VIRGIN MEDIA AND TV3 have secured the rights to 327 exclusive matches across the Uefa Champions League and Europa League from next season, including the finals of both competitions.
The new deal will see the Ballymount-based broadcaster share the rights to 16 Tuesday night Champions League matches with RTÉ; with the latter having first choice of game broadcast.
The deal, which comes into effect in August this year, also includes exclusive rights to all Champions League final round qualifiers, the Super Cup and will be in place for three years.
From next season, the Champions League group stage format will change with 6pm and 8pm games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Speaking about the deal, Pat Kiely, managing director of TV3 said:
“The Champions League is the biggest and most prestigious club competition in the world and we are delighted to extend our partnership with Uefa for both the Champions League and the Europa League.
“This landmark deal confirms Virgin Media as Ireland’s leading connected entertainment business and is great news for TV3 viewers and Virgin Media Customers.
“Our award winning sports broadcasting team look forward to bringing the biggest clubs and the best players to our viewers and customers in new and exciting ways over the coming European football seasons.”
Reacting to the news, Ryle Nugent, RTÉ Group head of sport said:
“This is a truly positive result for RTÉ, the Irish audience and public service broadcasting.
“The sports rights market continues to evolve and RTÉ is now competing against major international companies both here and in the UK, both free and subscription, for the right to broadcast premium sports events in this country.
“To secure the Champions League first choice games on Tuesday nights for the next three seasons means that Irish audiences will continue to have free to air access to the world’s leading club competition.
“This success, in conjunction with the rights to broadcast our national team’s European and World Cup qualifiers for 2020 & 2022, guarantees top class football on RTÉ platforms for the seasons ahead.”
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I expect a big win for United today. West Brom are bottom of the league and the worst team in the league for a reason.
@Darragh Martin: West Brom have something to play for, United’s season is as good as over
@Alana: 12 points from safety with 5 games to go. They’re long gone
@Alana: West Brom have had something to play for, for the last few months and have done nothing about it. Too many passengers that are thinking about a move on. Jonny Evans probably the biggest culprit. I say all of this as a West Brom fan.
@David Mc Nally: is that the same cup that Ferguson said he didn’t rate and actually pulled out of it a few years ago ? How times have changed
@David Mc Nally: Exactly,mourinho plays his teams nothing like Ferguson,hopefully win the FA cup,a strong finish to the season,get rid of the deadwood and sign a few better replacements,
@Alana: when did Fergie say he didn’t rate the cup? Id love to hear that. Or are you just talking nonsense?
@John Connolly: sure they’ve been getting rid of the deadwood every season and spending big on transfers
@Brian Dunne: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/feb/24/manchester-united-fa-cup-pellegrini-manchester-city-chelsea-everton
@Alana: sorry mate, absolutely nowhere in that link does fergie say he doesn’t rate the cup.
@Alana: and yet another account by Jamie alanb. What a sad pathetic loser you are.
@Ardmore02: Just mute him he is filth pretended to have autism awhile back until he got reported dilly dilly
@David Mc Nally: best domestic competition after the league? So , better than the league cup you mean? Not much competition in fairness
@Back pass: it’d explain a lot
I don’t mind as long as both teams score, each team gets 4 yellows and has 4 corners each….. Euro left in my account so had me one of those novelty bets