New UEFA TV deal won't affect Irish viewers

IRISH viewers will not be affected by UEFA's decision to grant satellite broadcaster BSkyB and ITV the rights to broadcast live Champions League matches for 2003-06 in the UK.

The deal will have no implications for the Irish market as such agreements are undertaken on a nation by nation basis. TV3 currently have the rights to Champions League coverage in the Republic but this deal concludes after the Final in May.

However, UEFA have yet to outline their plans for any subsequent contracts. Michael Lynn, executive producer of Champions League for TV3, explained that television networks here are adopting a wait and see policy.

"UEFA still have to issue the tender document outlining their plans for rights in Ireland," Mr Lynn said last night. "Obviously, negotiations will commence once UEFA set out their terms but what they have done is concentrate on finalising deals in the UK and Spain, firstly, as these have proven to be their biggest markets.

ITV, until now the sole British rights holder, will screen two live Champions League games on Tuesdays, with BSkyB able to show the remaining games live on the same night. BSkyB, which has a pay-TV platform, has exclusive rights to show all Wednesday night games.

Both broadcasters will also be able to show highlights programmes on the respective nights, a spokesperson for UEFA said, and they will screen the Champions League final live simultaneously.

The deal marks the first time BSkyB have won the rights to broadcast Champions League games live. They plan to show 14 matches exclusively live in each week of the Champions League group stages.

The ruling body, which said it had also received -a competitive bid- from the BBC, gave no financial details of the deals which are subject to contracts being finalised.

''We are delighted to retain our association with a competition ITV have been involved with from the very first kick of the very first game 10 years ago," ITV controller of sport Brian Barwick said yesterday.

''To have exclusive terrestrial rights to the world's premier club competition for another three years underlines our commitment to top class sport. This is a terrific boost for ITV1, and for ITV2 which will also show live Tuesday evening Champions League action throughout the competition.

Sky is to broadcast 14 Champions League matches live each week and British viewers will have the chance to watch any by using the digital interactive service.

Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports, said: ''The Champions League broadened the horizons of football fans far beyond the game's traditional local base and this dream offering, is possible only by the unique interactive capacity of Sky digital.

''Every single game played in the competition will now be seen live in the UK and, as fans ourselves, we are excited at the prospect of being involved in this new era.