22 games from Euro 2016 will be broadcast on TV3 this summer.
In February, it emerged TV3 and RTÉ had done a deal for the games. At the time, it was reported to have cost them around €2 million.
Today, TV3 announced its punditry team for those fixtures.
Along with the usual faces of Graeme Souness, Neil Lennon, Keith Andrews and Kevin Kilbane, TV3 have made the intriguing signing of Joey Barton. Also - less intriguingly - there's Harry Redkanpp.
With just over two weeks to go until the kick-off of Euro 2016, TV3 today introduced its panel of experts for its coverage of the tournament.
Joey Barton, Keith Andrews and Emma Byrne are just some of the big names joining TV3’s panel of pundits for its Euro 2016 coverage this summer.
While the notoriously outspoken Joey Barton will bring some colourful views to proceedings, former Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews will be able to draw on his previous experience from Euro 2012, while Emma Byrne’s place on the panel will be the first time a National broadcaster has included a female analyst on its UEFA Euro’s panel.
The trio will join other well-known names on TV3’s panel of experts such as Graeme Souness, Neil Lennon, Harry Redknapp, Kevin Kilbane, Gerry Armstrong and Lawrie Sanchez, with more names still to be announced. Trevor Welch and David McIntyre will make up the commentary team while coverage will be presented by host Tommy Martin.
After helping Burnley to promotion from the Championship, it looks like Barton is set for a move to the Scottish Premiership with Rangers.
Barton does have previous in punditry. He's worked on Match of the Day 2, Sky Sports' Championship coverage and on BT's European Football Show.
Presumably, TV3 will be playing Barton in what is known on Irish TV as the 'Dunphy Role' as he sits deep and sprays their coverage with controversial, headline-catching opinions.
The 22 games TV3 is showing are as follows:
Saturday 11th June - England v Russia
Sunday 12th June - Turkey v Croatia & Germany v Ukraine
Monday 13th June - Spain v Czech Republic
Tuesday 14th June - Austria v Hungary
Wednesday 15th June - Romania v Switzerland & France v Albania
Thursday 16th June - Ukraine v N.Ireland
Friday 17th June - Spain v Turkey
Saturday 18th June - Iceland v Hungary
Sunday 19th June - Romania v Albania
Monday 20th June - Slovakia v England
Tuesday 21st June - Ukraine v Poland & Croatia v Spain
Weds 22nd June - Hungary v Portugal & Sweden v Belgium
Sat 25th & Sun 26th June - Round of 16 (3 games*)
June 30th June – 3rd July - Quarter Finals (2 games*)
Sunday 10th July - The Final
Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
