Ten and Fox Sports secure rights to 2019 Rugby World Cup
Ten and Fox Sports have secured rights to broadcast the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which takes place from September 20 in Japan.
Ten’s free-to-air deal secured the broadcast and digital rights to ten games, including every Wallabies game, up to and including the final. The matches will take place during Australian prime time.
“The 2019 Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest international sporting events of the year and the crown jewel in the rugby calendar,” said Ten’s chief executive officer Paul Anderson.
“As the long-time home of Australian rugby, we’re super excited that we can continue to bring coverage of this great game to Australians live and free, wherever and however they choose to watch it.”
The last Rugby World Cup was aired on Nine
The deal will provide some welcome relief for Ten, after being plagued with low ratings and a distinct lack of prime time wins over the past few weeks.
The network’s other sports broadcast rights include Supercars Championship, the MotoGP, the Australian Formula 1, The Rugby Championship, the Bledisloe Cup and the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Free-to-air rivals Nine and Seven hold the rights to the tennis and cricket respectively.
Fox Sports will live stream and broadcast all 48 matches of the tournament to Foxtel subscribers. This will include all of the Wallabies’ pool matches, all four quarter finals, both semi-finals, the bronze final for third place and the final.
The coverage will also be available to Kayo Sports subscribers, with all matches available to stream on-demand.
Peter Campbell, head of Fox Sports, said: “The rights we have acquired will also allow all matches in the tournament to be streamed on the new sports only service Kayo Sports, as well as Foxtel Now.
“Eligible Foxtel customers can also stream the Rugby World Cup 2019, where and when they want, with Foxtel’s mobile app, Foxtel GO, which is available at no additional charge with a Foxtel subscription.”
