros Discovery is contemplating the prospect of offering free-to-air protection and highlights packages.
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