From the start of the 2016 season, every League of Ireland match will be streamed live for those outside of Ireland.
Today, the FAI announced a four year deal with the TRACKCHAMP streaming service. The games will be streamed live on the Bwin website (they're a betting company) which forms part of the TRACKCHAMP enterprise.
One of the major bugbears of the LOI clubs, as made explicit in the Conroy Report, was the embargo on the posting of online highlights on social media in the immediate aftermath of games. This was due to the deal with RTE which meant that clubs couldn't post up highlights until after Soccer Republic on Monday night.
The Sun reported two months ago that clubs felt that this delay cost them a chance to promote the League. The example of the MLS, who are swift in rolling their action out online, was cited.
The new deal could go some towards rectifying this. Bwin share their videos with plenty of sites around the world, meaning that the clips can be shared on social media straight after games. Action from the League of Ireland should be streamed on plenty of site from next year.
The camera provides live stats such as the number of corners and counts on set pieces, bookings and shots on goal for the purposes of the clubs - but, crucially, also for betting purposes.
The camera used by TRACKCHAMP does not require a cameraman. The action is tracked by censors and computers. The FAI report that 15 new jobs will be created in order the maintain the service.
The FAI say that the deal will deliver 'significant revenues' for the association but did not specify the amount.
The technology has been used by the Northern Irish League for the past two years.
The deal is reminiscent of an argument Niall Quinn made about the League earlier this season.
During a League of Ireland discussion on RTE's Game On earlier this year, Quinn suggested that the League could be re-energised by selling the product to TV companies from emerging nations.
There's emerging countries all around the world and their TV companies are desperate for content. I know I can watch football from Chile and Honduras at 2.00 or 3.00 in the morning and that's money that's making its way from TV companies back into local football in those countries.
I would love to see a revamp of the League of Ireland on the basis that the money can be made externally.
I know for a fact because I was involved with some people looking for content from African countries. And you might say, what can African countries do... they will pay more than those payments you just heard about that Tony O'Donoghue and Pat Fenlon were talking about (they were discussing payments handed out to clubs on the basis of progression in European competition).
History tells you it is a fantastic league, but it needs something now. This thing isn't going to happen by itself.
If we can sell rights in this country to our football, you are now on the world stage.
