Premier Sports is set to get back to ‘business as usual’
IRELAND-BASED sports broadcaster Premier Sports makes its long-expected return to British EPGs on Tuesday April 9, after its buyout of Viaplay’s UK sports broadcast arm was approved by regulators in Ireland.
Premier Sports said in a press statement that existing Viaplay Sports customers, “will experience a seamless transition to Premier Sports” and it’ll be very much business as usual with all … content available to watch on customers’ preferred platforms.
“New customers can subscribe on the new Premier Sports website (www.premiersports.com), also from April 9,” the statement added. Just so you know.
The return of Premier Sports, which became Viaplay in 2022, means that the future of UK coverage of Top 14 and URC rugby – when it returns after the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup break – is secure for now.
A number of Viaplay users in the UK have complained that Top 14 matches – the broadcaster showed up to four games a weekend – were often relegated to the streaming service, rather than being broadcast on the linear channels.
There’s no indication, right now, of any immediate change in that planning.
According to Premier Sports, its scheduling will continue as it currently does on Viaplay. But interest and demand will dictate future scheduling, with the most in-demand content available on traditional linear channels as well as the streaming service.
As well as rugby union, the sports line-up on the impending Premier Sports channel includes Challenge Cup rugby league, La Liga, Scottish Cup, Viaplay Cup and Coppa Italia football; NHL and Viaplay Elite League ice hockey, and PDC European Tour darts, and UEFA Euro and FIFA World Cup qualifiers played by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland until 2028.