Eir and Virgin Media strike sports content deal

Irish telcos eir and Virgin Media have agreed a deal to carry their key sports channels on each other’s television platforms.

Under the agreement, the terms of which were undisclosed, Virgin Media Sport will be available to eir customers as part of the eir sport package and in turn, eir sport will be available to Virgin Media TV customers.

The new arrangement will come into effect in the coming weeks ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup, and the new season of European club football competitions the Uefa Champions League and Europa League.

Eir sport is the official broadcaster of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Ireland and the only outlet to provide all 48 games from the national team tournament in Japan. Eir sport is also the main Irish rights-holder for club rugby union competition the Pro14.

Eir sport shows extensive live hurling and football from the Gaelic Athletic Association’s Allianz Leagues, live action from club football competitions the English FA Cup, League of Ireland Premier Division; Irish U21 home qualifiers; and grand slam tennis tournaments the French Open and Wimbledon.

Eir broadband, eir TV and selected eir mobile customers will be able to watch live Champions League and Europa League matches at no additional charge as part of the eir sport pack. The content will also be available to those paying for the eir sport pack through pay-television broadcaster Sky.

Virgin Media Sport offers over 300 matches from the Champions League and Europa League, along with national team football in the shape of the Uefa Nations League and the Euro 2020 Qualifiers. Virgin Media Television also broadcasts rugby union showpieces the Six Nations and European Champions Cup, as well as top horse racing including the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National.

The eir deal means that in the coming weeks, Virgin Media TV customers will get access to the Rugby World Cup, Pro14, and Allianz League, at no additional charge.

Eir customers had previously received the Champions League and Europa League via the BT Sport pack which came bundled with eir broadband. That agreement expired at the end of the 2018-19 season, with Sky now distributing BT Sport and fellow pay-television channel Premier Sport in Ireland.