While some uncertainty surrounds who will replace the Royal Bank of Scotland as the Six Nations' primary sponsor next year, attempts to infiltrate the North American market were given a timely boost today.
NBC's Sports Group have announced a multi-year deal that will grant them exclusive coverage of the tournament in the United States.
Rugby union’s latest move to reach the American market will see the Six Nations broadcast on NBC television in the United States.
— Chris Jones BBC (@chjones9) October 5, 2017
A deal that will come into effect for the 2018 Six Nations, NBC will air coverage of all available matches across their many platforms.
The president of NBC Sports Group Jon Miller was excited at the prospect of airing the prestigious tournament:
Our multi-year partnership with Six Nations Rugby further established our commitment to the sport of rugby, one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.
The Six Nations Championship is an iconic centerpiece of our robust rugby portfolio.
In what is a considerable boon for the Six Nations as they seek to extend their influence beyond their participatory countries, the tournament's CEO John Feehan was keen to stress the prospective advantages:
It is fantastic that rugby's greatest annual championship will now be showcased on NBC Sports' broadcast, cable and digital platforms, which will allow us to bring it to a bigger audience in the USA.
Although it may be some time before rugby could hope to rival America's native sports in terms of viewership and participation, the noted problems facing American football will have not gone unnoticed.
Beyond issues surrounding player protesting and disgruntled fans, an increasing level of scrutiny faces the sport regarding the unprecedented levels of serious brain damage participation can lead to.
While rugby has had it's own issues regarding it's treatment of head injuries, it may still be considered a safer alternative.
Further to this, NBC plan to show England v Ireland on flagship channel - reach of 300 million. https://t.co/Cc82d7qlv3
— Chris Jones BBC (@chjones9) October 5, 2017
One match that is sure to capture the attention on American screens is the Ireland vs England clash on St. Patrick's Day.
The closing match for both in the 2018 tournament, it will be aired on NBC's flagship channel with its reach of 300 million viewers.
