The Boat Race (2025)
The Boat Race is one of the UK’s most iconic sporting events, attracting 2.8 million viewers in 2025. At the centre of the race is the River Thames, a vital part of the competition. The production team used the live broadcast to highlight the environmental challenges facing the river, showing how water quality and pollution increasingly affect both the athletes and the sport itself.
Bringing the River Thames into the climate conversation
The Boat Race is one of the UK’s most iconic sporting events, attracting 2.8 million viewers in 2025. At the centre of the race is the River Thames, a vital part of the competition. The production team used the live broadcast to highlight the environmental challenges facing the river, showing how water quality and pollution increasingly affect both the athletes and the sport itself.

Why is it effective?

01.

Connecting environmental issues to the sport itself
The health of the river directly impacts the health of the athletes. Flooding, sewage overflow, agricultural and urban runoff have led to rising levels of E. coli in the Thames, posing risks to rowers and even stopping traditions like the cox’s throw-in.

02.

Trusted voices tell the story
Presenters and contributors including Steve Backshall, Helen Glover and Clare Balding helped humanise the issue, sharing personal connections to the river and highlighting the biodiversity that depends on it.

03.

Making science visible during the broadcast
Graphics showing water and air quality data were integrated into the sports coverage, helping viewers understand the environmental challenges affecting the race.

04.

Using live sport’s storytelling power
During the three-hour broadcast, VT sequences and editorial segments helped maintain engagement while expanding the story beyond the race itself.

The Impact

Viewers tuned in to watch the 2025 Boat Race.
2.8M
Extended broadcast coverage created space to explore the environmental story of the River Thames.
3 Hours
  • The broadcast highlighted how flooding, sewage overflow and runoff are affecting the River Thames.
  • Rising E. coli levels in the river pose health risks to athletes.
  • Talent such as Steve Backshall, Helen Glover and Clare Balding helped bring the river’s story to life.
  • The coverage demonstrated how live sport can embed climate storytelling naturally within existing narratives.

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