All Six Nations 2010 matches to be shown on BBC in high definition
BBC HD · TV Week · 27 Jan 2010 · by: BBC, photo: BBC
The BBC will be broadcasting every match in this year's RBS Six Nations Championship in high definition (HD) for the first time, kicking off with Ireland versus Italy on Saturday 6 February on BBC One and BBC HD from 2.00pm.
Every game will be shown live on BBC One apart from France v Italy, which will be broadcast on BBC Two on 14 March. All matches will also be streamed live on the BBC Sport website and will be available on BBC iPlayer for up to a week after the live fixture.
John Inverdale will be the main host and will be joined by fellow presenter Gabby Logan.
The commentators will be Eddie Butler, Andrew Cotter and Nick Mullins, with Jonathan Davies, Phillip Matthews, Brian Moore and Andy Nicol as co-commentators.
The pitchside reporting team will include Jill Douglas, Sonja McLaughlan and Graham Thomas.
John and Gabby will be joined by studio analysts Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonathan Davies, Jeremy Guscott, Raphael Ibanez, Andy Nicol and Keith Wood as well as former Wales captain Colin Charvis.
Austin Healey will be offering his own shrewd analysis on the game's main talking points, throughout the match, from the stands.
BBC Sport's popular interactive forums will once again be available via BBC Red Button on the following matches:
Sunday 7 February, Scotland v France (forum follows the game, 5.00-5.30pm)
Sunday 14 February, Italy v England (forum follows the game, 4.30-5.00pm)
Saturday 27 February, England v Ireland (forum follows the game, 6.00-6.30pm)
Saturday 13 March, Scotland v England (forum follows the game, 7.00-7.30pm)
BBC Six Nations Rugby Editor, Carl Hicks said: "This year is the 10th anniversary of the Six Nations and it continues to keep us on the edge of our seats, with any team capable of beating any other on their day.
"We also mark the centenary for Twickenham as well as French participation in the championships.
"It's quite apt, then, that the occasion will be even more of a viewing spectacle as every game, from the Northern Hemisphere's premier rugby tournament, will be available in high definition."
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra have extensive coverage of the 2010 Six Nations Championship, including live commentary on all the Home Nations matches and the latest news and analysis on Six Nations 5 Live Rugby on 5 Live Sport.
Expert analysis on the Home Nations matches is provided by England World Cup winner Matt Dawson, former Scotland captain Gavin Hastings, former Ireland and British Lions winger Denis Hickie and former Wales captain Robert Jones.
Ian Robertson leads the 5 Live commentary team, alongside Alastair Eykyn, Conor McNamara, Jonny Saunders and Iain Carter.
Eleanor Oldroyd presents a Six Nations 5 Live Rugby Special at 8.00pm on Thursday 4 February, previewing this year's tournament ahead of the opening round of matches.
During the tournament Matt Dawson, with special guests, will host Six Nations 5 Live Rugby for the latest news and analysis from the tournament and previews of forthcoming matches.
Other than live simulcasts of every game, the BBC Sport website will have highlights available on demand after matches.
Live text updates will be on the website and are also available to mobile phones. There will be live audio from 5 Live and statistics will update as matches go on.
There will be also be expert analysis from BBC reporters and TV pundits.
Jeremy Guscott will answer questions from fans, and give his tactical guide to the games throughout the Six Nations. Follow the action live, review it afterwards, and discuss it with legends like Guscott, fellow fans on our blogs and forums, and BBC rugby journalists.
In 2009, BBC TV audiences for the Six Nations were again consistently high, with an average of 4.3 million watching each match. The highest peak audience was 7.6 million for England versus Wales.
Six Nations 2010 TV Schedule (all times GMT)
Saturday 6 February
Ireland v Italy 2.00-4.30pm (kick off 2.30pm) BBC One
England v Wales 4.45-7.15pm (kick off 5.00pm) BBC One
Sunday 7 February
Scotland v France 2.30-5.00pm (kick off 3.00pm) BBC One
Saturday 13 February
Wales v Scotland 1.30-4.00pm (kick off 2.00pm) BBC One
France v Ireland 4.15-6.30pm (kick off 4.30pm) BBC One
Sunday 14 February
Italy v England 2.00-4.30pm (kick off 2.30pm) BBC One
Friday 26 February
Wales v France 7.30-10.00pm (kick off 8.00pm) BBC One
Saturday 27 February
Italy v Scotland 1.00-3.30pm (kick off 1.30pm) BBC One
England v Ireland 3.30-6.00pm (kick off 4.00pm) BBC One
Saturday 13 March
Ireland v Wales 2.00-4.30pm (kick off 2.30pm) BBC One
Scotland v England 4.45-7.00pm (kick off 5.00pm) BBC One
Sunday 14 March
France v Italy 2.00-4.30pm (kick off 2.30pm) BBC Two
Saturday 20 March
Wales v Italy 2.00-4.30pm (kick off 2.30pm) BBC One
Ireland v Scotland 4.45-7.00pm (kick off 5.00pm) BBC One
France v England 7.15-10.00pm (kick off 7.45pm) BBC One
