Ofcom has given its consent to a request from the BBC to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final in 2024, 2025 and 2026 (“the Finals”).
We consulted between 8 April and 6 May 2024 on the BBC’s request for consent to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Finals. The 2024 Final is due to take place on Saturday 8 June 2024, while the 2025 and 2026 Finals’ dates are yet to be confirmed.
The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final is designated as a Group A listed event for the purposes of the Broadcasting Act 1996. Under the Act, Ofcom’s consent is needed for exclusive live coverage of listed events.
The BBC plans to broadcast full live coverage of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Finals on BBC One or BBC Two. The BBC also has the rights to broadcast live radio coverage.
Our consultation explained that we were minded to grant consent to the BBC, and noted our provisional view that broadcasters of both “qualifying” and “non-qualifying” services (for the purposes of the listed events regime) had opportunity to acquire the rights to live coverage of the Finals on fair and reasonable terms. We also noted that as the BBC’s rights are non-exclusive, it remains possible for another broadcaster to acquire rights to the Finals.
We received one response to the consultation from an individual, which supported the BBC’s proposed coverage on the basis of the importance of the event being available to the widest possible audience.
We have decided to grant consent to the BBC to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the Finals, noting that the coverage plans secure that the Finals are available to view live and for free by audiences across the UK.