TG4 will show URC BKT Free-to-Air until 2029
- Updated: 17/04/2025
THE BKT United Rugby Championship will continue to be available on Free-to-Air television in Ireland until 2029 thanks to a new agreement between the league and TG4.
The Irish language broadcaster will extend its award-winning rugby coverage for another four years and becomes the exclusive Free-to-Air partner of the BKT URC in the Republic of Ireland.
Some of the biggest Irish fixtures of the season will continue to be shown by TG4 as part of their rights that includes a minimum of 26 games, plus selected access to the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the BKT URC until 2029. TG4 will also broadcast this season’s Grand Final as part of their current deal and will do so again in 2027 and 2029 thanks to the new agreement.
Since the expansion of the league in 2021 to include the major South African teams, TG4 has broadcast thrilling BKT URC action every weekend and screened Munster’s historic Grand Final win in 2023. Additionally, TG4 will continue to broadcast 16 live BKT URC games featuring non-Irish teams each season to give the Free-to-Air audience the opportunity to take in the action from right across the league.
As the BKT URC prepares to enter its 25th league season, TG4 remain as one of the league’s founding broadcast partners having originally screened the Celtic League from 2001 to 2004. Since their return in 2010, TG4 have built an excellent reputation for providing high-quality coverage of rugby with a focus on innovation.
That approach has brought fans closer to the personalities that play a huge part in the match-day drama of the BKT URC and most recently earned a Royal Television Society award for their coverage of Munster and Leinster in December of last year thanks to Iris Productions.
Speaking about the renewal of this long-standing partnership, Martin Anayi, CEO of United Rugby Championship, said: “No broadcaster in Ireland has provided as much support to this league over such an extensive length of time as TG4 and their partnership will eclipse two decades during this next cycle. TG4’s desire to produce sports coverage to the highest levels has grown alongside the evolution of the BKT URC which is a great reward for fans.
“Language and sport carry such rich cultural significance across the world and TG4 do an incredible job at celebrating them together in a live environment. The BKT URC is full of diversity and different communities that are united by their passion for our sport and there are few stakeholders who symbolise that better than TG4.”
TG4 Head of Sport Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said: “TG4 is very pleased to continue showcasing the BKT URC and to provide free-to-air coverage of these important and exciting rugby matches. We are proud to be the exclusive Free-to-Air partner of the BKT URC in Ireland and to extend our long-standing commitment to the league. Rugby holds a central place in TG4’s sports coverage, and we look forward to bringing even more thrilling encounters and unforgettable moments to audiences across the island over the coming seasons.”
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