Oxford/Cambridge race previously shown by the BBC for the majority of its history
Channel 4 has become the new home of the Boat Race.
Channel 4 has agreed a five-year deal for the annual rowing race between Oxford and Cambridge universities, which will see it broadcast the 100th anniversary of the women’s race in 2027 and the 200th anniversary of the men’s in 2029. Filmnova will continue to produce coverage from the event, which it has worked on since 2022.
The BBC previously aired the races, and has done for the majority of the event’s history, since its first broadcast in 1938. ITV showed it from 2005-2009.
The news was announced at the Presidents’ Challenge event held at Somerset House on 1 October, at which the losing crew from the previous year’s Boat Race formally challenges the winning crew to a race.
Pete Andrews, Channel 4 head of sport, said “We are thrilled to have secured the rights to one of the most iconic amateur sports events in the British calendar. The Boat Race is rich in tradition and history and British interest in the event has never been stronger.
“We are committed to bringing the very best sports events to our audience, both from the UK and around the globe, and The Boat Race is the perfect example. It’s the crown jewel of the rowing calendar and consistently captures the imagination of the British public year after year, both on the side of the Thames and in living rooms across the country. In recent years, it has delivered some truly unforgettable moments, and we can’t wait to bring that excitement to our viewers next year.”
Siobhan Cassidy, chair of The Boat Race Company, said “We are delighted to work with Channel 4 to broadcast our unique, iconic and intensely British event between our two world-leading Universities.
“We know that this is a huge day out for Londoners, and our independent research has shown that Boat Race Day generates £13-15 million in economic impact for London.
“We are grateful to the support of our previous broadcast partners and have come a long way since our first radio commentary in 1927 and television pictures in 1938. We look forward to seeing how Channel 4 can portray the drama, excitement and heritage of the event on Easter Saturday 2026.”
Phil Sibson, managing director of FilmNova, said: “This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the Boat Race’s illustrious history and we are absolutely thrilled to be part of it. The Boat Race is always one of the most exciting days in our calendar and we’re really proud to be producing it again as it moves to Channel 4. It’s a unique event to work on, full of drama, atmosphere and history and our team love the challenge of capturing that for viewers. We’re looking forward to working closely with Channel 4 and the Boat Race Company to make the coverage of next year’s race, on Easter Saturday, the best yet.”
The Boat Race joins the Women’s FA Cup, Formula 1 highlights, the UEFA Under-21 Championship, England’s home matches in UEFA Nations League and European Qualifiers, and England Hockey internationals on Channel 4.
Image: James Veysey/Shutterstock for Channel 4
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