Sky Sports has secured a four-year deal to screen the RaboDirect Pro12 from the start of the 2014/15 season. For the first time, the British satcaster will show 30 live matches, plus the tournament’s semi-finals and final. The RaboDirect Pro12 features top teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy, including Europe’s number one ranked side, Leinster and current leaders, Ulster. Coverage will be available on TV, PC, mobile and tablet.
The deal with the Celtic League is understood to be worth a seven-figure sum annually. Pro12 league chief executive John Feehan said part of the deal is that Sky cannot pick a double-up derby. So if they choose to broadcast the Munster-Leinster match at Thomond Park, they will not be able to show the return match in Dublin. Both RTE and TG4 are anxious that the Munster-Leinster games remain free-to-air.
The Pro12 deal helps compensate Sky for losing the rights to English premiership rugby to BT Vision.
The deal extends Sky Sports rugby coverage, which includes exclusive live rights to this year’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia and Hong Kong, four-year deals to show Ireland, France and Italy Guinness autumn internationals from next year and a long-term deal with the ERC. Sky Sports analyists include Will Greenwood, Paul Wallace, Ieuan Evans, Scott Quinnell, Dewi Morris, Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Lynagh and Scott Hastings.
Coverage throughout the season is presented by Alex Payne and James Gemmell, with commentary from Stuart Barnes, Miles Harrison, Mark Robson and Johnnie Hammond. The Pro12 complements the existing schedule of live European rugby on Sky Sports featuring the Amlin Challenge Cup and the Heineken Cup.
The Heineken Cup finals take place in Dublin on May 17th and 18th respectively.
