"TV coverage of the annual Boat Race will leave the BBC and move to Channel 4 as part of a new five-year rights deal. Channel 4 said it was "thrilled" to announce it will provide coverage of both the Men's Boat Race and Women's Boat Race for the next five years, starting in 2026."
"The BBC said it had been "proud to broadcast the Boat Race over many years", adding: "Our decision not to continue reflects the difficult choices we need to make to ensure we deliver the best value for audiences with the money that we have." The race between Oxford and Cambridge universities on the River Thames in London was first broadcast on BBC radio in 1927, and was televised for the first time in 1938."
"Pete Andrews, head of sport at Channel 4, said the broadcaster was "thrilled to have secured the rights to one of the most iconic amateur sports events in the British calendar". "The Boat Race is rich in tradition and history and British interest in the event has never been stronger," he added, describing the event as the "crown jewel of the rowing calendar"."
Channel 4 will provide coverage of both the Men's and Women's Boat Race for five years starting in 2026 after securing a new five-year rights deal. The BBC said it had been proud to broadcast the race for many years and that its decision not to continue reflected difficult choices about delivering best value with available funds. The Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge was first broadcast on BBC radio in 1927 and televised in 1938. BBC sources denied that the decision was based on views of the event as elitist. Channel 4 described the race as a rich, historic, widely followed 'crown jewel' of rowing.
Read at www.bbc.com
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