Reports this week have suggested that a new 24-hour sports television channel dedicated to minority sports that saw a raised profile during the Olympics will be launched in November.
The channel will be UK based and operated by Highflyer, the independent production company that has been a long time producer of Channel 4 and RTE horse racing coverage.  Highflyer lost the contract to produce Channel 4’s coverage earlier this year.
The premise behind the idea is to maintain and nurture the interest shown in such large volumes during the Olympics and sports such as athletics, cycling, hockey, volleyball and handball would be among those to benefit most.
It is likely that little rights fees would be paid in the early stages and it may complicate existing and planned ventures that individual sports may have with online broadcasting but any increase in exposure outside of the culmination of the Olympic cycle is to be applauded.
Sport for Business will look to secure more detail on this new venture in the coming weeks and ascertain what opportunities it may present to Irish sport.
Sports broadcasting will be the feature of the Sport for Business November Members’ Round Table event.
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