New deal keeps Crufts coverage on Channel 4 until 2029

Channel 4 today (06.03.25) announced that it will continue to broadcast Crufts until 2029.

Channel 4 has broadcast coverage of Crufts since 2010 and the new agreement, covering 2026 to 2029, extends the broadcaster’s relationship with the world’s most famous dog show to more than a two decades.

And Channel 4 has also announced that the independent production company Sunset+Vine will continue to produce its coverage of Crufts. Sunset+Vine has produced Channel 4’s coverage of the world’s most famous dog show since it first aired on the channel in 2010.

Channel 4’s Head of Sports Pete Andrews said: “Crufts is a truly unique event and has a very special place in the hearts of Channel 4 viewers and we’re delighted that Channel 4 will continue our relationship with The Kennel Club and the producers of our Crufts coverage, Sunset+Vine.”

Jannine Edgar, Chief Executive of The Kennel Club, said, "We have enjoyed fantastic coverage with Channel 4 over the last 15 years and are delighted to continue our partnership for the next four years. Channel 4 has provided The Kennel Club with more airtime for Crufts than ever before, helping us to show the important role dogs play in our lives"

Coverage of Crufts returns to Channel 4 today when Clare Balding will lead nearly 20 hours of coverage from the four-day event in Birmingham.

Clare will be joined by regular Crufts reporter Radzi Chinyanganya and two new faces, Paralympic Champion Ellie Simmonds and former professional rugby player Ed Jackson.

Ellie and Ed will take to the halls of the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre presenting features, interviews and all the latest news from the biggest dog show in the world.

Clare leads live coverage of the event, which celebrates its 75th year of being broadcast, while Radzi will capture all the excitement and emotion from the arena.

And resident vet Dr Paul Manktelow will also be offering viewers advice on best practices for looking after dogs throughout the coverage.

More than 200 pedigree breeds from 51 different countries will compete for the prestigious Best in Show title, which will be awarded live on Channel 4 on the final evening of the event on 9th March.

Viewers will be able to watch Crufts on Channel 4, More 4 and on Channel 4 Streaming across the four days (full details in Notes to Editors). Coverage will include all the most popular events including Flyball, Agility, Heelwork to Music, The Kennel Club Hero Dog award and the prestigious Best in Show.


How to watch

Thursday 6th March

15:00 - 16:00 (Channel 4) 

18:30 - 19:30  (More4) 

19:30 - 21:00  (Channel 4) 

Friday 7th March

15:00 - 16:00  (Channel 4) 

18:30 - 19:30  (More4) 

19:30 - 21:00  (Channel 4) 

Saturday 8th March 

14:00 - 18:00  (Channel 4) 

19:00 - 21:00  (Channel 4) 

Sunday 9th March

14:00 - 18:00  (Channel 4) 

19:00 - 21:00  (Channel 4)

About Crufts and The Kennel Club

• Crufts is held from 6 – 9 March 2025 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action and highlights on Channel 4 and More4, and for further information and tickets visit crufts.org.uk  
• For journalists who wish to attend Crufts 2025, accreditation is open online at crufts.org.uk/media-centre/press-accreditation  
• Press releases from the event will be available at crufts.org.uk/media-centre. Interview requests, case studies, press information and additional editorial is available by emailing press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk  
• Images of Crufts 2024 can be found at: digitalcontentdownload.com/crufts_2024/  
• For the latest Crufts updates, like the official Crufts Facebook page at facebook.com/crufts, follow us on X: @crufts - x.com/Crufts, Instagram: @crufts – instagram.com/crufts and TikTok: @crufts. Join the conversation using #Crufts2025 
• The Kennel Club, organiser of Crufts, is one of the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs. At its heart are programmes and investments in education and health initiatives to help dogs across the UK to live long, healthy, happy lives with responsible owners   

• Crufts is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners. It recognises the varied roles that dogs play in society and highlights the many different disciplines and activities for dogs and owners

   

About Channel 4

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer. 

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

With a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country. 

In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.

From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests £5m in training, development and learning opportunities annually and this will double to £10m by 2025.

Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.

https://www.channel4.com/