This and the next World Cup, plus 2014 and 2016 4 nations to be on the Beeb. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/22090001

This and the next World Cup, plus 2014 and 2016 4 nations to be on the Beeb. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/22090001

Think its great that the big games are on the BBC, think selling the rest to premier sports is a bit of a mistake. I hope they paid handsomely for it.

Agreed. Glad the big games are on the BBC, should get excellent viewing figures. Disappointed rest are on premier sports as I don't have it, but might now decide to get it. Be interesting to know how much they paid for it

this sends a message to SKY Sports, you are not the only broadcaster who can show Rugby League. Might make them think about paying the going rate for the next contract.

Great news, though no doubt many will moan. In an ideal world of course we would have SKY showing every game, but that is never going to happen, especially when the soccer season is well underway. We really do have a brilliant festival of rugby league to look forwards to!

This is far better than Sky showing every game as we get the major games on the BBC to millions of people instead of to a few hundred thousand.
Great work in my opinion, good to have the 4 Nations on the BBC too

I'm in two minds certainly, it's great all the games will be covered but how likely is it pubs/public places are going to have a premiersports subscription? By having a lesser known broadcaster it's doubtful many games will be shown in public places giving an already niche market to what is a niche sport.

Could Brian Barwick possibly have an influence on the BBC buying the rights???

Eddie and Stevo are going to have to be pretty imaginative to find ways to not mention this before the end of the season.

I have Virgin Media - which is bad news as far as Premier Sports go

Lol this is a joke post right?

You seriously don't believe that sky were outbid from the BBC and now the BBC is paying top money for rugby league coverage. If it was straight up bidding war we will know sky would blow the BBC put of the water. Lets not pretend this is any different.

The RFL probably decided that they wanted all the big games on FTA TV even if it meant taking less money. Sky then probably either told the RFL they were not interested in any deal that does not cover the big matches or they wanted the rights dirt cheap.

But hey if you wanna live in this fantasy world that has the BBC as some big time player in the sports TV broadcasting world then go ahead..

Just to point out, the TV rights were sold to IMG. It's up to them who they sell them onto and for what price.

No Eddie and Stevo

Weren’t IMG paid to sell them rather than IMG buying and then selling them on.

But hardly anyone has access to Premier Sports.

It's a daft move IMO unless Premier have paid big, big money, as the only people watching the games will be people who are already RL fans.

Having said that, it's great news that the BBC are involved for the foreseeable.

There's obviously going to be no reports or previews on sky sports news either. Sky don't want to know about sports they don't show. They barely touched F1 before they won the rights to live broadcasts

One game a week on the BBC and the rest shoved away on Premier Sports with it's 7 subscribers. No doubt BBC's highlights programme will be at 01:15 on a Monday morning on the red button too.

If games are too easy to watch on the sofa, fewer fans attend games...

Isn't it possible that sky may have gave the RFL no choice but to go to premier. Considering how sky passed in the 4 nations last year I think they made it clear they only want deals that involve the big international matches.

They could have said they were not interested in the minor games so the RFL were left with premier sports. The chances of premier paying big money for this are very slim..

It all depends how much money they have got for the coverage. If it's nothing, then it's not that great a deal. League, whilst it might get okay viewing figures on the BBC, is never going to be one of those sports that gets mass media support so the tournament will never gain the traction and hype it needs to in order to leave a positive legacy.

I think at this stage holding a tournament that doesn't have completely embarrassing attendances (Doubt we'll achieve that) and doesn't bankrupt the RFL is probably the best they can hope for.

Exactly, if every game was on freeview people would be hyperventilating about empty stadiums. Can't win!

Well as one of those seven subscribers I'm highly delighted.

Well done to all involved getting some quality matches back on the BBC.

Does it worry anyone that Sky weren't interested? Hopefully it doesn't indicate their interest in League is not what it once was.

Its not a bad move, although its a shame some of the other group game won't be on Sky but at least they'll be showing highlights on the beeb.

Good news about the 4Ns as well.

Plus we'll have Dave Woods, Balding, Millward and Noble instead of Eddie and Stevo, although I hope they keep Ray French away from the comentary box.

I'm convinced Sky will have wanted the deal. Too bad...

How do you know they weren't?