RTÉ must deal with Setanta for World Cup coverage

RTÉ will be forced to negotiate with Setanta Sports, the company who outbid them for World Cup Rugby rights, for permission to broadcast Ireland’s matches in the 2007 tournament.

Setanta Sports, the dedicated pay per view Irish Sports channel, has reportedly secured a deal with the International Rugby Board for television rights in the Republic for the showpiece of world rugby in France. However, according to the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act 1999 (Designation of Major Events) Order 2003, Ireland’s games in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament are listed, meaning that they must be free to air to the Irish public.

Setanta Sports which is on the Sky Digital and NTL platform does not achieve this remit meaning RTÉ, along with TV3 and TG4, may enter the bidding for the rights to provide that service. But the deal is a huge blow to RTÉ, who lost Formula One rights to the satellite outfit last year and are also set to lose live Heineken Cup rights to Sky Sports at the end of this season.

Rugby, is one of the central foundations for Setanta Sports who boast exclusive rights to the Celtic League, the French Top 14 and a very successful coverage of Leinster School’s Cup.

RTÉ head of television sport Glen Killane and Setanta Sports chief executive Niall Cogley declined to comment yesterday, while Greg Thomas, IRB communications manager said: “negotiations are ongoing with broadcasters around the world with regards to the rights for World Cup 2007.

“Nothing has been finalised with Setanta, or anyone else, for rights for the Republic of Ireland.

“However we are aware that all of Ireland’s games and the final itself, even if Ireland were not participating would have to be broadcast free to air.”

He admitted that the IRB have previously signed deals with pay per view cable networks. The decision was greeted with some surprise in media circles yesterday. “RTE will argue that 72% of the population will be disenfranchised from the tournament by this decision,” a media source, who did not wish to be identified, said yesterday.

“Certainly the Irish games will be available on free to air, but people wouldn’t have access to all the other games. The rest of the tournament is of value to the public too. Fair play to Setanta but, if it has come to pass, this is a strange decision by the IRB.”