The battle for TV rights and viewers take most of the headlines but in Ireland especially radio is also a highly prized asset when it comes to live rights and supporting material.
Newstalk has made a great success of it’s taking Off the Ball into as roadshow format around certain key sporting events, and RTÉ are this evening putting on a live show with Game On from the Aviva Stadium on the eve of the Guinness Autumn Internationals.
Aviva are backing the creation of the Aviva Fan Studio where 50 fans will be in the live audience to see and hear Donncha O’Callaghan, Ken Doherty and CJ Stander preview Saturday’s big game with host Damien O’Meara.
The show will be broadcast live at 7pm on 2FM and will also be streamed live online at rte.ie/gameontv. The series will continue in advance of each of the Rugby and Soccer internationals to be held at the stadium over the coming weeks.
Sport for Business understands that ‘down to the wire’ discussions are also taking place about bringing on a major retail brand as programme sponsors of RTÉ’s live commentary on the matches against South Africa, Georgia and Australia.
Rugby stars remain in strong demand for radio interviews as well. Cian Healy was interviewed on last night’s Off the Ball as part of a deal with Irish mattress makers King Coil with whom he is signed as an ambassador and where presumably he will be able to rest up while recuperating from injury.
Fit members of the squad were out in force at yesterday’s Web Summit before going into lock down ahead of the match.
Image Credit / Pat Murphy, Sportsfile
