What the future holds with Premier Sports’ EPCR deal entering its final year

Premier Sports faces a battle to retain the UK and Ireland broadcast rights for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup as its current three-year contract enters its final season. The broadcaster originally secured the European Professional Club Rugby rights in 2024 for a reported £6 million. The final season of the current deal begins with defending champions Bordeaux-Begles visiting Gloucester at Kingsholm.

EPCR is expected to pursue a more lucrative contract in upcoming negotiations. Premier Sports saw a 27% increase in audience reach during last season's pool stages, but linear television viewership remained low, drawing only 23,000 viewers for the Bordeaux-Begles versus Leinster final. Meanwhile, rival broadcaster TNT Sports could bid aggressively after recapitalizing following Paramount Skydance's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.