According to a report in the Daily Mail suggest that the future of the BBC’s coverage of the Six Nations is uncertain, with the competition’s UK broadcast rights now carrying a record price tag of £100 million per year. The current four-year agreement, valued at £90 million annually, ends in March, and the bidding process is set to begin soon, with various networks preparing their offers.

As the BBC faces financial pressures and shifting priorities under new leadership, the tournament’s free-to-air availability is at risk. The broadcaster has admitted it may struggle to maintain its long-standing stake in the deal, which could pave the way for a joint bid from ITV and TNT Sports.

Six Nations organizers, based in Victoria, London, are expected to hold an open bidding process, welcoming proposals from both traditional broadcasters and streaming platforms.

TNT Sports is set to air the upcoming autumn internationals, but the RFU has yet to reveal plans for two England ‘A’ matches. Additionally, there have been discussions between the RFU and Apple about a potential partnership, hinting at future streaming deals.

In May 2021, the BBC and ITV, as the existing rights-holders, agreed a new broadcast deal with the Six Nations to extend live coverage of the tournament in the UK for a further four years. The agreement, which also covers the Women’s Six Nations and the men’s Under-20s Championship, came into force for the 2022 season and is due to run until the end of the 2025 Championship. Valued at approximately £60 million ($84.9 million) per year, the deal marked a notable uplift on the previous contract.

Under the terms of the agreement, ITV secured a larger share of the men’s tournament, broadcasting the home fixtures of England, Ireland, Italy and France, while the BBC retained live coverage of Scotland’s and Wales’ home matches.

In the years following the 2021 Championship, there has continued to be speculation about the long-term future of Six Nations broadcast rights, particularly amid suggestions that the tournament could eventually move to a subscription broadcaster or digital platform. These discussions have been closely linked to efforts to maximise the commercial value of the competition following CVC Capital Partners’ £365 million investment for a 14.3% stake in the Six Nations’ commercial rights.

At the time of the last rights cycle, pay-TV broadcasters Sky and BT Sport, along with streaming service Amazon Prime Video — all of whom have prior experience covering elite-level rugby — were widely viewed as potential challengers. That bidding process, which had been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, ultimately concluded in March 2021 with the BBC and ITV retaining the rights.

Given this is in the Daily Mail, perhaps take it with a “pinch of salt” given their views on the BBC.