Latest news with #RhuaneddRichards
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BBC and ITV agree new partnership to offer fans free-to-air live Six Nations
ITV and BBC Sport have agreed a new four-year partnership for the live free-to-air rights for the Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship, which will run concurrently from 2026 to 2029. ITV will broadcast ten live matches each season including every England fixture for the duration of the deal and deliver free-to-air live coverage across ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player, plus highlights and exclusive content on ITV Sport social accounts and YouTube. BBC Sport will bring audiences live TV coverage, TV highlights and digital clips of the Men's Six Nations including five live matches involving Scotland and Wales each year, and comprehensive live coverage of the Women's Six Nations and U20 Six Nations across BBC TV Channels and iPlayer. As well as live audio commentary across multiple platforms including radio, BBC Sounds and BBC Sport website and app. Director of BBC Cymru Wales, Rhuanedd Richards said: 'Today's announcement is wonderful news for rugby fans the length and breadth of Wales. "I have always been a passionate advocate for keeping the Six Nations on free to air television and I'm so pleased that the BBC, working with ITV have ensured this can continue for the next four years to provide live coverage of the Men's games. It's also fantastic news that the BBC will continue to be the home of the Women's Six Nations, securing the broadcast rights to all games until 2029. "The viewing figures speak for themselves; hundreds of thousands tune in to watch these incredible tournaments and we look forward to bringing the very best coverage of Wales and the Six Nations to Welsh audiences. 'I'd like to thank colleagues who have worked hard to secure this deal and to the Director-General, Tim Davie who recognises the importance of the competition to our audiences.' Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport says: 'This is a monumental deal for rugby fans and ITV as we ensure the Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship stays on free-to-air television. We are also proud to be the home of all England matches for the duration of the deal including England's much revered clashes with Ireland, Scotland and Wales. "The tournament is always one of the sporting highlights of the year, so we look forward to continuing to work with Six Nations Rugby and each union and federation moving forward.' Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport says: "This deal is fantastic news for rugby and the BBC, keeping the sport accessible for as many people as possible. "We are proud to bring the biggest sporting moments to our audiences and this new deal is the perfect news ahead of our exclusive broadcast coverage of the Women's Rugby World Cup this summer. "This is an exciting time for rugby, and we are proud to share every thrilling moment with audiences across the UK." Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: 'The significance of these new and innovative free to air partnerships for the Six Nations cannot be overstated. By strengthening rugby's relationships with ITV and BBC, the sport can continue to give as many fans as possible in the UK access to enjoy live coverage of the Six Nations. "These partnerships allow us to maximise audience reach whilst generating critical revenue for the game, enabling each Union and Federation to protect and grow the sport in their country in the coming years.' 'The increased commitment from the free to air sector is testament to the appeal and status of our iconic Championships. "The commercial environment in which rugby is operating is extremely challenging and the battle for audience attention has never been greater, but the Six Nations stands alongside the very greatest occasions in world sport, which is reflected by these partnerships. "Going into another incredible conclusion to the Men's Championship, all parties are incredibly excited to build on this momentum and audience growth, to deliver the best possible experience for fans over the next four years.' ITV Sports rights portfolio includes the Women's Euros 2025, The FA Cup, Men's Euros 2028, Men's FIFA World Cup 2026, Men's FIFA World Cup 2030, Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship, ITV Horse Racing, LIV Golf and the Carabao Cup among many other sporting highlights. BBC Sport is the home of the Women's Six Nations 2025 across linear TV and iPlayer starting later this month (22 March), along with exclusive coverage of every match of the Women's Rugby World Cup in England this summer, available live on TV, iPlayer, and the red button. BBC Sport's rights portfolio also includes the Olympic Games, The FA Cup, Men's Euro 2028, Women's Euros 2025, Men's FIFA World Cup 2026, Men's FIFA World Cup 2030, Women's Super League, Wimbledon Championships, Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 and Match of The Day (Premier League and Champions League highlights).
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BBC secures live TV rights to Wales men's football matches
The BBC has secured live television rights to Wales men's international football matches. The broadcaster, in a deal with UEFA, will screen 13 games live, starting on March 22 against Kazakhstan, including all World Cup qualifiers. This comes as the team prepares for its 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. Rhuanedd Richards, BBC Cymru Wales director, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that we've signed a deal to bring the action from Wales' matches to our screens. "Craig Bellamy and the Cymru squad are about to start a brand new campaign and I'm so pleased that BBC Cymru Wales will be with them all the way, bringing international football to fans across the nation." This move complements BBC Wales' existing coverage of the women's international team. Noel Mooney, Football Association of Wales CEO, said: "As we approach an exciting World Cup qualification campaign with Craig Bellamy at the helm, the Football Association of Wales is looking forward to working with BBC Cymru Wales, on their free-to-air coverage of the Cymru Men's National Team. "It's fantastic that every Welsh fan will be able to watch our matches for free via the BBC's fantastic coverage."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
More than half of Welsh population watched Gavin & Stacey finale
More than half of the Welsh population watched the Gavin & Stacey finale on Christmas Day. The BBC's director-general, Tim Davie, announced the record-breaking figures for the show at an event for industry leaders in Cardiff. He said: "Nothing demonstrates the BBC's ability to bring people together like the extraordinary success of Gavin & Stacey." The figures show that 1.8 million people in Wales, or 59 per cent of the Welsh population, have watched Gavin & Stacey: The Finale. This makes it the most-watched TV moment in Wales since at least 2002, surpassing the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony peak of 1.4 million. The statistics also reveal that people in Wales are twice as likely as the rest of the UK to have watched the finale at least twice. Across the UK, 2.8 million have watched the Christmas Day episode more than once, equivalent to four per cent of the UK population. In Wales, the corresponding figure is 245,000, equivalent to eight per cent of the Welsh population. People in Barry and the surrounding areas (CF postcode) are 29 per cent more likely to have watched the finale on BBC iPlayer. The figures also show that Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell is the best-performing single BBC Wales programme on record, with 8.7 million views across the UK. BBC Cymru Wales commissioned the emotional documentary, which featured many of the cast and some of the series' die-hard fans as they looked back on 14 years of the beloved show. Rhuanedd Richards, director of BBC Cymru Wales, said: "I'm incredibly proud to see the success of Gavin & Stacey, The Finale and our documentary, both across the UK and with the record-breaking numbers here in Wales. "Over its 17 years on our screens, Gavin & Stacey, which is so synonymous with Wales, has become one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. "It's a programme that we as a nation feel so strongly connected to, and these figures certainly reflect that."
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Figures show over half of Welsh population have watched Gavin & Stacey: The Finale
Speaking at an event for industry leaders in Cardiff last night, the BBC's Director-General, Tim Davie, announced record-breaking figures for Gavin & Stacey in Wales, saying: 'nothing demonstrates the BBC's ability to bring people together like the extraordinary success of Gavin & Stacey'. 1.8m people in Wales, or 59% of the Welsh population (compared with 20.9m/32% of UK population), have now watched Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, making it the most watched TV moment in Wales since at least 2002, ahead of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony peak of 1.4m. In Wales you're twice as likely (than the rest of the UK) to have watched The Finale at least twice. Across the UK, 2.8m have watched the Christmas Day episode more than once, equivalent to 4% of the UK population. In Wales, the corresponding figure is 245,000, equivalent to 8% of the Wales population. And if you're in Barry and the surrounding areas (CF postcode), you're 29% more likely to have watched The Finale on BBC iPlayer. Tidy. The figures also reveal that Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell is the best performing single BBC Wales programme on record with 8.7m views across the UK. BBC Cymru Wales commissioned the emotional documentary which featured many of the cast and some of the series' die-hard fans as they looked back on 14 years of the beloved show. Rhuanedd Richards, Director of BBC Cymru Wales, said: 'I'm incredibly proud to see the success of Gavin & Stacey, The Finale and our documentary, both across the UK and with the record-breaking numbers here in Wales. Over its 17 years on our screens, Gavin & Stacey, which is so synonymous with Wales, has become one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. It's a programme that we as a nation feel so strongly connected to, and these figures certainly reflect that.' Source: BARB, All Homes, All BBC (including all TX and iPlayer), All Devices, on 02/02/2025. Gavin & Stacey: The Finale is created, written and executive produced by Ruth Jones and James Corden. It is a Tidy and Fulwell73 production. Watch Gavin & Stacey: The Finale on BBC iPlayer EWL
