Rugby League Commercial (RLC), the body that controls the media, marketing, and events rights for the Rugby Football League and its Super League competition, has agreed a three-year deal with UK public broadcaster the BBC to cover the Super League.
The deal, which marks the first time the BBC will have shown the Super League, involves the live coverage of 15 games per season across the BBC, made up of 10 on television and the rest on the BBC iPlayer on-demand service, and the BBC Sport website.
Additionally, highlights will be available the day after matches on the BBC Sport website.
Also included in the partnership are highlights and clips from the Women’s Super League, including both the semi-finals and the Grand Final, which will be available on the BBC Sport website and app.
Interim director of BBC Sport Philip Bernie said: "Nothing beats live sporting action and, combined with our team's outstanding expert commentary and coverage, this new deal will deliver so much for rugby league fans to enjoy.
"With more live games than ever before on the BBC, including live Super League matches for the very first time, and a new digital highlights package which will show the key action from the weekend's matches, we are really excited about our expanded offer for this great sport."
The agreement adds to the BBC’s current coverage of the Challenge Cup, with Challenge Cup ties now also set to be shown live on the BBC’s television channels from the quarter-final stage, while the broadcaster will be streaming one tie of each previous round on the BBC Sport website and app.
The new deal debuts with Castleford Tigers' home game against champions Wigan Warriors on BBC Two on February 17.
Last month RLC partnered with Endeavor Streaming to launch a new OTT platform covering the top-tier Super League.
The unveiling of SuperLeague+ came following the tie-up struck between RLC and the IMG sports marketing heavyweight in mid-2022, with Endeavor Streaming under the same overall Endeavor banner as IMG.
RLC was formed in May 2022, and became fully operational in January last year, as part of the commercial realignment and redevelopment of the sport in England - a process in which IMG was integral.
The Rugby Football League and the Super League partnered with the agency heavyweight in mid-2022.
Earlier this month, RLC and IMG unveiled a partnership with fantasy game developer Voono.
The tie-up will see the two parties collaborate to launch a free-to-play fantasy Super League game. It is scheduled to go live early next month ahead of the 2024 campaign getting underway.
