±«Óãtv

Once again the ±«Óãtv offers comprehensive, multi-platform coverage of this year's RBS 6 Nations Championship, including every match in High Definition (HD), starting with Wales v England on Friday 4 February, ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD at 7.30pm (kick off 7.45pm).

Every game of the tournament will be shown live on ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD apart from Ireland v France (13 February) and Scotland v Ireland (27 February), which will be broadcast on ±«Óãtv Two and ±«Óãtv HD. All matches will also be streamed live on the ±«Óãtv Sport website and will be available on ±«Óãtv iPlayer for up to a week after the live fixture.

John Inverdale is the main host and is joined by fellow presenters Gabby Logan and Jason Mohammed. Commentators are Eddie Butler, Andrew Cotter and Alastair Eykyn, with Jonathan Davies, Phillip Matthews, Brian Moore and Andy Nicol as co-commentators. The pitch-side reporting team includes Jill Douglas, Sonja McLaughlan and Graham Thomas.

John, Gabby and Jason are also joined by studio analysts Colin Charvis, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonathan Davies, Jeremy Guscott, Andy Nicol and Keith Wood.

±«Óãtv Sport's popular interactive forums will, once again, be available via ±«Óãtv Red Button following these matches:

France v Scotland: 5 February
Scotland v Wales: 12 February
Ireland v France: 13 February
England v France: 26 February
Scotland v Ireland: 27 February
Wales v Ireland: 12 March
England v Scotland: 13 March

±«Óãtv Red Button offers alternative commentaries on all matches, and highlights are available after the final whistles.

±«Óãtv Six Nations Rugby editor, Carl Hicks said: "The Six Nations continues to excite and entertain, each year producing new twists and turns. This year promises more of the same, with the unique rivalries instilled by the tournament once again likely to spring a surprise or two on us. Our coverage is more comprehensive than ever with options across TV, HD, Radio, Red Button, Online, iPlayer and Mobile and we look forward to bringing the British viewing public five weeks of outstanding rugby action. "

Other than live simulcasts of every game, the ±«Óãtv Sport website will have highlights available on demand after matches. Live text updates will be on the website and are also available to mobile phones. There will be live audio from ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live and statistics will update as matches go on.

There will also be expert analysis from ±«Óãtv reporters and ±«Óãtv TV pundits. Jeremy Guscott answers questions from fans throughout the Six Nations, and gives his tactical guide to the games. Viewers can follow the action live; review it afterwards and discuss it with legends like Guscott, fellow fans on ±«Óãtv blogs and forums and ±«Óãtv rugby journalists.

In 2010, ±«Óãtv television audiences to the 6 Nations were again consistently high, with over 23.3 million individual viewers tuning in over the course of the Championships to watch on ±«Óãtv TV, an average of over 4 million per match, with a peak of 7.2 million for England v Wales.

For radio audiences ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra will have extensive coverage of all the 2011 6 Nations Championship matches, including the latest news and analysis.

Expert analysis on the ±«Óãtv Nations matches is provided by England World Cup winner Matt Dawson, former Scotland and British and Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings, Ireland's most capped wing Denis Hickie and former Wales captain Robert Jones. Ian Robertson leads the ±«Óãtv 5 Live commentary team alongside Alastair Eykyn, Conor McNamara, Jonny Saunders and Iain Carter.

On Thursday 3 February, the eve of this year's Championship, Matt Dawson and Gareth Thomas co-host a 5 Live 6 Nations Rugby Special from Pencoed RFC in Bridgend. Matt and Gareth are joined by special guests including Welsh legend Gareth Edwards, World Cup winner Phil Vickery and former England international Brian Moore, to preview this year's tournament ahead of the opening round of matches.

Matt also hosts Six Nations 5 Live Rugby during the tournament and is joined by guests for the latest news and analysis from the tournament and previews of forthcoming matches.

±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra can be listened to via DAB radio, Digital TV, Freeview, cable or satellite and online at bbc.co.uk/5live, Radio 5 Live can also be heard on 909 and 693AM.

Notes to Editors

2011 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
all ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD unless stated, all schedules correct at time of going to press)

Friday 4 February
Wales v England
1945 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD

Saturday 5 February
Italy v Ireland
1430 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD
France v Scotland
1700 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD

Saturday 12 February
England v Italy
1430 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD
Scotland v Wales
1700 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD

Sunday 13 February
Ireland v France
1500 GMT ±«Óãtv Two and ±«Óãtv HD

Saturday 26 February
Italy v Wales
1430 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD
England v France
1700 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD

Sunday 27 February
Scotland v Ireland
1500 GMT ±«Óãtv Two and ±«Óãtv HD

Saturday 12 March
Italy v France
1430 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD
Wales v Ireland
1700 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD

Sunday 13 March
England v Scotland
1500 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD

Saturday 19 March
Scotland v Italy
1430 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD
Ireland v England
1700 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD
France v Wales
1945 GMT ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv One HD

2011 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP ±«Óãtv RADIO 5 LIVE SCHEDULE (Schedules correct at time of going to press)

Friday 4 February
Wales v England (1945)
Commentary on Radio 5 Live

Saturday 5 February
Italy v Ireland (1430)
Commentary on Sports Extra
France v Scotland (1700)
Commentary on Sports Extra

Saturday 12 February
England v Italy (1430)
Commentary on Sports Extra
Scotland v Wales (1700)
Commentary on Radio 5 Live

Sunday 13 February
Ireland v France (1500)
Commentary on Radio 5 Live

Saturday 26 February
Italy v Wales (1430)
Reports only on Radio 5 Live
England v France (1700)
Commentary on Radio 5 Live

Sunday 27 February
Scotland v Ireland (1500)
Coverage TBC

Saturday 12 March
Italy v France (1430)
Reports only on Radio 5 Live
Wales v Ireland (1700)
Commentary on Sports Extra

Sunday 13 March
England v Scotland (1500)
Commentary on Radio 5 Live

Saturday 19 March
Scotland v Italy (1430)
Reports only on Radio 5 Live
Ireland v England (1700)
Commentary on Radio 5 Live
France v Wales (1945)
Commentary on Radio 5 Live

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