Channel 5 to show live Premiership matches

BT sport, in their wisdom, have chosen to allow, given their exclusive rights to the Premiership until 2021, terrestrial tv access to five live games per season plus all weekend highlights, which will move from its current corner of ITV4, to Channel 5.

As a BT broadband customer with access to BT sport I have noticed costs go up in the last twelve months, no doubt to fund the football coverage, which I have interest in. However this surely can only be a good thing.

The success or otherwise may well be in no small part be down to the punditry that presents the show but nevertheless wider access for the nominal sum of £1M paid by Channel 5 could be the start of something; as the first live coverage of Premiership teams on terrestial tv since 2003.

The next question will be on which matches will be covered and at what times of the weekend/season.
Also what would it take to expand the terrestrial coverage, as currently only three out of the six league matches are shown live on a usual weekend.
An interesting and unexpected development.

Actually Rec, this has been in the pipeline for the last year or so at the urging of Premiership Rugby due to the poor less than expected viewing figures for BT Sport.  Terrestrial always substantially bumps viewing figures although I'm not familiar with Channel 5 in the U.K. or its audience profile - I presume it's a niche content broadcaster similar to TG4 in Ireland.

Makes sense as they already show the games free on the BT channel. Normally a decent game as well.

Pot Hale wrote:Actually Rec, this has been in the pipeline for the last year or so at the urging of Premiership Rugby due to the poor less than expected viewing figures for BT Sport.  Terrestrial always substantially bumps viewing figures although I'm not familiar with Channel 5 in the U.K. or its audience profile - I presume it's a niche content broadcaster similar to TG4 in Ireland.

It's pretty big - they get 2 million viewers for some programmes and everyone has access as far as I know.

Good development.

Pot Hale wrote:Actually Rec, this has been in the pipeline for the last year or so at the urging of Premiership Rugby due to the poor less than expected viewing figures for BT Sport.  Terrestrial always substantially bumps viewing figures although I'm not familiar with Channel 5 in the U.K. or its audience profile - I presume it's a niche content broadcaster similar to TG4 in Ireland.

Channel 5 was bought by Viacom a few years back who own the likes of MTV, it seems they are working hard to acquire a significant sports broadcasting portfolio. They also run Spike TV UK and between the two stations show boxing, MMA, Formula E and the English Football League highlights. It'll probably lead to a similar link up over the Champions League too as UEFA are pushing BT to do more to increase ratings, though I think BT are doing a free to air test of the Final this season to see how that goes.

Aren't Channel 5 the company that thought a naked Keith Chegwin would be a good idea? Perhaps he could present games from the Rec

HongKongCherry wrote:Aren't Channel 5 the company that thought a naked Keith Chegwin would be a good idea? Perhaps he could present games from the Rec

I heard they wanted him to play in the front row at the weekend as they had an easy game

Channel 5 have done a good job of cricket highlights for a few years now, hopefully they can do just as well with the rugby!