10-03-2024, 01:11 AM
(10-03-2024, 12:05 AM)RhysJR Wrote: I don't think that is likely to happen. They have renewed the SANZAAR rights and kept hold of the Lions rights in recent years despite losing or not renewing all of their European rights like England games and the Premiership. Unless someone bids aggresively for the Lions and/or SANZAAR (which have some value but are note really top top tier rights), it looks like Sky are happy to keep hold of them and not give up on union.
On the contary, Sky's attitude to rugby union could easily emmulate their attitude to tennis in recent years, where they went from completely giving up on the sport around six years ago, to now being the biggest tennis rights holder for the UK. I don't see it happenning, but they have u-turned recently on a sport.
Also let's not forget they also had the rights to rugby league's Championship and the pay TV rights to the Challenge Cup, however of course Viaplay have these now (the BBC still team the FTA broadcaster of the Challenge Cup and 1895 Cup of course).