The men’s Six Nations rugby tournament is played every year in February and March, and millions of people watch it live on TV. The championship started in 1883 between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and over time it grew to include France and Italy. This year something new is happening: in-game adverts are being shown during matches on TV and many fans aren’t happy about it. A poll found that about two thirds (63%) of viewers noticed the advert during the first match, and 59% of those didn’t like the ad slot. The head of the Six Nations admits the adverts might feel “a little bit uncomfortable for viewers” but they help to keep matches free to watch by bringing in more advertising money. What do you think? Should in-game adverts be banned?
Yes – it takes your eyes off the match Rugby is an exciting, action-packed sport where players make tough tackles and score thrilling tries, with nail-biting finishes that keep fans on the edge of their seats. When the screen suddenly splits and an advert pops up, it could pull your eyes away from the game. Adverts are made to grab attention and persuade people to buy things. They help businesses make money out of people’s love of sport. Lots of children watch rugby and many of the adverts are for things they’re too young for, such as mobile phones, so there’s no point children seeing it. Sport should be about enjoying the game, cheering on your team and sharing the excitement, not being distracted by companies trying to sell stuff.
No – more people can watch for free The Six Nations tournament is so popular that millions of people watch it on TV. In-game adverts mean people can see the games for free, instead of them being shown on a channel that charges its viewers to watch. This opens up rugby to a wider audience and gives more people the chance to enjoy the sport. ITV has spent millions to show matches so it needs to make its money back somehow. Showing two short 20-second adverts during each match might be slightly annoying but it hardly ruins the game. Besides, the adverts are on a split screen so you can still watch the players and follow what’s happening. It’s better than having a normal ad break during a match, where you would miss the action.