World Rugby chief addresses future World Cup TV deal in UK
World Rugby will consider all options in its search for a UK broadcast partner for the next two World Cups.
The existing deal with ITV expires after France 2023, raising the possibility that some matches in future tournaments could be screened by streaming or subscription services.
Only the World Cup final must be shown free-to-air and World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin insists there is a balance to strike between reaching the largest possible audience and maximising revenue which is then used to grow the sport.
“The media landscape for sport and entertainment is changing more rapidly than ever. It’s probably changed more in the post-Covid era than at any time in recent history,” Gilpin said.
“On specific market-by-market analysis, we’ve got to look at the conditions and opportunity in every market and then those markets collectively.
“In the UK, as here in France, we have incredibly long-standing, loyal and really important supporters.
“TF1 here and ITV in the UK have been with us on the Rugby World Cups for decades and are helping us reach audiences that are unprecedented and comparable to any global sport.
“We have to do an analysis in each case and our starting point in all of those cases is how do we make the great action we are seeing available to most people?
“That always leans towards free-to-air broadcasting. The men’s and women’s World Cups have always started from free to air.
“The challenge then is how do we do that in a way that also means we generate enough revenue to invest in the game?
“It’s that balance of eyeballs and revenue, market by market and the holistic picture.”
Speaking at World Rugby’s weekly World Cup press conference, Gilpin claimed that the bunker review system was working well.
Confusion has reigned over the officiating of dangerous tackles, from the initial on-field decision-making by referees to the use of the newly adopted bunker review system and citing protocols.
An illegal hit by Tonga wing Afusipa Taumoepeau against Scotland on Sunday that was punished with only a yellow card is the latest in a succession of controversial calls by officials.
“The strive for consistency and understanding is ongoing as a complex sport because of the collision area,” Gilpin said.
“Hopefully everyone has seen that there is clearer communication now on the field and therefore more broadly about the decision made in the bunker as it comes back to the referee.
“We’ve seen a number of incidents where the foul-play review officer in the bunker is reviewing more angles than television is showing at home or people in the stadium are seeing.
“We think there’s great consistency there and the bunker is working well. One of the reasons for the bunker was to take that decision into a place where it could be made in a more consistent, rational manner and we think that is working.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
3 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
3 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments