Saturday’s (March 25) match between Saracens and Harlequins set a new domestic viewership record for English men's rugby union’s top-tier Premiership Rugby.

A combined peak audience of 1.516 million tuned in across free-to-air commercial broadcaster ITV (1.33 million) and pay-TV’s BT Sport (186,000) to see Saracens run out 36-24 winners over their London rivals.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The showpiece fixture, branded as The Showdown 3, secured a 7.1% share of TV viewers in the UK and was watched by a further 55,000 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The TV audience surpassed that of the 2022 Premiership Rugby Final by 200,000.

ITV secured free-to-air rights for the Premiership through a deal announced in January 2022, while BT Sport extended its long-term partnership in 2020.

See Also:

Elsewhere, strong attendance figures were seen during the same round of fixtures at London Irish, Bath, and Leicester Tigers, continuing a trend seen throughout the season so far.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Simon Massie-Taylor, chief executive of Premiership Rugby, said: "We are delighted to see the latest record-breaking TV figures from Gallagher Premiership Rugby.

“And we are equally pleased to see stadium attendances remaining on a strong upwards trajectory in yet another unmissable season that is set to go right to the wire.

“A huge thanks must go to all Premiership Rugby fans for their dedication and support – as well as our clubs, broadcast partners, and sponsors who help us deliver the outstanding entertainment enjoyed by millions of people.

“It is incredible to see eight teams still very much in the mix for the four semi-final spots ahead of our showpiece Gallagher Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham on May 27.

“Supporters can also continue to keep across the non-stop entertainment live on BT Sport, ITV, or Premiership Rugby TV – with tickets for the final on sale now.”

Image: David Rogers/Getty Images