Sky Sports, ITV to show 2018–22 internationals
Thursday, January 26, 2017
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Sky Sports and ITV have been awarded the rights to broadcast UEFA national team games in the United Kingdom from 2018 until 2022, including the new UEFA Nations League.
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UEFA has announced that Sky Sports and ITV have been awarded the media rights to broadcast UEFA national team matches from 2018 until 2022. The rights package covers the United Kingdom.
Free-to-air commercial broadcaster ITV has retained exclusive live rights to England's games in the European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In addition, ITV has acquired the rights to broadcast highlights of all of England's fixtures throughout the 2018–22 cycle.
"We are obviously thrilled to continue our partnership with ITV for the broadcasting of England national team matches in the European Qualifiers," said Guy-Laurent Epstein, managing director marketing at UEFA Events SA. "ITV are the number one free-to-air commercial broadcaster in the UK."
Sky Sports has been awarded an extensive live rights package. This includes all of England's matches in the newly-created UEFA Nations League, all matches involving Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the European Qualifiers and the UEFA Nations League, as well as live rights to all other matches involving non-UK teams included in UEFA's 2018–22 national team portfolio. In addition, Sky Sports will have the right to televise highlights of all matches during the 2018–22 cycle, including every England game.
Sky Sports' package also includes exclusive rights to the first two editions of the UEFA Nations League Final Four. Scheduled to take place in June 2019 and June 2021 respectively, each Final Four will involve the four best UEFA Nations League participants competing for the title of UEFA Nations League champions.
"We are excited to have a premium broadcaster like Sky embracing the new UEFA Nations League and reinforcing its commitment to European national team football," said Epstein.
Epstein explained that Sky Sports and ITV will broadcast their respective matches across their digital and mobile platforms, which will ensure the widest possible coverage for European national team football in the UK.
"Both broadcasters will provide an excellent platform across the UK for UEFA's national team football matches in the years to come," Epstein concluded.
The awarding of rights packages to ITV and Sky Sports brings to an end the sale of broadcasting rights for national team football in the UK for the 2018–22 cycle. A deal to show UEFA EURO 2020 has already been agreed and will be shared by free-to-air broadcasters ITV and the BBC.
