The BBC has decided not to broadcast the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, with Channel 4 agreeing a five-year deal to take over coverage.

This comes as BBC insiders told The Telegraph that Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, showed “very little enthusiasm” for the rowing event while negotiating, allegedly viewing the event as “elitist”.

The BBC has rejected this claim, telling Varsity that the decision was taken only after concerns surrounding returns on investment.

However, a source close to talks told The Telegraph that “the head of sport showed very little enthusiasm, believing that a showcase for London, the UK and two of our top universities is elitist”.

BBC Sport has previously funded the entire broadcasting operation of the Boat Race, and has seen production costs increase as live viewership has reportedly declined.

In April, a peak audience of 2.82 million people tuned in to watch Cambridge complete a clean sweep, winning their third consecutive men’s title and an eighth consecutive women’s title.

The corporation first broadcast the race on radio in 1927, including the first televised edition in 1938. Thereon, the BBC maintained its production for almost a century, as ITV briefly held the rights from 2005 to 2009.

Channel 4 reportedly moved quickly to secure TV rights, as Paul Andrews, the broadcaster’s Head of Sport told CityAM that the Boat Race is a “national event, watched by millions of people”.

He continued: “It is so much more broader than Oxford versus Cambridge. People are just used to watching what is an unbelievable event. It is a free party for London, costs nothing to watch and it’s something that is quintessentially British.”

According to a Nielsen Sports & Entertainment Independent Economic Impact Report completed in 2024, the Boat Race brings in close to £15 million to the local London economy. An estimated 250,000 people watched from the river bank in 2025.

Asked about taking over from the BBC, Andrews stated: “We’re a public service broadcaster and to be able to grab one of the stalwarts of the sporting calendar is really exciting.

“The BBC did a really good job for years and it has remained really popular. What we can bring is a fresh set of eyes – it is a new event for us and when Channel 4 gets behind something we can bring a fresh perspective to it.

“There’s lots of things we’re looking at while not getting rid of the viewer who really loves it. It is a slight tonal shift and new energy,” he added.

A spokesperson for the BBC told Varsity: “The BBC has been proud to broadcast the Boat Race over many years. Our decision not to continue reflects the difficult choices we need to make to ensure we deliver the best value for audiences with the money that we have.

“We are pleased the Boat Race will remain available free-to-air and wish all involved in the event every success for the future,” they added.