BBC Will Live-Stream Scotland V England Six Nations Match To Space

The BBC says it will make broadcasting history on Saturday as the second match of 2016’s RBS Six Nations rugby championship, Scotland v England, will be live-streamed to the International Space Station.

British astronaut Major Tim Peake will be able to watch the anticipated match from his 400km-high home above Earth, with a little help from the European Space Agency

Calcutta Cup

“I know that space is a hostile environment, but Murrayfield, for the old Calcutta Cup, that’s a whole different matter,” said Peake.

“And Scotland has a fire in their belly; you could hear their World Cup rage from up here in space… May the best team win! Come on England!”

In December Major Tim Peake, along with NASA’s Tim Kopra and commander-cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, were able to watch Star Wats VII: The Force Awakens from the International Space Station. Their mission launched into space two days before the film’s premiere.

In preparation for tomorrow’s match, Peake has pre-recorded a video message, which can be watched here.

Philip Bernie, Head of TV Sport for the BBC said: “We’ve always tried to push the boundaries of broadcasting at the BBC, and streaming to space is an exciting first for us. We knew Tim was a massive rugby fan and now he can join the rest of the nation watching Scotland v England in the Six Nations.”