IMG wins tender to produce Channel 4’s Betfred Super League coverage

2 February 2022

• Award-winning international sports production indie to broadcast ten live matches and Grand Final highlights for two years
• Plans are under way to open Leeds base off the back of Super League contract
• New base will provide opportunities for people in the region

Multi-award-winning sports independent production company IMG has been awarded a two-year contract to provide Channel 4’s Betfred Super League coverage.

Super League rugby will be shown live on free-to-air television for the first time in its 26-year history after Channel 4 secured a deal initially to show ten live matches and Grand Final highlights for the next two years.

IMG will produce the live coverage of Super League on site from the grounds and is opening a new office in Leeds to work specifically on the Channel 4 live programming.

Channel 4 Head of Sport Pete Andrews said: “It was a very competitive tender process but IMG showed a vision that really stood out.

“And we were absolutely delighted when they revealed their plans to open a Leeds base. This chimes perfectly with Channel 4’s ambition – to help boost the production industry in the Nations and Regions.

“I can’t wait for the coverage of our first live Super League game on 12 February when Leeds Rhinos take on Warrington Wolves.”

Barney Francis, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Production at IMG, said: “This is a great opportunity for us and we are delighted to be working with Channel 4 on live coverage of Super League, one of the action-packed sports of the summer. 

“We are excited to be opening a new base in Leeds - right in the heartland of the rugby league world - which will enable us to tap into the production talent in the area. Going forward, we can also see a number of long-term strategic advantages for IMG to have a base in the region."

IMG will be based in the offices of post-production company Sticks and Glass in the city centre and is currently in the process of hiring creative, production management and technical support.

 

Notes to editors

The 2022 Betfred Super League season kicks off on Thursday 10 February.

 

About Super League (Europe)

Super League is the top-level professional rugby league club competition in the Northern Hemisphere having been formed in 1996. It comprises of twelve professional teams with the 2022 competition having ten (10) from England and two (2) from France.

At the end of each season the best two teams compete at Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams, in the Grand Final to see who’ll be crowned Betfred Super League champions.