ITV is facing a significant reduction in its live sports offering for 2026, having lost the broadcasting rights to four of its most iconic events. The terrestrial broadcaster will no longer show three major snooker tournaments, while its long-standing coverage of the Tour de France is also coming to an end.
Snooker Switches Channels: A New Home on Channel 5
The change marks a substantial shift for snooker fans. ITV will no longer broadcast the Players Championship and the Tour Championship, two elite ranking events featuring only the season's top performers. This comes despite the channel only extending its snooker contract for a further year as recently as September 2024.
In a further blow, the historic British Open will also depart ITV. All three World Snooker Tour events have been acquired by rival broadcaster Channel 5, which secured the rights last year. The move means these prestigious tournaments will remain on free-to-air television, just on a different channel.
Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer for Channel 5 and Paramount UK, expressed his delight at the new deal. "We are delighted to bring the World Snooker Tour to 5," he said. "Making these top-ranking tournaments available on free-to-air TV continues our mission to keep elite live sport accessible for fans across the UK."
End of an Era: Tour de France Leaves Free-to-Air TV
The snooker exodus is not the only major loss for ITV Sport this year. In a move that ends a decades-long tradition for UK viewers, the Tour de France will no longer be broadcast on free-to-air television.
Warner Bros. Discovery and Eurosport have secured a deal to show the legendary cycling race until 2030. ITV had held the UK broadcasting rights since 2001, making its coverage a summer staple for millions. While Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly exploring options for free-to-air highlights, the live race will move behind a paywall.
Industry Reaction and Future Viewing
The snooker governing body welcomed its new partnership. In September, World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson stated, "We are delighted to be working with 5 for the first time and to add a new broadcaster to our tour. This is fantastic news for everyone who follows our sport."
He emphasised the prestige of the events moving to Channel 5, noting that the British Open has "its own unique identity including a random draw." Dawson also pointed to the sport's "incredible viewing figures" and expressed confidence this trend would continue.
For ITV, the loss of these four events represents a notable contraction of its sports portfolio, which still includes major properties like this summer's football World Cup. The changes will reshape where British sports fans tune in for some of the year's biggest events from 2026 onwards.
