Sky refuses to deny legal action

SKY TV has refused to rule out legal action if the Government presses ahead with its plans to make major sporting events freely available to terrestrial TV.

Mark Deering, Sky's Irish director, yesterday declined to answer questions about a legal challenge to proposals by Communications Minister, Dermot Ahern, to designate Irish soccer internationals as free-to-air.

Such plans were initiated by the Government last month after details emerged of the controversial 7.5m euro deal between the Rupert Murdoch-owned station and the FAI for exclusive TV rights to Ireland's home internationals in the qualifying stages of the 2004 European Championship.