The Boat Race, a longstanding tradition between Oxford University and Cambridge University, will not be broadcast by the BBC this year after losing the rights for the first time in nearly a century. Channel 4 secured the TV rights in a five-year deal six months ago, while Times Radio will now be the home of the radio broadcast until 2028.
Historically, the BBC has been the exclusive broadcaster of the rowing event on the Thames since the mid-1920s when it was first aired on the radio and later on television in 1938. However, this year’s race on April 4 will be available through different channels.
In the past, the BBC had occasional breaks in its coverage of the Boat Race, with ITV airing the event from 2005 to 2009 and LBC holding radio rights from 2005 to 2010. Nevertheless, this marks the first time the BBC will not showcase the Boat Race, which attracted 2.6 million viewers last year.
This decision follows a report by The Telegraph indicating that the BBC’s director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, expressed minimal interest in acquiring the rights, citing concerns about the event being perceived as ‘elitist.’ Times Radio acquired the rights for free under the condition of promoting it across News UK’s network.
Viewership for the Boat Race on the BBC has declined in recent years alongside rising production costs. Kay-Jelski, who assumed leadership of BBC Sport in 2024, has implemented changes in the network’s approach, leading to the loss of broadcasting rights for events like the Commonwealth Games in addition to the Boat Race.
Despite these changes, Kay-Jelski emphasized that the BBC can remain relevant without live sports, highlighting the network’s success in engaging audiences through digital platforms like reporting, live pages, and videos. The focus is on adapting to the evolving media landscape where mobile devices play a significant role in content consumption.
Siobhan Cassidy, Chair of The Boat Race Company, expressed excitement about the partnership with Times Radio, emphasizing shared values of heritage, tradition, precision, and quality. The collaboration aims to deliver live coverage and supporting content for this year’s Boat Race and future events.
As the media landscape continues to evolve, traditional broadcasters like the BBC are reassessing their strategies to stay competitive and engage audiences in new ways.