Heineken Cup final to be FTA in Ireland-Review of listed events

themont85

The government is planning to add the Heineken Cup Final, the blue riband for European rugby union clubs, to a list of sporting events that must be shown live on free-to-air television in Ireland.

The decision is likely to be the most controversial policy change to emerge from a review of the “designated list” of major sporting and cultural events since its introduction in 2003, government sources have revealed.

Eamon Ryan, the communications minister, is due to put his signature to the new list of “events of major importance to society” in September.

It is understood he intends to make the European club rugby union final available live on terrestrial television, and to list the All-Ireland camogie and ladies’ football finals as important national events.

The inclusion of the Heineken Cup on the list, strongly recommended by members of the public in an on-line consultation process, is likely to be opposed by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), BSkyB, which owns the British and Irish live broadcast rights to the tournament, and the event organiser, European Rugby Cup (ERC).

Derek McGrath of the ERC said it would not be appropriate to comment “in the middle of a process” and he would await the outcome of Ryan’s deliberations.

BSkyB also declined to comment, but is believed to have made a submission opposing the listing of the Heineken Cup Final.

Ireland’s designated list currently includes the Olympic Games (summer), the All-Ireland senior football and hurling finals, the Irish Grand National and the Irish Derby. It also stipulates that the Republic of Ireland soccer team’s qualifying games in the European football championship and the World Cup, must be available free to air.

Live coverage of the Irish rugby team’s games in the Rugby World Cup finals tournament is also included on the free-live-coverage register, and the list stipulates that delayed coverage of Ireland’s Six Nations rugby matches must be made available free to air, allowing the IRFU and its fellow rugby unions to charge higher revenues for live broadcast rights.

Great news if it happens. I have Sky but every bit of FTA coverage is great for the game which is growing at a rapid pace here.

CatFromHue

"and the list stipulates that delayed coverage of Ireland’s Six Nations rugby matches must be made available free to air, allowing the IRFU and its fellow rugby unions to charge higher revenues for live broadcast rights."

does anyone else take this to mean by that the door is being opened for sky to get coverage of the 6 nations

Stealdo

CatFromHue wrote: »

does anyone else take this to mean by that the door is being opened for sky to get coverage of the 6 nations

No, I take it as meaning that the door is already and always has been open. It wouldn't really serve the interests of the 6 nations and rugby as a whole to go pay only, but the possibility is there. Remember the row over the RFU selling sky the rights to England's home games? Having the possibility of going to sky allows the 6 nations to negotiate with the national broadcasters from a stronger starting point.

channelsurfer

any update on whether Eamo Ryan has signed the list or is it September 2020 he is gonna sign it?????