THE television sub-committee of the four home unions, has I understand, reached agreement on the television rights of the Five Nations Championship for the next three to four years, and the interests of the terrestrial channels have as promised, been protected. The BBC are favourites to emerge with the transmission rights. A statement on the matter is imminent.

This follows protracted negotiations over contentious matters that have been central to the renewal of the rights. Bearing in mind the stated attitude of the Irish (IRFU), Scottish (SRU) and Welsh (WRU) unions to the importance of having the matches transmitted live on terrestrial television, the indications are that the three unions have stood by their word on this crucial issue. By doing so, they have rendered the game and the public a great service, by resisting the attempted domination of major sport by Sky Television.

So all the scare stories, selective leaks, rumours and alleged exclusives that have appeared, in the main, in newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Sky Television, are likely to prove false.

The BBC, who were in competition with ITV as well as Sky, are favourites to emerge as the winners and they have a long association with the transmission of the Five Nations series. However, this time the rights will be secured at a greatly-enhanced fee.

The English Union (RFU) is tied into a deal with Sky television worth £87 million over the next five years, £65 million of which is for the Five Nations series. But part of the money they receive from Sky will, as per the agreement reached with the other unions some months ago, have to be put into a communal fund. This, of course, means that England's home matches will be televised live by Sky.

The Irish, Scottish and Welsh unions rejected an offer from Sky television as long ago as last August those offers from Sky were not sought by the unions and followed Sky's agreement with the RFU. In Ireland's case, that offer was for around £26 million over a five-year period. In those circumstances, it is reasonable to assume that the deal that has now been struck will equal, if not surpass, that figure.

In addition to the Five Nations, overseas rights and possibly the rights to the European Cup could top up that figure considerably.

It is difficult to be specific about the money that will accrue to the three unions on an annual basis, but it will be very surprising if it does not exceed £5 million.

The IRFU, SRU and WRU all expressed the view that, while money was important, especially in the climate of the professional game, the issue of propagating the game and transmitting it to the widest possible audience was also a factor of immense importance that would be a central element in any negotiations.

In view of the fact that England had been tied into the deal with Sky there was nothing the television sub-committee could do about the live transmissions of England's home matches, but those matches apart, it is extremely encouraging that the oldest international championship in the game has not been sacrificed to the satellite outlet.

It was inevitable that the terrestrial channels would have to move into the realm of high finance if they were to hold off the challenge from Sky. Also, in view of the major technological changes that are imminent in television, the three unions did not want to get tied into a deal for a longer period than around three years. England are tied into a five-year deal and the big powers in the southern hemisphere are tied into a 10-year deal.