Shelbourne players and staff celebrate with the trophy in front of the Riverside stand at Tolka Park in Dublin. Picture: SPORTSFILE
A significant shift in Irish sports broadcasting is on the horizon, with RTE facing the likelihood of losing its rights to broadcast League of Ireland games for the 2025 season. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is reportedly on the verge of awarding an exclusive deal to Virgin Media, a decision that would mark a substantial loss for RTE’s sports coverage.
The National League Committee’s Decision
The National League Committee, the governing body of the League of Ireland, has recently approved the idea of granting full TV rights to Virgin Media. The committee’s move came after Virgin Media offered to cover 36 games in the 2025 season, significantly outpacing RTE’s proposed coverage of 20 matches.
Initial Approval, Final Decision Pending
While the committee has endorsed the concept of moving forward with Virgin Media, the ultimate decision will require approval from the FAI board, given the commercial nature of the deal. Top-flight clubs within the League of Ireland support Virgin Media’s proposal, advocating for the increased coverage it promises over RTE’s current offering.
This decision reflects a desire among league executives to provide more frequent and comprehensive coverage, ensuring a live game each week.
Enhanced Coverage vs. Production Costs
Virgin Media’s enhanced coverage proposal includes an additional camera setup, enhancing the broadcast quality significantly compared to the standard feed used by League of Ireland TV. On the other hand, RTE’s production costs are notably higher, a factor that may have influenced the committee’s decision.
Previous Collaboration and Recent Trends
In the past, RTE and Virgin Media had shared coverage of the League of Ireland, with Virgin Media gradually increasing its commitment in the last few seasons. In 2023, Virgin Media covered seven matches, which they doubled to 14 the following year. Between the two stations in 2024, a total of 30 league matches (including the promotion/relegation playoff) were broadcast.
The rise in TV viewership was evident, with a recorded 42% increase over the previous season. Notably, Shelbourne’s final night title win in Derry City, which aired on RTE, attracted a peak audience of 400,000 viewers, marking the most-watched moment in the league’s history.
Implications for RTE
RTE staff were informed in a meeting on Wednesday afternoon that they are likely to lose the rights to broadcast League of Ireland games. This decision comes shortly after the National League Committee met 24 hours earlier to endorse the Virgin Media proposal.
The shift in broadcast rights highlights the evolving landscape of sports media, with commercial broadcasters stepping up to fill gaps left by traditional public broadcasters like RTE, which must now adapt to this changing dynamic.
FAI Cup and European Coverage
It’s worth noting that Virgin Media’s deal includes exclusive coverage of 36 League of Ireland games but does not extend to FAI Cup and European matches. As such, RTE