The BBC and the Boat Race feels like a tale as old as time. As one of the last remaining bastions of Britishness, the Boat Race is a fixture in the English sporting calendar and attracts the interest of not just rowers or those who affiliate with Oxford and Cambridge. The event, which brings over 250,000 people to the banks of the Thames for a fleeting glimpse of 18 athletes snaking along the Tideway bends, is synonymous with British culture; it represents amateur sporting drama held in one of sport’s great cathedrals between two of the country’s oldest and proudest academic institutions.
So, when the announcement was made in October that coverage of the race would be switching from the trusted BBC (albeit not so trusted currently) to Channel 4, it was hard to discern who was getting the better deal. Speaking with Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at Channel 4, it was clear that he had this grand old dame of a contest in his sights. “When I took on the role at Channel 4 in 2019, I had a list of events I wanted to go after and the Boat Race was on it,” he explained when speaking with JRN. “I was the executive producer and multi-camera director of the Boat Race from 2015 to 2018, so I knew the race really well. I also directed the coverage of the rowing in Rio for the 2016 Olympics. When I first approached it in 2019, it was pretty tied up. I’d had a few prior conversations in the past, but never felt like it was in the offing.”
In 2025, though, Andrews perceived that the situation was different. Channel 4 threw everything at the opportunity – and came up trumps. “We know it rates really well,” he said. “Prior to the final of the Women’s Euros, it was the most-watched women’s sporting event of the year.”
For Channel 4, they now have an enviable line-up of nationally recognised sporting events in 2026. They’ll be leading coverage for Crufts in March alongside the winter Paralympics, the Boat Race in April, the women’s FA Cup final in May and the British Grand Prix in July. As a public service broadcaster, chasing and winning these big-ticket items forms a critical part of the strategy.
Under the stewardship of the BBC, the event has seen a surge in popularity but remains hindered by accusations of ‘elitism’, despite the move in 2015 to hold the women’s event on the same day and with the same billing as the men. “It’s elite sport, but I think elitist is a really interesting word,” said Andrews. “Is it easier to watch the Boat Race or a Premier League football game? It’s obviously the Boat Race, provided you can get to London. It’s free to watch, accessible, and you can enjoy it with your friends anywhere along the four-mile course. I see the event as something that belongs to everybody; if people are that interested, then it should be on TV.”
Rowing has also historically struggled to shake off the feeling that its product can be a little dull. Racing from A to B – often with one crew significantly faster than others – is not the most entertaining format, so one of Channel 4’s key priorities will be bringing the race forward. “Being new to it allows us the opportunity for a fresh perspective, but what I would say is that the race will be very different in 2029 compared to how it will look next year,” acknowledged Andrews. “Having a five-year plan allows us to evolve with the event. You’ll see a different tone of coverage, different faces on the television and potentially some new angles. There will definitely be some exciting and creative things coming out, whilst maintaining the heritage of the race.”
Andrews also shut down any plans to broadcast the reserve crew races: “You’re there to watch the best four crews race. It’s a really hard story to tell, and at the moment, there are no plans to do more on the reserve race.”
As rowing struggles to retain its relevancy against the broader noise of ever-popularising fringe sports (exploding and innovative formats in Formula 1, golf, and cricket are just some of the perennial rivals rowing faces in the fight for airtime), Andrews believes that being first to market is critical. “Drive to Survive was hugely successful, but none of the other copycat documentaries have had the same effect. You’ve got to find new and interesting ways of telling the story. The Boat Race is uniquely positioned because it allows you to tell the stories of 18 athletes per race in an intimate and succinct manner. Their onward journey is where rowing needs to spend time thinking.”
