Super League will hit new territory next year with all 167 games of the 2024 season broadcast live. That means that every fixture will have a video referee, with fixtures either shown live on the competition’s main broadcaster, Sky Sports, or via terrestrial television or streaming services.
It is a groundbreaking season for Super League, with a level playing field created with the use of video officials and therefore replays. Every game live also means more eyes will be on the competition than ever before, with future lucrative TV deals now crucial to rugby league’s commercial growth in this country.
This year, a total of 78 of Super League’s 167 matches were broadcast live either through Sky Sports, Channel 4, or the OurLeague streaming service. To no surprise, Grand Final winners Wigan Warriors were shown the most across the platforms, featuring 19 times, the same number as local rivals St Helens, who had won the four previous competitions.
Elsewhere, Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves were shown 17 times, with four clubs, Catalans Dragons, Hull FC, Hull KR, and Salford Red Devils, shown 13 times. The Black and Whites featured the most on OurLeague, with fans able to stream their home games against Salford and Catalans, with Salford also returning the gesture for their home game. Leeds and Catalans was the other streamed fixture.
Super League newcomers Leigh Leopards featured a dozen times, with three Yorkshire clubs shown the least. Castleford were broadcast for nine games, Huddersfield Giants seven, and Wakefield Trinity, who suffered relegation to the Championship, just four times. Huddersfield and Wakefield were also the only two clubs not to be shown on Channel 4.
In total, Sky Sports showed 67 live games, sharing two play-off ties with Channel 4, who showed seven games outright and a Grand Final show. The OurLeague streaming service showed four.
