Daily Mail: TNT Sports swoop for rugby's autumn internationals

Story from Daily Mail:

TNT Sports are close to securing a two-year contract to broadcast the Autumn Internationals in the last standalone deal before a mega auction for TV rights for the new Nations Championship and the Six Nations from 2026.

Negotiations are understood to be at an advanced stage over a deal that would give TNT some mouthwatering fixtures later this year, with England welcoming Australia, South Africa and New Zealand to Twickenham and the All Blacks also due to play Ireland and France.

The last three Autumn Internationals series were broadcast live by Amazon Prime, who first snapped up the rights for the games played behind-closed-doors during the 2020 Covid lockdown before renewing for 2021 and 2022, but the streaming service are not believed to be bidding this time.

A successful bid by TNT would cement their position as this country's pre-eminent rugby broadcaster, as they are also in talks to extend their contract with Premiership Rugby for another three years.

The Six Nations began selling TV rights for the Autumn Internationals collectively in 2019 in an attempt to secure bigger deals.

The 2024 and 2025 series will be the last in their present form as World Rugby has approved plans to set up a new 12-team global league in 2026, with matches to be played in the existing July and Autumn international windows.

The Six Nations unions are planning to sell their TV rights for the new Nations Championship in the same process as the Six Nations auction from 2026, although as there will be different packages on offer the two competitions could still end up being broadcast on separate channels.

BBC Sport and ITV currently share the live rights for the Six Nations Championship, and they are expected to make strong bids when the new tender is issued next year.