Prem Rugby confirm rise in TV figures

Aviva Premiership Rugby enjoyed a bumper season of coverage on BT Sport, Premiership Rugby can confirm.

Almost nine million people watched this Aviva Premiership Rugby campaign live on BT Sport's channels, which is up 6% on last season.

That rise of 6%, follows an impressive first season for the competition on BT Sport where audiences rose by 40%.

"It is amazing to think that BT Sport has only been on air for less than two years but in that time the partnership with Premiership Rugby has delivered on all fronts," said Dominic Hayes, the Commercial Director at Premiership.

"Aviva Premiership Rugby has never been more popular than it is today and we saw an exhilarating Final last Saturday at Twickenham - a day that everyone in the stadium will remember for a long time.

"Next season we start a new six-year deal with BT Sport and we couldn't be in better shape to take the partnership to the next level.

"Rugby is embarking on a golden era in England and last Saturday's Aviva Premiership Rugby Final showed its true potential."

• For the season 2014-15, 8.932m have watched Aviva premiership Rugby live on BT Sport. That figure is up 6% on last season.
• The Aviva Premiership Rugby Final had a peak audience of 297,000.

Last Saturday's Aviva Premiership Rugby Final was another success for Premiership Rugby and BT Sport, as it recorded a peak audience of 297,000. The highest figure since 2010.

Premiership Rugby can also confirm another TV triumph with the ITV Sport highlights show, produced by Premiership Rugby productions.

The programme the day after the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final on ITV had an average overnight audience of 338,000, the highest figure since December.

"To have partners like BT Sport and ITV Sport is crucial for a sport like rugby union. The profile of club rugby in England has never been higher and that is – in part – due to our broadcast partners,” Hayes added.

"The ITV highlights show was recently presented with a deserved accolade at the Rugby Union Journalist of the Season Awards.”