Champions League broadcasting in Ireland entered a bold new frontier today as live football scores app LiveScore secured the rights to broadcast the Champions League in this country until 2024.
LiveScore will broadcast all 137 2021-22 Champions League games in Ireland for free, adding that 33 games will be non-exclusively streamed.
Here's what it means for you, the humble punter.
Tuesday nights: RTE will maintain their Champions League coverage on Tuesday nights, showing 16 games and the final.
Wednesday nights: It remains to be seen who'll air the Wednesday night games previously aired by Virgin Media Sport. The LiveScore statement leaves the door open for another broadcaster to air the top game on those nights
All matches available: If you're in the Republic of Ireland, you'll be able to watch every Champions League fixture now via LiveScore.
If you're a BT Sports subscriber, you'll still be able to watch their broadcasts.
On the surface, this looks like a great development for punters. However, LiveScore has built its business around in-play odds and you can be sure there will be plenty of gambling messaging around these games.
The news is final confirmation that Brian Kerr won't be a fixture during midweek television anymore, unless LiveScore sign him up.
Here's what UEFA and LiveScore have said:
“Uefa is delighted to welcome LiveScore as the new broadcaster of Uefa Champions League rights in the Republic of Ireland,” Uefa marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein said.
“We are excited to see the innovative coverage it will deliver and to bring comprehensive coverage of the best of European club football to Irish fans for free.”
LiveScore said in a statement: "LiveScore has today announced a three-year rights deal within Ireland to live-stream 137 matches each season in the UEFA Champions League fully free-to-air on the LiveScore app."
LiveScore outbid Virgin Media Sport for the rights to Ireland's games. It is based in Malta and its business model is built around in-play betting. The company also maintains an office in Galway.
It's unclear as yet whether viewers will be able to cast LiveScore games to their TVs via their mobile apps.
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