Terrestrial television audiences will enjoy an increase in their rugby viewing options after ITV struck a new deal to begin broadcasting live Premiership fixtures as soon as this month.
The new agreement will see ITV broadcast seven regular-season matches along with the final, extending to the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
It's the first time in the Premiership's history that the Twickenham decider will be available on free-to-air television, which will run in tandem with BT Sport's well-established coverage of the clash.
Due to the timing of the broadcast deal, Premiership fans will be restricted to only four matches (plus the final) this term, beginning with Sale Sharks ' visit to Leicester Tigers on January 30.
Many followers of England's elite rugby competition were left unsatisfied when it was announced at the start of this season that Channel 5 's Premiership highlights show had been cancelled.
However, former England internationals David Flatman and Topsy Ojo will now present a new weekly round-up on ITV4.
Following the news that Channel 5's coverage had been pulled, it meant this season was the first in 14 years in which the Premiership had no representation on free-to-air television.
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It's reported league organisers considered that "a mistake which needed rectifying," and the return of ITV as a terrestrial platform will be music to the ears of many supporters.
“Our ambition is to grow the game and make Gallagher Premiership Rugby available to as many people as possible,” said Simon Massie-Taylor, who was appointed Premiership Rugby’s new chief executive in October.
“BT Sport have done an amazing job in building the core Premiership Rugby TV audience and the ITV partnership allows us to expand our reach into the households of millions of other rugby fans. This season our average match audience on BT Sport has risen 30 per cent year on year, which shows the potential.”
He went on to suggest that after last season's enthralling finale between Harlequins and Exeter Chiefs, the 2022 decider has the potential to be the most watched event of its kind.
“We believe we can achieve that with the match screened on both ITV4 and BT Sport,” he continued. “It is also crucial for us to have a weekly highlights programme that is accessible to millions of people. This will allow us to showcase the best of Gallagher Premiership rugby to the widest possible audience.”
Leicester's unbeaten season came to an end after they lost 16-13 at Wasps earlier in January, but they remain eight points in front as Premiership leaders ahead of their free-to-watch visit to Sale.
