Sky Sports in Advanced Talks for First Women’s British & Irish Lions Tour Rights
Sky Sports is reportedly nearing a deal to broadcast the inaugural women’s British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand. The agreement would cover all five scheduled matches, including three Tests against the Black Ferns.
The inaugural women’s British & Irish Lions tour, scheduled for September 2025 in New Zealand, is expected to be broadcast live on Sky Sports. While an official announcement has not been made, reports indicate that the broadcaster is in advanced negotiations to secure the rights for all five fixtures, which include three Test matches against the Black Ferns and two additional tour games.
Sky Sports has a long-standing relationship with the British & Irish Lions, having held the live broadcast rights for the men’s tours since 1997. Expanding this portfolio to include the women’s team is viewed as a significant development for the visibility of the women’s game. The inclusion of these matches in a major broadcast package is expected to provide a substantial boost to the sport's profile, mirroring the commercial and media support typically afforded to the men's side. The tour represents a historic milestone as the first of its kind for the women's Lions program.
📡 Media Analysis
How each outlet framed the story — angles, word choices, and what they chose to push or ignore.
Framed the potential deal as a positive, necessary advancement for women's sports equity.
"timely fillip"
🔍 What Nobody's Reporting
- ·Lack of comment from the British & Irish Lions organization regarding the status of negotiations.
- ·No information provided on potential alternative bidders or the financial scale of the deal.
📰 Sources
0 A-rated source(s) among 1 total. Lowest trust: The Guardian (B)