The BBC UK public-service broadcaster will continue to air the country's biggest athletics events after securing a new five-year rights deal with Athletic Ventures, UK Athletics’ (UKA) commercial joint venture alongside London Marathon Events (LME) and Great Run Company (GRC).
The deal, running until 2029, covers live and highlights rights and will see the broadcaster air competitions including the Diamond League’s London Athletics Meet, the UK Athletics Championships, and the UK Athletics Indoor Championships on its linear channels, iPlayer streaming service, and BBC Sport website.
UKA chief executive Jack Buckner said: “This five-year deal is testament to our long-term vision and the proven appetite for athletics in this country. In an increasingly competitive sports market where broadcast opportunities can be short-term or uncertain, this extended partnership with BBC Sport provides exciting continuity for the sport, our athletes, and our fans.
“The BBC remains the gold standard in reach and coverage, and this agreement ensures British athletics will continue to have a strong, consistent platform to engage millions of viewers across the UK.”
The new deal builds on UK Athletics’ previous deals with the broadcaster, including a six-year agreement that ended in 2020, worth around £3 million ($3.8 million) per year.
Since then, the BBC has signed short-term rights deals with UK Athletics to cover its events in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The new deal also adds to the BBC’s portfolio of athletics rights, including the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, European Athletics Championships, Diamond League, and London Marathon.
The first event under the new contract will be the Diamond League’s Novuna London meet on July 19 at the London Stadium.
Athletic Ventures was formed last year to support the continued promotion of athletics in the UK.
Specifically, it functions as the organizer of London’s annual Diamond League athletics meetings and next year’s European Athletics Championships, which will be held in Birmingham, England. It is also responsible for the UK’s bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
As a commercial joint venture, it mainly works to secure brand partners for all three bodies, allowing potential investors to sponsor events from the grassroots level up to the elite tier.
Meanwhile, the bidding process for the 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships opened last month, with the pre-qualification form submission deadline for both events earmarked for October 1.
UK Athletics announced its intention to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in March, alongside the UK Sport national body.
