RTÉ and TV3 to share Euro 2016 coverage

RTÉ and TV3 have reached an agreement that will see TV3 sub-licence 22 of the 51 games of the UEFA Euro 2016 Finals.

The agreement will see RTÉ retaining rights for 30 of the games, including all of the Republic of Ireland’s matches and grants exclusive rights to TV3 for 21 games.

Both broadcasters will air the European Championships Final live.

RTÉ retain first choice on matches in the knock-out stages and will broadcast a highlights programme on each night of the tournament.

“In an increasingly competitive and high cost sports rights market, RTÉ has sought a solution to secure and deliver sport to the Irish audience," Ryle Nugent, Group Head of RTÉ Sport said

"RTÉ is delighted to partner with TV3, another Irish broadcaster, to ensure that the UEFA Euro 2016 Finals are delivered to Irish audiences free-to-air”.

UEFA #EURO2016 Live on TV3
TV3 to broadcast 22 matches live from France this summer!https://t.co/6jSfXJkVL8 pic.twitter.com/099tj3CmTZ

— Virgin Media Television (@VirginMedia_TV) March 3, 2016

“This has been a busy and an exciting few weeks for TV3," said Pat Kiely, TV3 Group's managing director. "We are very happy to be collaborating with our old rivals in RTÉ this summer and I am personally very happy to be announcing the start of what is a new era in Irish sports broadcasting.

“We are grateful to everyone who has made it possible including UEFA, with whom we work so well on Champions’ League and our colleagues in RTÉ."

Each broadcaster will put the matches it televises on its own online player.