June 15, 2016
The Rugby Channel Now Available for Streaming on TV, Tablets
USA Rugby Release: June 15, 2016
Expanded top-tier international rugby coverage now available live and on-demand via connected devices
NEW YORK – The Rugby Channel, a Rugby International Marketing (RIM) entity, has announced the launch of its global rugby streaming video service on Roku®, Apple TV and Chromecast, along with the creation of a new dedicated app for tablets. Following the successful launch of The Rugby Channel on the web (at TheRugbyChannel.tv) and smartphone apps in April, RIM’s “over the top” subscription platform will now be accessible through some of the world’s most popular streaming services.
The launch of the new apps coincides with The Rugby Channel’s Summer Series of live, exclusive international test matches, headlined by the USA men’s national team’s home encounters with Italy and Russia on June 18 and June 25, respectively. The Summer Series also features home matches for Canada against Japan, Russia and Italy and two tests between Japan and Scotland on June 18 and June 25. On tap later in the summer will be the Super Series featuring the USA Rugby Women’s National Team and top-tier rivals England, France and Canada.
“The response we have received so far for The Rugby Channel has been incredible,” said RIM CEO David Sternberg. “Launching apps for these connected devices will broaden our reach and bring the game to even more fans in the United States and across the world.”
Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast are streaming media devices that allow viewers to consume video content from the Internet directly on their televisions. Each platform has a native app for The Rugby Channel. The Rugby Channel is also now available as a native app for iOS and Android tablet devices in the iTunes and Google Play app stores.
The Rugby Channel offers fans of the sport a mix of free and premium programming from around the world. Highlights of global matches, interviews and short features are available free of charge on TheRugbyChannel.tv, along with fixtures and live scores from top domestic and international competitions. Paying subscribers receive access to exclusive live event programming, including USA Men’s and Women’s National Team test matches, weekly matchups from the Guinness Pro12 league in Europe, the Women’s Sevens World Series and various World Rugby-sanctioned international tournaments, plus The Rugby Channel Report, an original weekly news bulletin produced by The Rugby Channel.
Users of at least 13 years of age can subscribe to the channel for a special introductory fee of $4.99 per month, or take an annual subscription for $49.99. All subscription offers include a free 30-day trial to start.
The Rugby Channel and its new apps were created in collaboration with Omnigon. The developers of the official 2015 Rugby World Cup mobile app, Omnigon is a leading digital consulting company within the sports and entertainment industries. Based in New York, Omnigon has worked with leading global sports properties including AS Roma, PGA TOUR, FOX Sports, Miami Heat, NASCAR, Arsenal FC and Little League International.
About Rugby International Marketing
Created by USA Rugby, Rugby International Marketing is a unique “for profit” commercial entity that will build a strong revenue generation team representing USA Rugby’s current commercial rights and developing new revenue streams to fund the game. The mission of Rugby International Marketing is to provide incremental financial resources to USA Rugby by utilizing third-party capital in an entrepreneurially driven, for-profit company that leverages the commercial opportunities available to USA Rugby.
About Omnigon
Omnigon is a team of digital strategists, artists and technologists working exclusively in digital content delivery in the sports, media and entertainment industries. Since its founding in 2008, Omnigon has established itself as a market leader, focused on helping clients achieve returns on the strategic, creative and technical investments they’ve made. Omnigon, headquartered in New York and with offices in Los Angeles, London, Toronto, Kiev and St. Petersburg, works with celebrated, global brands including PGA TOUR, AS Roma, Bayern Munich, NASCAR, World Rugby, Arsenal FC, Little League International, the United States Golf Association (USGA), FOX Sports, Miami Heat and countless others.
