Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament 2023

Ofcom has given its consent to a request from ITV to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament 2023 (“the 2023 Rugby World Cup”).

We consulted between 26 July and 23 August 2023 on ITV’s request for consent to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which is taking place in France between 8 September and 28 October 2023.

The Rugby World Cup Final is designated as a Group A listed event. All other matches in the tournament are designated as Group B listed events. Under the Broadcasting Act 1996, Ofcom’s consent is needed for exclusive live coverage of Group A and Group B listed events.

ITV plans to broadcast full live coverage of the Rugby World Cup Final on ITV1 and across the Channel 3 network, including STV. As set out in the TV schedule published on ITV’s website, of the other 47 matches in the tournament, ITV plans to broadcast full live coverage of 38 matches on ITV1 (and across the Channel 3 network, including STV), and 9 matches on ITV3 or ITV4. (ITV also plans to make available highlights for all matches, including the Final, on ITVX.)

Our consultation explained that we were minded to grant consent to ITV, and noted our provisional view that broadcasters of both “qualifying” and “non-qualifying” services (for the purposes of the listed events regime) had an opportunity to acquire the rights to live coverage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup on fair and reasonable terms.

We received one response to the consultation from an individual, which stated that they were in favour of ITV’s proposed exclusive coverage.

We have decided to grant consent to ITV’s application to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, noting that the coverage plans secure that the Final and all other matches in the tournament are available to view live and for free by audiences across the UK.