RTÉ extends Champions League contract

Irish public-service broadcaster RTÉ has retained its rights package for the Uefa Champions League football competition until the end of the 2017-18 season.

Under the terms of the new contract beginning from the 2015-16 season, RTÉ Sport keeps the television and online rights to Wednesday night matches in the European club tournament up to and including its 2017-18 final.

RTÉ’s live coverage will be available on the RTÉ2 channel and its online RTÉ Player service.

Ryle Nugent, RTÉ Group’s head of sport, said: “The Uefa Champions League is undoubtedly the premier club tournament in world football and retaining live free-to-air Wednesday night rights and highlights is in keeping with RTÉ Sport’s aim of bringing national teams, national games and, in the case of the Champions League, major events to Irish audiences.”

RTÉ currently shares live Champions League rights in Ireland with commercial broadcaster TV3 and pay-television broadcaster Setanta Sports.