Sports broadcasting contracts in the United Kingdom


In the United Kingdom, sporting events are broadcast on several national television networks, as well as radio.
Certain sporting events are protected by the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events and must be broadcast live and free-to-air on terrestrial television in the UK.
Presently, free-to-air means a TV channel which is free and covers 98% of the population. According to Ofcom regulations, qualifying free-to-air channels are BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Association football

Television

EventBroadcasters Broadcasters OfcomBroadcast details
FIFA World CupBBC-rowspan="2" Category AAll matches live on BBC & ITV with final live on both broadcasters in 2022
FIFA World CupITV--All matches live on BBC & ITV with final live on both broadcasters in 2022
FIFA World Cup qualificationITV
  • UEFA :
All matches live in English on Sky Sports.
England live matches and highlights of other matches in English on ITV.
Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C.
Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC, until 2022..
  • AFC:
Selected first and second round matches live on Mycujoo until 2020.
  • CONMEBOL:
TBA until 2021 or 2022.
  • CAF:
Selected matches live on FIFATV YouTube channel
FIFA World Cup qualificationBBC
  • UEFA :
All matches live in English on Sky Sports.
England live matches and highlights of other matches in English on ITV.
Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C.
Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC, until 2022..
  • AFC:
Selected first and second round matches live on Mycujoo until 2020.
  • CONMEBOL:
TBA until 2021 or 2022.
  • CAF:
Selected matches live on FIFATV YouTube channel
FIFA World Cup qualificationYouTube
  • UEFA :
All matches live in English on Sky Sports.
England live matches and highlights of other matches in English on ITV.
Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C.
Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC, until 2022..
  • AFC:
Selected first and second round matches live on Mycujoo until 2020.
  • CONMEBOL:
TBA until 2021 or 2022.
  • CAF:
Selected matches live on FIFATV YouTube channel
FIFA Women's World CupBBC-All matches live for 2019. Scotland matches also available in Gaelic on Alba.
UEFA European ChampionshipBBC-rowspan="2" Category AShared coverage of all matches live and simulcast live final
UEFA European ChampionshipITV--Shared coverage of all matches live and simulcast live final
UEFA European Championship QualifiersITVSky Sportsrowspan="3"
  • All matches live in English on Sky Sports
  • England live matches and highlights of other matches in English on ITV.
  • Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C
  • Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC
until 2020.
UEFA European Championship QualifiersS4CSky Sports-
  • All matches live in English on Sky Sports
  • England live matches and highlights of other matches in English on ITV.
  • Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C
  • Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC
until 2020.
UEFA European Championship QualifiersBBCSky Sports-
  • All matches live in English on Sky Sports
  • England live matches and highlights of other matches in English on ITV.
  • Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C
  • Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC
until 2020.
UEFA Nations LeagueITVSky Sportsrowspan="3" All matches live in English on Sky Sports. Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C. Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC. Highlights of England and other matches in English on ITV. Until 2021.
UEFA Nations LeagueS4CSky Sports-All matches live in English on Sky Sports. Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C. Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC. Highlights of England and other matches in English on ITV. Until 2021.
UEFA Nations LeagueBBCSky Sports-All matches live in English on Sky Sports. Wales live matches in Welsh on S4C. Highlights of NI, Scotland, and Wales matches in English on BBC. Highlights of England and other matches in English on ITV. Until 2021.
UEFA Women's ChampionshipBBC-All matches live until 2022
UEFA European Under-21 ChampionshipITVSky SportsLive until 2021 on Sky Sports. Highlights on ITV.
UEFA Youth European ChampionshipsBBC-Live coverage of UEFA U-19 and U-17 Men's and Women's Championships in 2019. England, Scotland, and selected other matches live on BBC.
Africa Cup of NationsUnknownUnknownNext edition in 2022.
Copa AméricaUnknownUnknownNext edition in 2021
England national football team matchesITVSky SportsQualifiers and pre-tournament friendlies live on ITV until 2022
Nations League matches and in-season friendlies live on Sky Sports until 2021
England under-21 national football team matchesITVBT SportHome friendlies and qualifiers live on BT Sport. Highlights on ITV.
England women's national football team matchesBBC
Germany national football teams matchesYouTube-Live coverage of Men's U-21, Men's U-20, and Women's teams on German Football YouTube channel.
Northern Ireland national football team matchesBBCSky SportsNations League, Qualifiers, and friendlies live on Sky Sports with highlights of Nations League and European Qualifiers on BBC until 2022
Republic of Ireland national football team matches-Sky SportsNations League, Qualifiers and friendlies live until 2022
Scotland national football team matchesBBC SportSky SportsNations League, Qualifiers and friendlies live on Sky Sports with highlights of Nations League and European Qualifiers on BBC until 2022
Wales national football team matchesBBC SportSky SportsNations League, qualifiers and friendlies live in English on Sky Sports and in Welsh on S4C with highlights on BBC
Wales national football team matchesS4CSky SportsNations League, qualifiers and friendlies live in English on Sky Sports and in Welsh on S4C with highlights on BBC
Wales national football team matches-Sky SportsNations League, qualifiers and friendlies live in English on Sky Sports and in Welsh on S4C with highlights on BBC
Wales national football team matches-Sky SportsNations League, qualifiers and friendlies live in English on Sky Sports and in Welsh on S4C with highlights on BBC

Radio

Around 140 live Premier League commentaries per season until 2021/22;
To complete the 2019/20 season only:
Premier League Games on a Friday will kick off at 8pm.
Saturday the slots will be 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm and 8pm.
Sunday matches will kick off at 12pm, 2pm, 4.30pm and 7pm
Monday games starting at 8pm.
Live FA Cup and EFL Cup commentaries
Live commentaries from SPFL matches
Live commentaries from Scottish Cup
Live commentaries from Scottish League Cup
Live commentaries from Scotland international matches
Reports and goalflashes from EFL matches
Live UEFA Champions League commentaries and semi-finals and final of UEFA Europa League
Over 50 live Premier League commentaries of 5 Live 15:00 Saturday and 16:30 Sunday matches
105 Premier League commentaries per season on talkSPORT until 2021/22;
To complete the 2019/20 season only:
Premier League Games on a Friday will kick off at 8pm.
Saturday the slots will be 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm and 8pm.
Sunday matches will kick off at 12pm, 2pm, 4.30pm and 7pm
Monday games starting at 8pm.
110 live matches from EFL plus play-off semi-finals and finals
Live FA Cup and EFL Cup commentaries
Live commentaries of selected matches in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
Live UEFA Nations League
Live UEFA European Championship and international friendlies
Live reports and goalflashes from every Premier League match for the UK commercial radio network
Preview, half-time and full-time reports from SPFL matches on Superscoreboard

Rugby union

Television

Radio

Commentary on Six Nations Championship, Autumn Internationals, Premiership Rugby and European Rugby Champions Cup matches

Live commentary on 2019 Rugby World Cup
Commentary on all Wales national rugby union team international matches

Commentary on British and Irish Lions tests on BBC Radio Cymru
Commentary on all Ulster European Rugby Champions Cup matches and selected Ulster Pro 12 matches.
Live commentary on Ireland national rugby union team Six Nations Championship and Autumn International matches
Commentary on all Scotland national rugby union team Six Nations Championship matches
Commentary on Premiership Rugby and Anglo-Welsh Cup matches on Talksport and Talksport 2; reports on Six Nations Championship and Aviva Premiership matches on talkSPORT
Reports on Six Nations Championship matches.

Cricket

Television

EventBroadcasterBroadcast details
Test match cricket in England and WalesSky SportsAll matches live until 2024
Test match cricket in England and WalesBBC SportDaily highlights until 2024
One-day International and International Twenty20 Cricket in England and WalesSky SportsAll matches live until 2024
One-day International and International Twenty20 Cricket in England and WalesBBC SportHighlights of ODI matches; 2 International T20 matches live per season until 2024
England women's cricket teamSky SportsHome Test matches, ODI and T20 internationals live until 2024
England women's cricket teamBBC SportTwo live matches per season until 2024
One-day International and International Twenty20 Cricket in IrelandYouTubeHome ODI's and T20I's live on Cricket Ireland YouTube channel
Overseas test match and ODI cricketSky SportsLive coverage of all England overseas Tours, plus Tests and ODIs, from South Africa, West Indies and New Zealand
Overseas test match and ODI cricketStar IndiaLive coverage on Star Gold and Hotstar of Tests, ODIs & T20Is from India
Overseas test match and ODI cricketSony Pictures NetworksLive coverage on Sony Max of Tests, ODIs and T20Is from Pakistan
Overseas test match and ODI cricketBT SportLive coverage of test match, international and domestic cricket in Australia until 2021
ICC Cricket World CupSky SportsLive until 2023
ICC Women's World CupSky SportsLive until 2021
ICC Champions TrophySky SportsLive until 2021
ICC World Twenty20Sky SportsLive until 2020
ICC Women's T20 World CupSky SportsLive until 2022
ICC Under-19 World CupSky SportsLive until 2022
T20 BlastSky Sports36 live matches per season until 2024
The HundredSky SportsLive coverage of all games
The HundredBBC Sport10 men's and 8 women's games live
Indian Premier LeagueSky SportsAll matches live in 2020
Big Bash LeagueBT SportAll matches live on BT Sport until 2020
Women's Big Bash LeagueBT SportSelected matches live on BT Sport until 2020
Caribbean Premier LeagueSky SportsAll 34 games live in 2019
Caribbean Regional Super50BT SportLive coverage in 2019
Pakistan Super LeagueHum TVLive coverage in 2020
Bangladesh Premier LeagueBT SportLive
Global T20 CanadaFreeSportsLive
European Cricket League FreeSportsLive

In-play video highlights clips of ICC events on BBC Sport until 2019

In-play video highlights clips of ECB home international and domestic events on BBC Sport website until 2024
Clips also available on Sky Sports and England and Wales Cricket Board websites

Fixed camera live streaming coverage of selected County matches via county cricket club websites

Radio

Live Test Match Special commentary on all England home Test, ODI & T20 matches until 2024

ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy & ICC World Twenty20 matches

Commentary on Cricket Australia international matches via ABC Radio Grandstand, plus selected Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League matches until 2022

Commentary on Indian Premier League matches until 2020
Commentary on all 2019 County matches on BBC Sport website.
Selected matches on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Local Radio.
All Derbyshire matches on BBC Radio Derby 1116 AM
All Worcestershire matches on BBC Hereford and Worcester 738 AM
Essex One-Day Cup and T20 Blast matches on BBC Radio Essex 765 AM
Kent One-Day Cup and T20 Blast matches on BBC Radio Kent DAB
All Lancashire matches on BBC Radio Lancashire 855 AM
Hourly reports on England home test matches, ODI and T20 matches for UK commercial radio network

Tennis

Radio

Commentary on all 4 Grand Slams plus the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, other selected ATP Masters 1000 events and evening sessions of the ATP Finals, plus the Queens Club Championships and Great Britain Davis Cup matches
Commentary on Wimbledon men's and women's singles finals

Golf

Radio

Commentary on The Open Championship, US Open, US Masters, PGA Championships, and the Ryder Cup
Commentary on the Open Championship from Open Radio
Commentary on the Players Championship from PGA Tour Radio

Motorsport

Television

Radio

Commentary on major fights involving British boxers

Boxing

Television

Television

Television

Radio

Television

Commentary from IAAF World Championships, European Athletics Championships, IPC Athletics World Championships, IAAF Diamond League and UK Athletics major events
Commentary via BBC London on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra on London Marathon

Rugby league

Television

Radio

Over 70 live Super League commentaries per season and Challenge Cup commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra; reports on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport
Over 100 live Super League commentaries per season on talkSPORT & talkSPORT 2 until 2020; reports on talkSPORT
Commentaries on Super League, Championship and Challenge Cup matches
Commentary on Wigan and St Helens matches on Wish FM and Warrington and Widnes matches on Wire FM

Snooker

Television

Horse racing

Television

Commentary on all major races with full coverage of Cheltenham Festival, The Grand National and The Derby
5 Live commentary on The Grand National
Commentary on major meetings including Cheltenham Festival, The Grand National, Royal Ascot and The Derby on Talksport and Talksport 2

Equestrianism

Television

Television

Television

Television

Tour de France: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sport website

Swimming

Television

Television

Television

Television/Streaming

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

GAA live coverage of the Ulster Club and Ulster Senior Football Championships, and games in the National League, qualifiers and All-Ireland Championship involving Ulster counties until 2017

Shinty

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television

Television