The BBC has lost the rights to The Boat Race: Who will show the legendary races.

According to The Sun: The BBC has lost the broadcasting rights for the rowing competition in favor of Channel 4.

This event, which started in 1938, has traditionally been broadcast by the BBC.

The competition was also broadcast by ITV between 2005 and 2009.

It will now be broadcast by Channel 4, which has signed a five-year contract.

This is not the first major sporting event that the BBC has lost, despite its high popularity with viewers.

During the broadcast of the rowing competition this April, 2.82 million viewers watched the event.

This makes it the most-watched sporting event of that weekend across all free and paid channels, surpassing the Masters Golf Tournament and the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The women's race attracted 2.18 million viewers, which is 14 percent more than last year.

Special Anniversaries

The contract with Channel 4 includes the broadcast of the 100th anniversary of the women's race and the 200th anniversary of the men's race.

The year 2026 will be particularly special as the competition takes place on April 4.

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Head of Sports at Channel 4, Pete Andrews, said in an interview with City AM:

“It’s much broader than just Oxford vs Cambridge. People are used to seeing this incredible event.”

“It’s a free celebration for London, it costs nothing to watch, and it's something truly British.”

This news came against the backdrop of information from Sky Sports, where the broadcaster marked a record-breaking weekend in history as an impressive number of viewers watched events such as the Ryder Cup.

ITV has also confirmed that it will continue the free broadcast of one of the nation's favorite sports within the framework of a new package.

The BBC pointed to the changes in an interview with SunSport, stating that this decision is the result of the need to optimize costs.

In a statement, it said:

“The BBC is proud to have broadcast the rowing competition for many years. Our decision not to continue the broadcast reflects the difficult decisions we have to make to ensure the best value for viewers with the resources available.”

“We are glad that the rowing competition will remain accessible to the public and wish all participants the best of luck in the future.”

The transition of the broadcasting rights for the rowing competition from one broadcaster to another signifies a change in the sports broadcasting landscape in the UK. By leaving the BBC, the event will find a new audience at Channel 4, which promises to enhance the broadcast and make it accessible to the general public. The contract also highlights the significance of sporting events that continue to attract millions of viewers and shape the cultural landscape of the country.