Virgin Media is creating a pay TV station for sporting rights including the Champions’ league but Rugby Coverage of the 6 Nations and the Heineken Cup have been confirmed as staying free to air on what will next week become Virgin Media One.
The 6 Nations is not on the protected list of sports events following a campaign by the Irish Rugby Football Union at the last review to retain the ability to be shown behind a paywall.
“The Grand Slam season gave TV3 our best ever viewing figures and 2019 will be exactly the same,” said Virgin Media Head of Sport Kieran Holden talking to Sport for Business yesterday.
“We have a commitment to the sport and to keeping it right up among Ireland’s most watched sporting moments.”
“We know that is what the viewers want and that is what we want to give them.”
“The only few minutes of the 2018 season that were not shown on what will be Virgin Media One were when we stayed with the celebrations at Twickenham and switched the opening stages of the France Wales game onto Virgin Media Two.”
“Once again it was what the viewers would have expected, and what we delivered.”
Holden also confirmed, categorically, that the Heineken Champions’ Cup would also remain free to air on Virgin Media One. It has been on Pay TV exclusively since 2003.
Ronan O’Gara also confirmed that he will be part of the presentation team for the 6 Nations and the Heineken Cup.
I’m here until January when I’ll be back down to Crusaders but then I’ll be back for the 6 Nations and we will see after that,” he said.
Shane Horgan will also join host Joe Molloy and commentator Dave McIntyre for the big club as well as International fixtures.
Yet again Virgin will go toe to toe with eir Sport who are billing their new and exclusive coverage of the Guinness Pro 14 and, via BT Sport, all other Heineken Cup matches bar one per weekend as being the ‘Home of Rugby.
Competition brings out the best in sport and it is shaping up to be a very competitive match up between the channels over the course of the next few seasons.
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Image Credit: James Crombie, Inpho.ie
