RTÉ and LiveScore Share UEFA Champions League Coverage
On line streaming and sports scoring service LiveScore have replaced Virgin Media as the rights holders to 137 UEFA Champions League matches. RTÉ had already announced its securing of Tuesday Night games along with highlights and the final. The new broadcast/streaming rights will begin with the 2021/2022. Virgin Media announced a few weeks ago that it had pulled out of the bidding process.
On Thursday, May 27th, 2021, RTÉ announce that it was to retain its Tuesday Night UEFA Champions League rights for the next 3 season. RTÉ also picked up highlights package for the rest of the games, while it also secured the broadcast rights to the final.
Today, June 2nd, 2021, LiveScore announce a 3 year deal with UEFA to stream free all Champions League Fixtures for the next 3 years for the Republic of Ireland.
Ric Leask, Marketing Director at LiveScore, said: "We are extremely excited to announce this significant new rights deal, which will provide fully free-to-air live coverage of every single UEFA Champions League match to football fans in Ireland. We look forward to being there for every step of the season, as we bring our users closer to the action with our full offering of live-streamed matches and supporting content."
Group Head of RTÉ Sport, Declan McBennett said: “Bringing Irish audiences the best sporting action free-to-air remains core to RTÉ Sport’s mission. The UEFA Champions League is recognised across the world as the premier club competition sharing amazing moments with supporters and showcasing global superstars. We are delighted to not only retain, but to extend our UEFA Champions League rights ensuring the Irish audience continues to enjoy the competition free-to-air.”
UEFA Champions League rights, Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Marketing Director, said: “UEFA is delighted to be continuing its long-standing partnership with RTE in the Republic of Ireland into the 21-24 cycle. The renewal ensures Irish football fans will continue to benefit from RTE’s high quality coverage of the best of European club football.”
On the addition of LiveScore, he said: "UEFA is delighted to welcome LiveScore as the new broadcaster of UEFA Champions League rights in the Republic of Ireland. We are excited to see the innovative coverage it will deliver and bring comprehensive coverage of the best of European club football to Irish fans for free."