Eircom League seals lucrative TV deal

The FAI has announced a new television deal with RTE, TG4 and Setanta Sports which will see 29 eircom League and FAI Cup matches broadcast live or “as live” every year with the prize fund for the league rising from €98,000 to €400,000.

24 matches will be broadcast live by the three channels during the year, starting with RTE’s coverage of Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers on March 18.

Along with Setanta Cup coverage and the envisaged coverage of Irish clubs in European competition this summer, it means that more than one game a week will be shown live on television.

The increase in exposure is a massive boost for the eircom League.

Interim FAI chief executive John Delaney believes the extra publicity will benefit domestic football in the same way as television has benefited GAA and rugby.

A “television committee” is to be set up to decide which games will be shown and at what times. The eircom League will decide itself how to split the increased prize money.