Summary
TV coverage of the annual Boat Race, a rowing event between Oxford and Cambridge universities, is moving from the BBC to Channel 4. This change comes as part of a new five-year deal starting in 2026, continuing the event's free-to-air broadcast tradition.
Key Facts
- The Boat Race is an annual rowing competition between Oxford and Cambridge universities.
- The event will move from the BBC to Channel 4 starting in 2026, under a new five-year deal.
- The BBC previously broadcast the event for most of the past 87 years, except from 2005 to 2009 when ITV held the rights.
- Channel 4 expressed excitement about broadcasting this historic sports event.
- The Boat Race was first broadcast on BBC radio in 1927 and televised in 1938.
- The next race will occur on Easter Saturday, April 4, 2026.
- Specialist sports production company FilmNova will continue producing the event's coverage.
