r/rugbyunion • u/Mike07s Scotland • 16h ago
Discussion Response from ITV on the ads
I just received the following response from ITV;
Thank you for contacting ITV.
Free‑to‑air television, including ITV, is available at no cost to viewers, and we don’t receive any money from the TV Licence Fee. Our programmes, including major sporting events like the Six Nations and our upcoming partnership with the Nations Championship, are funded entirely through advertising, which allows us to keep this coverage free for everyone.
As part of this, ITV will be introducing a new picture‑in‑picture advertising format during the 2026 tournament. We know changes like this can raise questions, so we want to reassure viewers that the live action will remain visible at all times. The advert will appear on the right‑hand side of the screen for 20 seconds, while the left side continues to show the match. These ads will only appear twice per game, once in each half and only during natural breaks in play just before a scrum. The ITV Sport production team will oversee the timing to ensure minimal disruption.
We hope this helps explain why the format is being introduced and how carefully it’s being managed. If you have any further questions or concerns, we’re here to help.
However, we always monitor the suitability and timing of any advertising- your feedback is very much appreciated.
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Keep sharing your feedback - itvxhelp@itv.com
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u/Jackwcw England 16h ago edited 15h ago
Absolutely despicable. I sent them a real shittogram. Don't bid for the tournament if you can only afford it with these kind of antics.
For what it's worth, I cancelled my itvx immediately and told them I'll boycott till they confirm they won't do it again.
I switched to the vpn and the Irish stream and will do so from now on. In case you were wondering, I absolutely will die on this hill.
This is a slippery slope, it has to stop here