ITV losers some sports coverage.
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Tony Scanlon
4:46 PM (3 hours ago) 4:46 PM
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"ITV loses rights to five major sport events as British Open moves in 2026
ITV have lost the TV rights to five popular sporting events
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ITV Sport will not show five events in 2026(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
ITV will no longer be showing five major sporting events in 2026. The broadcaster boasts a large sports portfolio, including the upcoming World Cup, but its snooker coverage is set to shrink in the New Year.
The terrestrial television channel has lost rights to the Players Championship and Tour Championship. The change came after ITV announced a one-year extension to its deal with the World Snooker Tour in September 2024.
The events will now be shown on Channel 5 after the broadcaster purchased the rights last year. In a further blow for ITV, the deal will also see the British Open move across to the rival channel.
In a statement about the snooker deal, 5 and Paramount UK chief content officer Ben Frow said: "We are delighted to bring the World Snooker Tour to 5.
"The Tour Championship, Players Championship and British Open are top ranking tournaments featuring the world’s best players and making them available to view on free-to-air TV continues our mission to keep elite live sport accessible for fans across the UK."
Speaking in September, World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson added: "We are delighted to be working with 5 for the first time and to add a new broadcaster to our tour. Snooker has a long history of providing fans with free-to-air events with extensive live coverage so this is fantastic news for everyone who follows our sport.
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Shaun Murphy won the British Open in September (Image: Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images)
"The Players Championship and Tour Championship are elite events contested only by the best of the best. Players are striving all season to climb the one year list and earn a place in these prestigious tournaments.
"And from 2026, 5 will also broadcast the British Open which is a historic event with its own unique identity including a random draw. We look forward to working with the 5 team on these events and ensuring that an outstanding product is delivered to snooker’s consistently huge audience.
"Our sport had incredible viewing figures throughout last season and we expect to see that trend continue as we grow across the world."
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Tadej Pogacar won the 2025 Tour de France(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
The three snooker tournaments are not the only iconic sporting events to be leaving ITV this year. A deal was struck with Warner Bros Discovery and Eurosport to show the Tour de France until 2030, ending the long-standing tradition of the legendary event being shown on free-to-air TV in the UK.
Article continues below
ITV had held the rights to the cycling event since 2001. It has previously been reported that Warner Bros Discovery is exploring the possibility of showing free-to-air coverage and highlights.
Meanwhile, TNT Sport agreed a new landmark deal to broadcast the 2026 season of LIV Golf. The Saudi-backed golf league was on ITV X last year, but a new deal has been reached."
ITV have lost the TV rights to five popular sporting events
View 3 Images
ITV Sport will not show five events in 2026(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
ITV will no longer be showing five major sporting events in 2026. The broadcaster boasts a large sports portfolio, including the upcoming World Cup, but its snooker coverage is set to shrink in the New Year.
The terrestrial television channel has lost rights to the Players Championship and Tour Championship. The change came after ITV announced a one-year extension to its deal with the World Snooker Tour in September 2024.
The events will now be shown on Channel 5 after the broadcaster purchased the rights last year. In a further blow for ITV, the deal will also see the British Open move across to the rival channel.
In a statement about the snooker deal, 5 and Paramount UK chief content officer Ben Frow said: "We are delighted to bring the World Snooker Tour to 5.
"The Tour Championship, Players Championship and British Open are top ranking tournaments featuring the world’s best players and making them available to view on free-to-air TV continues our mission to keep elite live sport accessible for fans across the UK."
Speaking in September, World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson added: "We are delighted to be working with 5 for the first time and to add a new broadcaster to our tour. Snooker has a long history of providing fans with free-to-air events with extensive live coverage so this is fantastic news for everyone who follows our sport.
View 3 Images
Shaun Murphy won the British Open in September (Image: Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images)
"The Players Championship and Tour Championship are elite events contested only by the best of the best. Players are striving all season to climb the one year list and earn a place in these prestigious tournaments.
"And from 2026, 5 will also broadcast the British Open which is a historic event with its own unique identity including a random draw. We look forward to working with the 5 team on these events and ensuring that an outstanding product is delivered to snooker’s consistently huge audience.
"Our sport had incredible viewing figures throughout last season and we expect to see that trend continue as we grow across the world."
View 3 Images
Tadej Pogacar won the 2025 Tour de France(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
The three snooker tournaments are not the only iconic sporting events to be leaving ITV this year. A deal was struck with Warner Bros Discovery and Eurosport to show the Tour de France until 2030, ending the long-standing tradition of the legendary event being shown on free-to-air TV in the UK.
Article continues below
ITV had held the rights to the cycling event since 2001. It has previously been reported that Warner Bros Discovery is exploring the possibility of showing free-to-air coverage and highlights.
Meanwhile, TNT Sport agreed a new landmark deal to broadcast the 2026 season of LIV Golf. The Saudi-backed golf league was on ITV X last year, but a new deal has been reached."
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