Each Wednesday we take a look at the world of the Irish and international sports media, the stories, the numbers and the organisations that are, more than ever before, our window on the world of sport…

 

VIRGIN LOSE OUT ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RIGHTS FROM 2022

The decision-making process at UEFA is swift. With first bids only having been placed for coverage of the next round of Champions League TV rights for Ireland in the middle of February the news emerged this week that Virgin Media had failed in its bid to retain non-exclusive rights to the Wednesday night matches in the Champions League and up to 300 games including the Europa League.

Virgin Media TV managing director Paul Farrell told staff on Monday that their bid, though higher than for the current three year round, had been unsuccessful.

No formal confirmation has yet to be made though it is understood that RTÉ has retained its rights to Tuesday night games and that the Virgin package has been won by another third party.

Speculation around this being either DAZN or Amazon prime is thought to be wide of the mark and the most likely bidder is Premier Sports that broadcasts here as part of the Sky Sports Plus package and has certain English premier League rights as well as substantial UK rights to club rugby through the Guinness PRO14 tournament.

eir Sports has been stripped of much of its content through the loss of the BT Sport channels and while it still has certain rights with the GAA and mainly exclusive rights to the Guinness PRO14 here, that could be at risk if the appetite for continuing with the sport as a key driver is missing.

Key individuals like Glen Killane, Brian Quinn and Gordon Britchfield moved on from eir after its latest takeover, while Dermot Rigley who negotiated on behalf of the rights holder has also left.

Virgin’s Champions League coverage is a major element of its own Virgin Media Sport service while the big games on Wednesday’s and up to the Final stage have attracted strong six-figure audiences.

They have made for good television as well with Tommy Martin in the chair and analysis in the studio from Graeme Souness, Niall Quinn and Brian Kerr.

Where the sport budget goes next may well be down to the CVC investment in Six Nations Rugby and whatever changes that brings to the rights that are up for renewal at the end of this year’s Guinness Six Nations.

Virgin Media has retained its rights to UK Horse Racing and will show six races each day live from the Cheltenham Festival later this month.

 

SOCCER REPUBLIC IS AXED

RTÉ Sport has confirmed that Soccer republic, the Monday night sights show from the SSE Airtricity league will not be returning this season.

Speaking to the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, Head of Sport Declan McBennett said that  “a highlights programme with a small audience is no longer feasible from a League of Ireland perspective.”

“We know, and everything points to, since the advent of digital, there are two ways to consume sport.

“There is live, which is the preferred option for 90 per cent of the audience and then there is digital through social media which is immediate.”

“If the highlights programmes were doing extremely well, we would continue with that. But it isn’t and we have to look at the best use of our resources. The fans undoubtedly across all sports want live and digital access.”

That digital access will be facilitated through a commitment to WatchLOI through to the midpoint of the season, at which a decision on resources will be made.

RTÉ will continue to support the Premier Division through regular live Friday night matches.

 

HOPES HIGH FOR LOITV STREAMING

Sport for Business is currently surveying each of the clubs taking part in the SSE Airtricity First Division and Women’s National League about their hopes for the raw feed of streaming that will be provided through the new LOITV service.

We will be featuring their full responses, as well as those of the Premier Division sides in the build-up to the start of the 2021 season.

Initial responses are that the teams are gearing up to promote on social media, and in some cases to seek to drive new sponsorship revenue through the streaming.

 

Sport for Business Partners

Sport for Business Media Members