The Boat Race, a historic event between Oxford University and Cambridge University, will not be broadcast on the BBC for the first time in almost a century. Channel 4 secured the TV rights for the next five years, while Times Radio will hold the radio rights until 2028.
Traditionally aired by the BBC since the 1920s on radio and since 1938 on television, this year’s Boat Race on April 4 will be available through alternative channels. Despite past interruptions in BBC’s coverage, this marks the first complete absence of the event from the broadcaster’s lineup.
The decision follows reports that the BBC’s director of sport expressed reservations about the event, considering it ‘elitist.’ Times Radio obtained the rights for free in exchange for promotional coverage across News UK’s network.
With dwindling viewership and rising production costs, the BBC has faced challenges in maintaining interest in the Boat Race. Under new leadership, the BBC has shifted its focus away from live sports coverage, recently losing rights to other major events like the Commonwealth Games.
The Chair of The Boat Race Company, Siobhan Cassidy, expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership with Times Radio, emphasizing shared values of heritage, tradition, precision, and quality. Times Radio will provide live coverage and additional content for this year’s race and future editions.