$ky $ports & FAI (Forgot the Audiences were Irish)

[Liamo]

Any views on the FAI selling out our viewing rights to $ky $ports ?

Personally, I'm disgusted! Apart from Sky having a habit of moving all the good sports off Sky Sports 1 (which requires a subscription fee) to Sky Sports 2 (which requires even more of a subscription fee), I think it's lousy that a national event should be sold off to a foreign company!

Here's hoping that the Government kick the FAI into touch with funding, etc ("You've got your €7.5 million now, so you won't need the grant") and that public opinion gets the games back where they belong - on a free service available to the whole country!

Any views ???

[7incher]

I agree Liam its a disgrace. Have RTE lost all the games?

[Billy Dane]

No, they haven't. They can still bid for the away games.

I think the reaction to this is similar to in the UK when England games were first bought up by Sky - and you hear nothing about it now.

If you had something to sell and on one hand you were getting €10m and less than €1m on the other, where would you sell to?

I don't blame the FAI. If somebody here had got their act together and we weren't relying on the UK for satellite tv, it would've happened ages ago!

[7incher]

I thought tv3 had the away games and anyway I digress because RTE should have got the finger out. So we are going to have to pay to see our national team qualify for Euro 2002? Can someone tell me why I pay for my license again? Anyone??????

[vinylpusher]

I read an article about it the other day whereby the Head of Sport at RTE (quote) "assumed that the negotiations would still be open" by the time he returned from hioliday.
Yet another example of RTE method of thinking, and they should be kicking themselves for lacklustre negotiation skills.

Simple negotiations involve making an initial offer with the sentiment of "if we can agree on terms, will we have a deal TODAY?", then proactively ironing out the differences to close the box.
What RTE appeared to do was put in a bid, then sit back and wait for the FAI to get back to them. Fatal mistake.

In fairness though, the FAI should have been quick to entice RTE (and TV3) to offer counter bids instead of suddenly closing the deal with Sky's original offer. They were probably thinking of all the junkets they could get for that money.

[Radio Mad]

While I may have very good reason to criticise RTE in certain departments (pardon the pun), I don’t think they can be found wanting when it comes to their football acquisitions and coverage over the years. Their excellent coverage – superior in quality to both BBC and ITV - of the recent World Cup, is proof positive to me that they have the commitment and ability in this area.

Conversely, the FAI have shown themselves repeatedly to be a disgracefully short-sighted, corrupt, inept, unprofessional organisation – an embarrassment to Irish football and those of us who care about the domestic league and national team.

The FAI’s Brendan Menton appeared on TV3 News tonight saying they knew the Irish public would be annoyed with the decision, but failed to offer any justification for the decision made.

The sooner he and his fellow travellers, whose remit is to safeguard and grow this great sport in our country, are removed from the privileged positions they occupy, the better we will be for it.

[Billy Dane]

excellent article from munster express
You'd swear the SKY had fallen in on us...

W hen it comes to double standards, you'll never beat the Irish - and you can sing that. As Roy Keane might protest, ''Of course I'd rather watch Ireland on RTE than SKY. Of course I would.'' However, unlike some of the bleeding hearts given airtime this week, this sporting life isn't always that simple.

Soccer, unlike gaelic games, is something that RTE does well and all the Andy Gray gizzmos, interactive buttons and TV3-isms in the world won't make up for the absence of Giles, Dunphy and Brady on an international Wednesday.

However, just because George Hamilton is in ''danger here'' commentator country, are the FAI (and I'm certainly not about to start apologising for those lads) supposed to accept a 'take it or leave it' E1.8m from RTE, when there's more than five times that on offer from Murdoch/TV3 Inc.?

That's what's being suggested here. The same people emoting all over the airwaves since last Friday about how ''the association'' has thrown the loyalty of the best fans in the world back in their faces, are the same ladies and gentlemen who six weeks ago were demanding that the Irish team be afforded the best facilities on planet football.

The same ones who were baying for blood when Roy Keane (rightly) highlighted how we always seem to have to accept second best. The ''let's get professional'' brigade, who at the first sign of business being conducted wave the ''national interest'' flag.

The FAI are not responsible to television viewers. While far less well-off, the Irish soccer body, unlike the GAA, is effectively a confederation of limited companies (clubs), whose purpose is to make a profit, or more realistically, break-even.

RTE's offer, by all accounts, was pathetic and the idea of a Government buy-out of the SKY contract when they're himmin' and hawwin' about granting a licence fee increase, even more so. We should be thankful that SKY are confident enough to stake a claim in the Irish football product at a time when the game in Britain is in painful transition, not casting them as the devil incarnate.

Listening to some of the bleating on radio this week - and not all of it coming from callers - you'd swear we were being deprived of the last rites, for God's sake.

Take the European Championships: we're talking about four home matches over a period of 18 months against - swoon - Russia, Albania, Georgia and Switzerland... have we lost all sense of perspective?

I take the point that the FAI has acted in its own, insular commercial interests while receiving taxpayers' funds in the form of Government grant aid - not to mention a free home whenever (and it's a big when?) the new national stadium is built.

However, the amount of money the hardly non-profitable GAA has been given notwithstanding their bull-headed refusal to adhere to overwhelming public opinion in favour of soccer at Croke Park, somewhat undermines the 'selfish FAI' argument.

Remember, it's not that long since former GAA President Jack Boothman told Marian Finucane on 'Liveline' that his organisation would not tolerate any attempt to legislate to keep the broadcasting of Gaelic games on domestic channels; that it had to maintain an open policy to ensure the maximum revenue potential.

While that was undoubtedly a bargaining chip he was playing, what some people would see as an appalling vista - getting their GAA 'fix' via satellite - may not be as 'pie in the SKY' as it once seemed; though it's hard to see just where hurling and gaelic would fit into the advertiser-driven British TV schedule.

But back to the double standards on display these past few days. Like what's all this dirge about poor kids having to go down to the pub to watch matches ''live'' (respectful nod to Bill O'Herlihy), as if a child had never darkened the door of their local before.

Pubs all over this town are awash with Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal jersied youngsters every weekend of the Premiership season, while their parents get the drinks in; the same parents who are now complaining that they can't afford to get a dish or digibox installed (at a fraction of the cost of the oversized TV sets in their sitting rooms). It's amazing how many can actually manage to take in United v Arsenal each season but will now seemingly find it 'impossible' to see Ireland's games.

I mean, it's not as if all those - myself included - who gathered in pubs during the World Cup in fire safety regulation-defying numbers at half-seven in the morning, or at the ''later'' time of 12.30pm, were forced there at gunpoint. The same people who tut, tut, tutted when Dunphy appeared all tired and emotional, ''live.'' The privilege of those who're paying to watch rather than being paid to analyse, I guess.

(By the way, I had to laugh at the comment on a GAA website that ''the FAI couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.'' Well, if Milo - a sales rep' for Murphys in his pre-presidential incarnation - can't, no one can!).

But seriously, the fact is that - and here's what we should really be concerning ourselves with - Irish citizens are being ripped off left, right and centre in shops, pubs, restaurants and countless other service outlets all over this country every day of the week; not by the big, bad ruthless Rupert (who, cheek of cheeks, wants to sell us extra TV channels) but by ordinary businesspeople who've outrageously hiked already exorbitant prices to cash-in on the euro changeover; happily taking us for the fools that we are.

We're content to pay several times over the odds for a glass of water, but bitch like hell when what we're asked to pay for something we previously got for free. It's a bit like the old refuse charges - except there's less rubbish talked about that.

Okay, so RTE definitely deserved at least a phone call from the FAI, who made a typical balls of their P.R. (though Brendan Menton can hardly have been in too much of a hurry to be nice given the rough ride he received from the strategically recalled Dunphy, Herlihy and Houghton on telly the previous Sunday night), but there is a sense that the station had it - and should have seen it - coming.

The national broadcaster's sports department has itself made a habit of taking purely financially-motivated decisions without warning or explanation to the viewing public. Wimbledon? What's that... The Premiership. Now you see it, now you don't. Then you do again. Snooker? Sure, if whassisname, yer man Doherty, gets in the final we'll probably show the last bit... maybe.

RTE has for years got away with its low-rent current affairs and drama output (no 'Questions & Answers' in this of all weeks!) by pointing to the quality of - some areas of - its sports coverage.

With the Champions League also out of RTE's reach for the foreseeable future, the soccer makeweight is no more. However, instead of following the example of the BBC - which, having had its traditional sporting possessions ripped from its grasp by SKY and ITV, resisted the urge to moan and attack its rivals and instead used it as an opportunity to tackle sport in a different, more documentary-orientated light - RTE has wailed about being ''betrayed'' and ''cloak and dagger'' moves against its perma-lazy monopoly.

With the money saved on an important but not critical contract, RTE, if it would only stop feeling sorry for itself and playing the blame game for a minute, might recognise this as an unprecedented chance to invest in hitherto neglected areas of its sports broadcasting.

GAA immediately springs to mind, even if Croker will more or less have RTE over a barrell when their deal comes up for renegotiation. Our national games remain the poor relation of the sports department at Montrose, compared to the preparation, professionalism and promotion that goes into transmitting international soccer (as opposed to domestic action, which has always come across as a token gesture).

It's almost as if RTE has been out to impress/compete with the big league media players in the UK, whereas with hurling and gaelic football, with a strictly home-grown/ex-pat's audience, it's almost a case of 'sure that'll do.'

RTE should be going all-out to produce the best coverage of any sport in the world. If the GAA gets its act together outside of Croke Park as regards the standard of provincial grounds we might get close to at last presenting gaelic games as something to be proud of in an international context, and not some ramshackle operation.

*MEMO TO MONTROSE - It doesn't have to be ''live'' lads, or soccer for that matter. Good will do just fine.

[Pierce]

I read see in the irish Independent that Sky now have the rights to Sunday Mass is it true ??

Sky poaches the TV rights to Sunday Mass, while TV3 takes on the Angelus

MEANWHILE, in another part of the jungle ... This morning, the Sunday Independent can confirm that Sky Television has purchased the rights to the Sunday Mass. Although a staple of RTE for the past 40 years, the weekly Mass was poached by Sky in a negotiating coup understood to be worth several million euro.

Reached for a comment last night, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told this newspaper, "Ah, Jayzus, I'm gobsmacked." A source close to the Taoiseach said he hopes to put pressure on the Catholic Church to ensure that the Mass will be available to all TV viewers, not just those who subscribe to Sky, "at least on Christmas Day".

A senior Catholic Church source said that the Church was quite entitled to make a commercial decision and to achieve the best deal possible. "We live in a market society. Only the politically correct would expect us to turn down a chance to maximise our earnings. This money will be used to develop our local parishes throughout the country."

It's understood that part of the package negotiated with Sky involves TV3. According to sources, the Angelus will transfer to TV3. A spokesman for the station said, "We're delighted. This alone will represent a 30 per cent increase in our home- produced programming."

It's understood that TV3 intends to make the most of the move by increasing the Angelus from one minute to 10 minutes.

"And," said the TV3 spokesman, "unlike bloody RTE, we'll be putting out the Angelus in prime time."

It's understood that TV3 will move the Angelus to 8.30pm, in order to attract a bigger audience. And there will be a 70-minute omnibus edition on Sundays.

RTE will retain the rights to cover Papal visits and canonisations.

The Catholic Church source told the Sunday Independent that the move represents a new strategy.

"Given the fall in vocations, we anticipate that it won't be long before live attendance at Mass will be untenable it'll all be done over television. We've been assured that Sky will bring proper production values to the job, with no more than three advertising breaks per Mass. They've also promised to provide a first-rate commentary team."

Asked about the disappointment of young people whose parents can't afford Sky, the Church source said, "Sure, they can always go to Mass at a nearby pub and see it on the big screen."

RTE was unable to provide a spokesperson. It's understood that the executive responsible for negotiating the renewal of the Mass contract is on his holidays.

what is RTE up to Giving everthing away

[John Fleming]

Now that all the ballyhoo has died down, until October anyway, two things I'd like to say on this whole matter.

I get the impression that the majority who are complaining about this deal are armchair supporters and that they've never been to a match in their lives. And on top of that they want the ticket-buying supporter to subsidise them! If they were true supporters, they wouldn't be arsed if the games were live only in Outer Mongolia.

I've no idea how much a ticket for a game is but I'd guess it's in the region of €25-35? A month's Sky Sports is €45. And for that you'll also get non-stop Premiership, Nationwide, FA & League Cups, Scotland & England matches, German and Spanish football, plus wall-to-wall football analysis programmes.
Not to mention the dozens upon dozens of general entertainment, children's, news and documentary channels you also get by default, and all in the comfort of your own home as opposed to a freezing terrace.

I've seen some 'supporters' say that "Yes, I know I can watch it in the pub, but I WANT to support the boys in the comfort of my own living room" HELLO! Support means getting the ground and screaming your backside off, not sitting by a cosy fire yelling at a referee who has a greater chance of hearing Joe Duffy take a caller from outside Clontarf :)

The FAI have indeed sold true supporters up the swanee, but not by selling their package to Sky. They did it many years ago, after the first Irish qualification to a major tournament. Up to that point, only a hardcore of self-proclaimed 'best supporters in the world' could be found at the matches, which never hit capacity. With the surge of interest in the team, these genuine supporters were sold out to make way for corporate hospitality packages and found they could no longer get a ticket. Where were the bleating hearts then?

Onto the GAA. The same organisation who stated a while ago that they reserve the right to sell their games to Sky, in an opportunist moment during the backlash against the FAI, said they would never sell! Yeah right!
This is the same organisation who have sold their package to an international PPV channel (that's true Pay Per View folks, Sky Sports was lazily referred to as a PPV channel by so many reporters, Sky Sports is actually a subscription channel), and in order to protect that package in the UK, prevent Irish satelite viewers from watching on the off-chance Irish cards end up in the UK!

Nurse, wipe down my brow :)

[stayin alive]

i agree it's a disgrace but look on the plus side lads , we wont have to suffer that MUPPET , Bill O Herlihey he knows basically nothing about the game and asks the obvious questions , he's typical RTE and his appauling accent is very hard on the ear .
maybe if they sold Bog Ball to sky as well we wouldn't have to suffer Michael Lyster either .....

[Mike Flynn]

The Republic of Ireland soccer team's European Championship qualifying game next week now seems likely to be broadcast only to Sky subscribers following a decision by Sky not to broadcast it on Sky One or any free-to-air terrestrial television station, writes Miriam Donohoe.

The Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, will bring a list of sporting and cultural events, including home soccer internationals, which he wants broadcast free-to-air under the EU Television Without Frontiers Directive to Cabinet for approval today.

However, the broadcasting protection procedure will not be finalised on time to ensure next Wednesday's Ireland-Switzerland game can be broadcast live on RTÉ or TV3 on October 16th.

There was surprise in Government circles last night that Sky was not going to show the game free-to-air as Mr Ahern had been given strong indications to that effect in the last month.

Sources said there had been strenuous behind-the-scenes efforts to broker a deal with Sky and the broadcaster had given the Minister and his officials the impression it was prepared to walk away from the deal with the FAI.

There was uproar earlier this year when it emerged that the FAI had sold broadcasting rights for all of Ireland's home European Championship qualifying games to Sky Sports for €7.5 million.

Following the public furore, Sky indicated it would allow the game to be shown on Sky One, which can be seen by 600,000 people in Ireland, and maybe even on free-to-air television. However The Irish Times has learned that Sky is planning only to show the game live on Sky Sports and on TV3 35 minutes after the final whistle.

Following the outcry over the Sky deal, Mr Ahern put in train a process for drawing up a list of sporting and cultural events to be protected under the EU Directive.

A preliminary list was published on July 17th and a process of public consultation began. A spokesman for the Minister said last night that Mr Ahern promised to bring a full list for approval to Cabinet after the summer recess. Until the process was complete, the Minister did not have the power to force the issue.

Mr Brendan Menton, general secretary of the FAI, said it had originally been his understanding that the game would be shown on Sky One and on free-to-air television. He said that events appear to have been overtaken since then by the listing issue. He did not want to comment further.

© The Irish Times

[Bananas]

And i'll be in the pub either way watching Ireland matches so it doesn't make a differance...

[Mike Flynn]

Sky told Minister it would pull out of deal
By Mark Hennessy, Political Reporter

SKY Television told the Government a month ago it was prepared to back away from its controversial deal to show the Republic's soccer home internationals on subscription channels, it has emerged.

The declaration was made during a meeting in early September between Sky executives and the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, and departmental officials.

However, the satellite broadcast company later told the Football Association of Ireland that it was not going to quit the multi-million euro deal.

"It is not clear whether they were using a withdrawal as a negotiating tactic," a Government source said last night.

The Government has been angered by Sky's decision to screen next Wednesday's international match with Russia on Sky Sports rather than on Sky One, which is available to far more households.

"But we will definitely have this sorted out by the time the next home international comes around next June. Of that, there is no doubt. And we will deal with the retrospection issue, if necessary, in a way that will be legally binding," a Government source said.

Meanwhile, the FAI was told yesterday that the Government would give it a clear decision about the future of the National Stadium project in Abbottstown by the end of November.

The issue of the Sky contract was not raised at yesterday's meeting between the FAI and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, and the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue.

The meeting was sought by the FAI in the wake of the Government's decision not to spend Exchequer money developing Abbottstown, but, instead, to invite tenders from the private sector. Following the meeting, the FAI treasurer, Mr John Delaney, said the association would shortly submit applications for €20 million in State funding for soccer projects in the Republic "and would expect them to be paid".

© The Irish Times

[Anorak]

By Stephen McMahon in the SBP

RTE is expected to offer the Football Association of Ireland close to e3 million for the broadcasting rights to all of Ireland's home soccer internationals in the qualifying phase for both the 2004 European Championships and 2006 Wo

This follows last week's decision by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dermot Ahern, to publish legislation ringfencing certain sporting events for broadcast on terrestrial television.

The government is keen that the legislation is passed in the Oireachtas in time for Ireland's next home match against Albania on June 7. Its retrospective clause will override the FAI's e12.5 million exclusive contract with SkyTelevision.

Senior media rights negotiators believe a figure in the region of e3 million will be the eventual sum agreed between RTE and the FAI.The national broadcaster is expected to offer over e250,000 per game for the nine home fixtures.

Industry sources believe RTE will attempt to save money by doing a deal on a non-exclusive basis, with the game being broadcast simultaneously on RTE and Sky.

``The success of RTE's broadcasting format for soccer internationals means they are not worried about viewers switching over,'' said a media rights industry source.

RTE's financial position has improved considerably since the introduction of the television licence fee increase last year.

The e43 increase to e150 per year has put the broadcaster in a much stronger position than when it bid e1.7 million for the rights last summer.

Sky's e5 million contract with the FAI for the rights to broadcast Ireland's home matches in the British market will remain in place. If RTE pays close to e3 million then the FAI will be left with a e4.5 million financial shortfall from the e12.5 million deal. The association fears a financing shortage will leave the game's long-term funding in danger.

``There is an absolute need to maximise funding to plough back into the game, whether from government, TV rights or match revenues'', said an FAI spokesman.

The association expects to make a small profit for 2002. Including the e12.5 million of Sky's money, the FAI is projecting a loss of e500,000 on a turnover of e15 million for 2003.

Government sources said the minister is trying to strike a balance between the sporting organisations getting a revenue stream from their broadcasting rights and the need for terrestrial television to broadcast sporting events of national importance.

RTE refused to comment on its future plans.

[Mike Flynn]

By Mark Hennessy, Political Reporter of The Irish Times

The Football Association of Ireland could demand significant Government compensation following an EU committee's decision to back its wish to keep some sporting events on free-to-air television.

Following a meeting in Brussels, experts reporting to European Education and Culture Commissioner, Mr Viviane Redding, said they found a list put forward by the Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, to be "unobjectionable".

The events protected include the Republic's home and away soccer European Championships and World Cup qualifying matches, the All-Ireland hurling and football finals, the Irish Derby and the Irish Grand National. In addition, Ireland's Six Nations rugby matches have been placed on a deferred broadcast list - but that is currently of little significance since RTÉ already holds the rights to broadcast them live.

The decision of the Education and Culture Contact Committee to "adopt" the Irish list effectively guarantees that the Commissioner will accept it, though a formal decision is weeks away. Forwarded last November, it was "consistent with the aims and the provisions" of EU rules to keep the broadcasting of key cultural and sporting events on free-to-air television, the committee said. Mr Ahern must now ask the Oireachtas to approve the list. Once that happens, the Commission will publish it in the EU's official journal.

The FAI provoked public outrage last summer when it emerged that it had signed an exclusive €7.5 million deal with Sky television to broadcast Ireland's home European Championship matches live to audiences in the Republic.

In a parallel deal, TV3 won rights to broadcast the matches "as live" one hour after the final whistle, though opponents of the deal have argued that this did little to soothe fans' grievances.

Last night, the FAI said it would "carefully study" any EU decision, though sources strongly hinted that the Government would have to make up the €7.5 million if the Sky deal is to fall.

"The continuing development of football in Ireland means there is a clear need to secure the maximum possible revenues from all income streams, including TV rights, government support and match revenues," the association said.

The FAI's financial situation has been complicated by the Genesis report, which demanded significant management changes and more professional organisation behind the national team.

"All of this costs money. It can only be funded in three ways and we don't have the option of increasing match ticket prices, particularly if the next few results are not great," one source told The Irish Times. In addition, the FAI now believes it has little if any chance of getting the €20 million worth of capital grants from the Government which had promised as part of the Abbotstown deal.

Meanwhile, both Sky and the FAI have been told by the chairman of the Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Noel O'Flynn, that they will have to appear before his committee to "explain their reasons" if they insist on trying to go ahead with the deal.

The head of Sky's Irish operations, Mr Mark Deering, would not comment last night.

Mr Ahern said: "Throughout this process I had endeavoured, in talks with Sky Sports and the FAI, to ensure that major sports events would remain free- to-air. These talks were not successful to date, but I intend to ensure that sports fans, particularly the young and the elderly, can still see major sports events on free-to-air television."

© The Irish Times

[Mike Flynn]

IRISH INDEPENDENT

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Dermot Ahern has firmly ruled out any prospect of the State compensating the FAI for loss of revenue if it is forced to alter its exclusive TV deal with Sky television for Irish soccer games.

New legislation to allow RTÉ or TV3 access to coverage of the games in the European and World Cup qualifying championships was cleared by the Oireachtas last week and will shortly become law.

The deal between the FAI and Sky was worth about €11m to the football body and it is no longer clear how that deal for exclusive rights will stand once RTÉ or TV3 get access.

The laws ringfence a number of major sporting events to ensure they remain "free to air".

They contain provisions to allow either RTÉ or TV3 seek a High Court order directing that coverage be provided for a fee.

Ireland's next home game against Albania on June 7, crucial to the bid to qualify for the 2004 European Championships, is covered by the Sky contract and will be the first real test of the new laws.

Initially there were suggestions the FAI might challenge the legality of the new legislation, but this looks unlikely as the Association is also seeking State funds for a new stadium.

It is also certain that both RTE and TV3 will use the Broadcasting Act to gain access to coverage of Ireland's remaining games in the European Championships.

This outcome would end Sky's exclusive rights and that prospect has caused deep concern in the FAI that it might not get the funds agreed with Sky.

Mr Ahern, however, has insisted taxpayers' money will not be used to make good any shortfall. The minister takes the view the FAI entered a contract with Sky knowing the State had the right to insist on top sports events remaining free to air.

RTE or TV3 would have to pay an agreed fee to the FAI, but it is doubtful whether this would be anything like the sums agreed with Sky. RTE also faces long-term decisions on logistics for broadcast transmissions, amid expectations the BBC will leave the Sky satellite platform in May and instead provide all channels on a free satellite service.

RTE, TV3 and TG4 all went on the Sky platform last year, extending reach to customers not using cable systems. With the BBC set to move to a free satellite service, RTE must decide whether to stay with Sky or join the BBC venture.

If RTE joined the BBC it would give the national broadcaster penetration to a UK market of over 60m people - but this could see it face higher charges for US shows. This difficulty does not arise with Sky, as RTE's output is only available to Republic subscribers.


Brian Dowling
Political Correspondent

[Mike Flynn]

By Arthur Beesley, Political Reporter

RTÉ has indicated that it wants to avoid going to the courts to secure rights from the FAI to broadcast home soccer internationals live.

The State broadcaster lost the rights last year when the FAI made an agreement with Sky which confined live coverage of Rep of Ireland home games to the satellite broadcaster.

However, the Government intervened, passing new legislation to designate certain events for "free to air" broadcasts. That legislation came into effect last week, effectively superseding the FAI-Sky deal.

RTÉ said yesterday that it had contacted the relevant bodies with a view to reaching an agreement before Ireland's next home match in the European Championship qualifying series on June 7th, against Albania.

The legislation allows broadcasters to seek a High Court direction to provide access to games if they cannot agree commercial terms with a sporting organisation.

Worth about €12.5 million to the soccer body, the FAI-Sky deal valued the Irish rights to Ireland's home games in the European Championship at €7.5 million. The international rights to the games were worth €5 million.

The Irish Football Supporters Association said yesterday the Government should compensate the FAI, an option already ruled out by the Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern.

With the FAI projecting a €500,000 deficit this year, it is believed that the organisation will attempt to bundle the rights for all home games in the championship in order to maximise their potential value.

Sky has not made any public comment on the legislation.

© The Irish Times