Major sporting tournament risks DISAPPEARING from mainstream TV as talks stall with TNT Sports over new deal

RUGBY’S top European club tournament faces a mainstream TV shut-out.

Investec Champions Cup organiser are reportedly struggling to renew their deal with TNT Sports.

GettyJack Conan bursts through for Leinster as they overcame Northampton Saints to reach this month’s Champions Cup final with Toulouse[/caption]

TNT Sports have yet to renew their deal beyond this seasonGetty

And The Times say that’s left European Professional Club Rugby with limited alternatives for broadcasting.

TNT wrestled the rights to the Autumn Nations Series of Tests in November away from Amazon Prime.

Australia, New Australia,South Africa and Co are coming to Europe to take on Six Nations teams.

And TNT is also retaining coverage of the Gallagher Premiership 

But it’s understood talks have stalled over extending their Champions Cup arrangement beyond this year.

Leinster and Toulouse meet in this season’s final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25 in what could be a mouthwatering send-off.

One problem for broadcasters is that the tournament is awkward to cover.

And that logistical headache got bigger after South African clubs joined in 2022.

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TNT Sports mainly commentates on those games in the Southern Hemisphere from its London studios.

But the costs were so great that the company failed to send its own broadcasting teams to a few games in France at the pool stage during the current campaign.

It’s all thought to be too expensive for terrestrial TV stations to seriously consider an offer.

And The Times suggest it would be a big surprise if Sky Sports rediscovered its interest in rugby below international level.