Sky Sports have today announced that they have agreed a deal for six packages of live Premier League rights in Ireland which will see one very significant departure from the company's usual broadcasting package from 2016/17 through to 2018/19.
.@SkySports will show a record 159 Premier League matches a season exclusively live to Republic of Ireland customers from next season
— Sky Ireland (@SkyIreland) November 12, 2015
And for the first time ever, @SkySports will show 3pm Saturday and Friday evening live PL matches to viewers in Republic of Ireland
— Sky Ireland (@SkyIreland) November 12, 2015
British regulations dictate that the traditional 3 p.m. Saturday kick-off must not be televised in an effort to ensure attendances do not suffer. However, it has long been a contentious issue for Irish subscribers who would suggest that they are being punished for a regulation that does not concern them.
It seems Sky have been listening to those complaints because they have now committed to a separate deal, unique to Irish viewers, which will see them take over Setanta's package and broadcast 33 Saturday at 3 p.m. games a season.
Included in the new package is also the right to broadcast the Premier League's first regular Friday night matches, something which, although expected, will be less of a thrill to League of Ireland fans.
As a result of the new packages, Irish subscribers will see 159 fixtures a season broadcast live on Sky Sports.
