sport news European Rugby bosses yet to agree new TV deal with TNT Sports for next season ... trends now
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European Rugby bosses are yet to agree a new television deal with TNT Sports for next season but hosting ‘destination’ Champions Cup semi-finals is a new idea being considered.
TNT – previously known as BT Sport – are the main British broadcast partner of the European game’s premier competition. This season they have shown every Champions Cup match live.
TNT are also the Gallagher Premiership’s principal TV partner. Last month, they confirmed an expansion into international rugby and committed to delivering all 21 Autumn Nations Series fixtures later this year live, including England’s matches with New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan.
But discussions between European Rugby and TNT over a new contract have stalled with no immediate resolution in sight. It means that as things stand, it is unclear which channel Champions Cup matches will be shown on in the United Kingdom in the 2024/25 campaign. Northampton and Harlequins were beaten by Leinster and Toulouse in last weekend’s semi-finals.
Those two matches took place at Dublin’s Croke Park and Stadium de Toulouse respectively.
Left tor right: TNT's Austin Healey, Lawrence Dallaglio and Craig Doyle before Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final at Croke Park
That has attracted criticism in some quarters as the two teams who will contest May 25’s final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium both played their last-four matches in their home cities.
But in future seasons, the two Champions Cup
