The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced an agreement with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that will ensure continent-wide free-to-air coverage of the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
 
The EBU has secured the media rights to the Games on all platforms in all of its member territories excluding the UK and, for Sochi 2014, Russia.
 
In addition, EBU-operated Eurovision will provide a range of additional broadcast services to the IPC for its championships, including production, distribution and on-site activities.
 
The London 2012 Games were a huge success for Ireland with stars like Michael McKillop, Jason Smyth, Bethany Firth and Mark Rohan making names for themselves and contributing to the nation’s most successful ever games.
 
The coverage from London was broadcast in Ireland live on Setanta Sport who went free to air for the two week period courtesy of a sponsorship deal with Allianz.
 
RTE carried highlights of the events but following the success of London may come under greater pressure in three years time.  The deal with the European Broadcasting Union may reduce the cost that would otherwise have been the case.
 
Paralympics Ireland moved from one commercial partner in Beijing to 18 in London four years on and is currently negotiating a number of extensions and new deals to support the Road to Rio.