3rd August 2021

 

Virgin Media Ireland has announced a major coup for Irish sports fans by securing multi-platform rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the new UEFA Europa Conference League for the 2021-24 seasons.

 

The agreement sees Virgin Media acquiring Irish rights to the first pick UEFA Champions League fixture on the Wednesday of each match week, and the rights to show every game in the UEFA Europa League, as well as the UEFA Europa League final and the UEFA Super Cup.

 

Virgin Media will also be the exclusive Irish broadcaster for every match in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League which will potentially feature several League of Ireland teams each season.

 

The sub-licensing agreement with Saran Media Group will also include archive content from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League as well as the UEFA Super Cup for the next three seasons.

 

Paul Higgins, Vice President of Commercial at Virgin Media said: “This is fantastic news for Irish football fans as we continue to bring the best of European football to their screens including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Nations League and the new UEFA Europa Conference League which will potentially include League of Ireland clubs.

 

“This confirms Virgin Media as the leading Irish sports hub including free to air viewing, the best home-produced commentary and analysis and exclusive customer content through Virgin Media Sport. We’re looking forward to bringing the biggest clubs, the best players and the most excitement to our viewers and customers in the new season ahead.

 

“Today’s development comes hot on the heels of the announcement of ongoing joint contract discussions between Six Nations, Virgin Media Television and RTÉ to ensure that all three Six Nations Championships (Men’s Guinness Six Nations, Women’s Six Nations and Men’s Under 20’s tournaments) remain available on Free-To-Air television with an unprecedented level of coverage.

 

“Overall, Virgin Media viewers and customers are in for a feast of sport in the years ahead between soccer, rugby, Formula E, Extreme E, Bellator and the best of UK horse racing including the Aintree, Ascot and Cheltenham Festivals. To compliment this coverage we’re excited to be able to bring viewers even more local Irish content with the expansion of the highly successful Sports Stories series. Over the coming months we will be announcing some of the country’s biggest sports stars who will be sitting down to tell their Sports Story. We’re excited to bring all of this great content to our viewers and customers across all our platforms.”

 

ENDS