The Rugby Football League is delighted to confirm that in 2019 there will be more broadcast coverage of the Betfred Championship and League One in the UK and around the world than ever before.
Sky Sports will broadcast games from the Championship Play-Offs at the end of the season culminating with the £1Million Game that determines promotion to the Betfred Super League in 2020 – the Betfred Championship Play-Off Final.
Toronto Wolfpack have also secured a deal to produce all of their games in the UK and Canada – and after discussions ongoing since the end of last season involving the Rugby Football League, the Wolfpack and Sky Sports, agreement has been reached for all the matches to be available for live broadcast on Sky Sports platforms in the UK with distribution deals around the world to be confirmed over the next few weeks.
In addition, the Rugby Football League have secured agreement from Sky Sports to show live matches from the Betfred Championship and League One through the Our League membership platforms (app & web) in 2019.
The additional coverage was announced at today’s RFL season launch in York – where the Wolfpack begin their Championship campaign against the newly-promoted City Knights at Bootham Crescent on Sunday week (February 3).
The first live Our League match will be the Betfred League One opener between Newcastle Thunder and Doncaster at Kingston Park Stadium on Saturday February 16 – which is the first part of a double header, followed by the Toronto-Widnes Betfred Championship fixture that will now be shown live on Sky Sports.
With the Our League platforms also showing matches from the Coral Challenge Cup, the Coral Women’s Challenge Cup, the 1895 Cup and the Women’s Super League, that means at least one live match per week will be available for Our League members.
And Our League will also carry a magazine show dedicated to Betfred Championship and League One, featuring a compilation of the best action, and focusing on the biggest personalities and talking points in the game.
“This is fantastic news for all the fans and clubs of the Betfred Championship and League One with both competitions being broadcast more than ever before,” said Mark Foster, who heads the RFL’s commercial department.
“It couldn’t have happened without the co-operation and support of Sky Sports and the Toronto Wolfpack and we wish to thank both organisations for helping us to tell the story to millions in the UK and around the world of what will be a fantastic 2019 season for the Betfred Championship and League One in 2019.
“We saw with the reaction to Sky Sports’ live coverage of the £1M Game between the Wolfpack and London Broncos in Toronto last autumn what a massive boost that was to the profile of the Betfred Championship.
“So we are delighted that Sky Sports are committed to showing this year’s £1M Game, to determine who earns promotion to the Betfred Super League in 2020.
“And with Our League now able to extend last season’s coverage of Betfred League One into the Betfred Championship, members will be able to follow the story of the season with live matches every week and also the magazine programme which we believe the competitions deserve.
“With the Summer Bash in Blackpool, and the 1895 Cup, there’s so much to relish in 2019 – starting with the first round of seven matches in the Betfred Championship on Super Sunday, February 3, and now featuring live coverage of the York-Toronto match.
“We are proud of the development of the Our League Membership Scheme and its digital platforms, which now has almost 90,000 members just over a year after its launch. It also allows us to provide regular coverage of the Women’s Super League and the community game – so members can look forward to a feast of Rugby League this year.”
To join Our League simply visit membership.rugby-league.com or download the Our League app via the App Store or Google Play