The historic Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities is moving to a new channel on television after nearly nine decades with the BBC.
Channel 4 has secured exclusive broadcast rights to the annual men’s and women’s races on the River Thames for the next five years, marking a major shift in the coverage of one of Britain’s most celebrated sporting traditions.
The BBC first televised the contest in 1938 and has held the rights ever since, while radio coverage dates back even further to 1927.
However, the new agreement means Channel 4 will now showcase the races until 2030, including two significant milestones: the 200th running of the men’s event in 2029 and the centenary edition of the women’s race in 2027.
The Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge has been on the BBC for almost 100 years
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The Boat Race, which has taken place since 1829, continues to attract large audiences both in person and on television.
Around 250,000 people lined the banks of the Thames in 2025, while peak viewing figures at home reached 2.8million. Cambridge currently leads the all-time standings in both categories, 88–81 in the men’s race and 30–21 in the women’s event, following recent victories.
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Channel 4’s head of sport, Pete Andrews, described the acquiring the rights as a natural step for the broadcaster. “This is a national event, watched by millions of people,” he said.
“We’re a public service broadcaster and to be able to pick up one of the great fixtures of the British sporting calendar is really exciting. The BBC has done a fantastic job for years, but we can bring a new energy and fresh perspective.”
Channel 4 has developed a reputation for swooping in on major rights deals, previously securing last-minute agreements to show the Cricket World Cup final, Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph and the England Under-21s’ victorious Euros campaign.
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Cambridge won the 2025 iteration of the historic event
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It also holds Formula 1 highlights until 2026. Andrews hinted that the broadcaster will look to apply the same innovative approach to the Boat Race as it has with its Paralympics coverage, which has been widely praised for inclusivity and creativity.
“There’s already a schools race the day before, and we want to explore ways to give that more exposure,” he said. “We may also look at para-rowing in the future. The goal is to broaden the event while keeping it authentic for long-standing fans.”
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The move is also seen as a strong commercial opportunity. Fashion house Chanel signed on as the Boat Race’s title sponsor in 2024, and Andrews believes Channel 4’s coverage will further boost its value.
“The audience for the women’s Boat Race earlier this year was the biggest of any women’s sporting event before the Euros,” he noted. “That’s something advertisers are very keen on.”
Millions of people tune in for The Boat Race every year
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Siobhan Cassidy, chair of The Boat Race Company, welcomed the partnership. “We are delighted to work with Channel 4 to broadcast our unique, iconic and intensely British event,” she said. “Independent research shows Boat Race Day generates up to £15 million for London’s economy. We have come a long way since our first radio commentary in 1927, and we are excited to see how Channel 4 brings the drama, tradition and excitement of this race to viewers in 2026 and beyond.”