The NFL have agreed a three-yeardeal to continue to show the sport on free-to-air television in the UK, and it has a knock-on effect for Irish NFL fans.
ITV have agreed terms to show the NFL UK Weekly show from the 9th of September, and according to NFL.com, viewers in Ireland will be able to watch the programme on Virgin Media.
Effectively, the BBC's weekly NFL programme is moving to ITV. Presenter Laura Woods will be joined by analysts Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl winner and Jason Bell every week to discuss everything from the world of the NFL. Both Umenyiora and Bell were regulars on the BBC's weekly NFL show.
ITV - and it seems Virgin - will also have the rights to show Super Bowl LVII next February.
As well as showing the climax of the season, ITV and Virgin will also show two of the three NFL games scheduled to take place in London.
Speaking about the news that ITV will be the new home of the NFL weekly show in the UK, Laura Woods has said that she is "thrilled to be part of the team".
Woods said:
"I've been a fan of the NFL for many years, so, with the new season just weeks away, I'm thrilled to be part of the team that will bring ITV viewers its best action and biggest stories each week.
"We have seen the NFL grow to a level I could never have imagined from when I played here for the Giants in 2007," said Umenyiora. "This new partnership can see us bringing the sport to an even broader audience. We have felt so embraced by British fans and we are excited that they will be able to watch us on ITV."
It's been a long time since the NFL was broadcast on free-to-air Irish TV. While we await confirmation from Virgin, it's a hugely exciting prospect for both serious and casual Irish NFL fans.
The first NFL Weekly Show airs on ITV and Virgin on the 9th of September at 11:30pm, with the new NFL season kicking off the night before with the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Buffalo Bills.
The New York Giants will face the Green Bay Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday the 9th October at 2:30pm, while the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium on Sunday the 30th of October.
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Henry Hodgson on the deal with the NFL
Managing Director of NFL UK, Henry 'Handsome Hank' Hodgson said the agreement between ITV and the NFL "is another significant milestone".
Hodgson said:
"This is another significant milestone for the NFL in this country. We have enjoyed seven fantastic years of NFL coverage on BBC TV and the time is right to take advantage of the opportunities offered by a new partnership with ITV.
"When you look at the development of the NFL in the UK in recent years – with momentum behind fan growth, more London games, successful British players in the NFL, the launch of an Academy and a charitable foundation – this announcement is another sign of our ambition to grow and develop the sport in the UK."
It's great news for the many NFL supporters around Ireland and the UK, who will have a host of action to watch on free-to-air television.
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