Channel 4 Agrees To Show European Champions Cup Matches

Channel 4 will show European Champions Cup matches through the final beginning next season.GETTY IMAGES

Channel 4 agreed to a deal to "show nine live games per season in the European Champions Cup" until '22, according to the BBC. From next season, the channel "will show one match from each of the six pool stages" and one quarterfinal, one semifinal and the final. Its deal with European Professional Club Rugby will "see the competition return to free-to-air TV." BT Sport will be the "main rights holder." The competition replaced the Heineken Cup in '14 (BBC, 3/21). The London TELEGRAPH reported TV3 secured a "similar rights agreement" for free-to-air coverage in the Republic of Ireland, and the Champions Cup will extend its reach across the U.S. following the announcement that NBC Sports will broadcast every Champions Cup match starting from next season. In France, beIN Sports and France Télévisions have extended their agreements (TELEGRAPH, 3/21).