RTÉ WILL CONTINUE to show Uefa Champions League football across several of their platforms for the next three years after the national broadcaster retained its rights for Europe’s elite club competition.
With its previous contract expiring in 2015, RTÉ have once again secured the premium package of Irish terrestrial rights for Wednesday night fixtures.
The new deal runs up to and including the competition’s 2017/18 final and sees the broadcaster’s live coverage include streaming on the RTÉ Player, online, on mobile and on tablet devices.
“This is a great result for RTÉ and for Irish sports fans,” said Ryle Nugent, RTÉ’S head of sport.
“The UEFA Champions League is undoubtedly the premier club tournament in world football and retaining live free-to-air Wednesday night rights and highlights is in keeping with RTÉ Sport’s aim of bringing national teams, national games and, in the case of the Champions League, major events to Irish audiences.”
The market for sports broadcasting rights is becoming increasingly competitive and RTÉ have hailed the new deal as a ‘significant achievement’. BT Sport have outbid Sky Sports for next season’s rights in a deal worth a staggering £1 billion over three years.
This year’s competition has reached the knock-out stages after the conclusion of the group phase this week. The draw for the Round of 16 takes place in Nyon on Monday.
Originally published 11.41.
