Sporting events set to cost RTÉ €10m

CASH-STRAPPED RTÉ will have to pay out up to €10 million to broadcast the soccer World Cup and the Six Nations Rugby games this year.

Sources say costs associated with being the Irish host broadcaster for the Six Nations – as well as broadcasting the World Cup – at €10m.

The main costs relate to rights acquisitions. RTÉ tenders for the World Cup as part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) but the domestic organisation, as well as other broadcasters, will also be hit with the new levy imposed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) in 2010.