Channel 4 have reached a two-year agreement with Super League to broadcast 10 games per season, it emerged today.
The first game on Channel 4 will be Warrington Wolves’ week one clash with eight time champions Leeds Rhinos.
This will be the first time a Super League game will be shown on free-to-air television after 25 seasons on Sky Sports.
And it has been received positively across the rugby league community.
Chris Hill, former Warrington Wolves prop forward, said on Twitter: “Making great strides forward BBC for World Cup games and CC and now C4 and Sky for Super league games more coverage of our great game well done.”
Making great strides forward BBC for World Cup games and CC now C4 and Sky for Super League games more coverage of our great game well done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/CVY2uoiPXz
— Chris Hill (@Chrishilly1987) November 24, 2021
Leeds Rhinos star, Richie Myler, also praised the new deal.
The former Warrington scrum-half told Daily Mirror: “If you introduce someone to a game, they never leave disappointed.
“This allows more people to access it more easily.”
The new deal will also feature two play-off games as part of the 10-match package.
The play-offs have often been regarded as the best part of the Super League season.
In 2011, Warrington and Leeds faced off in one of the greatest play-off games of all time.
The Rhinos came out on top, with a late Kevin Sinfield penalty to send them to the Grand Final.
Channel 4 and Super League will certainly be hoping for more exciting moments to come out of the new deal.
(featured pic by Chris Stoddart on creative commons licence)
