ITV has asked Ofcom for consent to broadcast exclusive live coverage of Rugby World Cup Finals and all other matches in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament 2015 (‘the Tournament’). The Tournament commences on Friday 18 September 2015.
Rugby World Cup Finals and all other matches in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament are, respectively, Group A and Group B Listed Event under in the Broadcasting Act 1996. The rules which apply are set out in the Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events.
In the case of the Rugby World Cup Final and the other matches in the Tournament, Ofcom understands that rights to live coverage of the Final and rights meeting (at least) the minimum requirements for secondary coverage of the other matches, as set out in the Code, have been offered to broadcasters in the other category but so far no such rights have been acquired.
All the matches are going to be shown on Channel 3 (ITV, STV and UTV), with the exception of a maximum of 10 matches which are going to be shown on ITV4 or another ITV portfolio channel with similar coverage. The Final and all matches involving Home Nations’ teams will be broadcast on the Channel 3 network. ITV also plans to show highlights of all matches on ITV1 and ITV4.
Ofcom notes that the BBC has acquired the rights to live radio coverage of this event on one of its national network radio services.
In accordance with section 101 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, Ofcom’s consent is needed for exclusive live coverage of these events. Any comments that interested parties would like to make should be sent to Ofcom at the address below, by e-mail or in writing. Unless confidentiality is requested, all such comments will be available to view on Ofcom's website after the consultation has closed.
Jacopo Genovese
Ofcom
Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA (email: Jacopo.Genovese@ofcom.org.uk)