LOS ANGELES – On the heels of the historic match between USA Rubgy and the New Zealand All Blacks, Universal Sports Network and NBC Sports Group announced multi-platform coverage plans for next year’s IRB Rugby World Cup 2015 in England. From September 18 through October 31, 2015, Universal Sports and NBC Sports will broadcast nine of the tournament’s 48 matches. In addition to exclusive matches, coverage will feature a studio pre-game show plus halftime and post-game shows, as well as several other production enhancements.
Universal Sports will broadcast LIVE coverage of seven matches, beginning on Friday, September 18 at 2 p.m. ET with the Opening Ceremony, followed by the first match of the tournament featuring host country England against Fiji. Universal Sports will also air LIVE coverage of all Team USA’s matches in pool play. NBC will broadcast the October 24 semi-final match one week before LIVE coverage of the World Cup Final on Saturday, October 31 at 12 p.m. ET.
In addition to broadcast and cable TV coverage, all 48 of the tournament’s matches will be made available LIVE on a pay-per-view basis from leading cable, satellite and IPTV providers.
For online viewing, LIVE streaming and on-demand access to all 48 matches will be available exclusively at UniversalSports.com as a subscription offering. Fans will be able to purchase a full-tournament package or individual matches online to watch via the web on desktop, mobile and other connected TV devices on a pay-per-view basis. Purchase details, including prices, will be announced in the spring of 2015 at
“The Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and we are excited to showcase it to an American audience, ” said Scott Brown, President of Universal Sports Network. “Interest in the sport of rugby has never been higher, and with unprecedented coverage across multiple platforms, both longstanding and new fans of the sport will be able to follow every minute of the action from England.”
“We’re proud to present live coverage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup to a national audience, ” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBCSN. “The 2015 Rugby World Cup Final on NBC will serve as a great platform for the continued growth one of the world’s most popular sports.”
IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper added, “Rugby is taking off in the U.S., and we are excited to be partnering with Universal Sports Network to broadcast our Rugby World Cup 2015 tournament across the country. Through Universal Sports’ and NBC’s superb production values, extensive broadcast and digital platforms and passion for sport, I am sure that more Americans than ever before will interact with and be inspired by Rugby.
