Sports production firm Whisper TV has been appointed to deliver S4C’s coverage of the Rugby World Cup.
Following a competitive tender, it will provide the Welsh language channel coverage with all of Wales’ games during the tournament, which starts next month, as well as the France v New Zealand opening match, the semi-finals, final and third place play-off.
The coverage will be provided by Whisper TV subsidiary business Whisper Cymru. It established a Welsh presence with its acquisition of media production company Lens 360 in 2021. The value of the commission from S4C has not been disclosed.
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The coverage, with live rugby coverage being provided by World Cup host broadcaster HSB, will see Whisper having two presentation positions, including one pitch side, supported by five live cameras.
Whisper’s presentation team will be led by Sarra Elgan and Jason Mohammed, with rugby pundits including Mike Phillips, Siwan Lillicrap and Robin McBryde. Whisper Cymru will also provide for S4D digital content and a tournament preview with exclusive access in the Welsh camp.
It is the latest production win for Whisper Cymru’s growing rugby portfolio, which includes partnering with the Welsh Rugby Union for content throughout the year, live coverage of the Indigo Premiership and delivering Women’s Six Nations host broadcast for the BBC, which reached record audiences in 2023. The team also delivered the Rugby World Cup for S4C in 2019 and last year produced the award-winning Two Sides, which followed the British & Irish Lions on their most recent tour of South Africa.
Whisper has made significant investment in growing the team in Cardiff, which has increased from seven people in 2019 to 23 currently, with six more roles being created.
Carys Owens and Siôn Jones will lead the production team in France as executive producers, with Ceri Jenkins as producer.
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Ms Owens, who is also managing director of Whisper Cymru and founder of Lens 360, said: “When we first won the Rugby World Cup for S4C in 2019, it was a significant moment for us as it was the realisation of our ambitious plans in the sport. Four years on we are an established player in rugby, with clients including Welsh Rugby Union, World Rugby, the BBC, the British & Irish Lions and the All Blacks.
We’re really pleased to be continuing our great relationship with S4C and look forward to delivering entertaining and ambitious content as we look to maximise coverage of the upcoming World Cup for a Welsh audience and beyond.”
Geraint Evans, director of content and publishing strategy, said: “We are delighted to partner with Whisper on our coverage for the Rugby World Cup and extend the great working relationship that we have with the company. S4C and Whisper will be the Welsh team in France. If anyone is looking for in-depth well-informed coverage, by a passionate new team which will have Wales at its heart, then S4C is the channel to watch. We’re really looking forward to supporting Wales throughout the campaign.”