The BBC will have no radio or TV coverage of this year’s Boat Race for the first time in nearly a century.
The corporation, which began airing the Oxford versus Cambridge contest on radio during the mid-1920s, has now lost both platforms to commercial rivals.
Times Radio announced it has acquired the radio rights just six months after Channel 4 secured the television deal for three years.
The departure marks a significant break from tradition for an event that became synonymous with BBC broadcasting, having first appeared on the channel in 1938.
Times Radio will hold the radio rights without paying a fee until 2028, with the station required to promote the event as part of the arrangement.
Meanwhile, Channel 4 has committed to a five-year television contract for the historic rivalry.
This is only the second occasion on which commercial broadcasters have simultaneously held both television and radio rights to the race.
The previous instance saw ITV broadcast on television from 2005 to 2009, while LBC provided radio coverage from 2005 to 2010.
The BBC will have no radio or TV coverage of this year’s Boat Race for the first time in nearly a century
|
GETTY
Times Radio, which began broadcasting in 2020, will provide live commentary of both the men’s and women’s races.
Sources close to negotiations told Telegraph Sport last October that the BBC’s director of sport appeared to demonstrate “very little enthusiasm” during discussions over the rights.
One source claimed: “The head of sport showed very little enthusiasm, believing that a showcase for London, the UK and two of our top universities is elitist.”
BBC sources have disputed suggestions that Alex Kay-Jelski, who took up the director of sport role in 2024, considered the event elitist.
The corporation began airing the Oxford versus Cambridge contest on radio during the mid-1920s
|
GETTY
Internal figures at the corporation maintained that the decision not to renew was driven solely by concerns about return on investment, with production costs rising while live audiences fell.
The BBC said: “The BBC has been proud to broadcast the Boat Race over many years.
“Our decision not to continue reflects the difficult choices we need to make to ensure we deliver the best value for audiences with the money that we have.
“We are pleased the Boat Race will remain available free-to-air and wish all involved in the event every success for the future.”
Last April’s coverage attracted a peak audience of 2.82 million viewers as Cambridge secured their second clean sweep in three years
|
GETTY
Last April’s coverage attracted a peak audience of 2.82 million viewers as Cambridge secured their second clean sweep in three years.
This year’s men’s and women’s races will take place on Saturday, April 4, though Times Radio has not yet confirmed its commentary team.
Tim Levell, the programme director of Times Radio, said: “We’re proud to partner with the Boat Race in a three-year deal through to 2028. The Boat Race is a brilliant fit for Times Radio and our listeners, for whom this is a much-loved annual tradition.
“We know they’ll look forward to tuning in on race day with all the buzz and atmosphere from the Thames and exclusive radio commentary of the races themselves. We’re especially delighted to support the Women’s Race as it approaches its centenary in 2027.”
