Rugby League Commercial can confirm that the betfred super league grand final will be shown live five countries in eastern Europe and the Baltic States including ukraine.
As part of a deal with Sport Media Group, the news has been welcomed by Artur Martyrosian [President of the Ukraine Rugby League (URL)] and Adam Hills MBE [President of the Rugby Football League], who have been working with a number of British Clubs to support the URL’s efforts to maintain Rugby League activity through the last three years of conflict.
The Ukraine national team are currently preparing for European Championship fixtures against Greece and Italy later this month, with a warm-up game against the Netherlands this weekend.
Saturday’s Betfred Super League title decider between Hull KR and Wigan Warriors will be shown live through Ukraine, Moldova, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia by Sport Media Group on Channel 1 – a deal brokered by Rugby League’s long-term strategic partner IMG – adding to the global footprint of the match which includes live German-language coverage across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Further afield, the Grand Final will be shown live through Australia and the USA on Fox Sports, in Canada on SportsNet, across the Caribbean on SportsMax, on Digicel through the Pacific, Premier Sports in South East Asia, and Dubai TV.
In addition to the live and exclusive coverage through Super League’s broadcast partner Sky Sports in the UK, there will be an extended highlights package on BBC Two on Sunday at 1pm. Sky’s coverage is available globally through SuperLeague+ – RL Commercial’s direct to consumer streaming service – for £7.99.
This follows a record-breaking Semi Final weekend, with the joint live coverage of Saturday’s match between Hull KR and St Helens on Sky Sports and BBC Two producing the best-ever viewing figures for a Super League Play-Off in the 28 seasons since their introduction in 1998 – excluding Grand Finals.
Adam Treeby, RL Commercial’s Head of Broadcast, said: “Grand Final night at Old Trafford is one of the big occasions of the British sporting year, so it’s important for us that it is seen as widely as possible. We’re especially pleased the match will be shown live in the Ukraine for the first time, reflecting the incredible efforts of Artur Martyrosian and the other people who have kept the sport going against the odds over the last three years.
“It’s the second year we’ve been able to offer live coverage around the world through Super League +, and we’ve already experienced huge demand after the success of our Play-Offs package.”