UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB has acquired rights for autumn international rugby union games featuring the national teams of Ireland, France and Italy, while Irish public-service broadcaster RTÉ has extended a rights deal for Ireland’s autumn internationals.
All of the deals will run for four years, from 2014 to 2017.
Sky struck its agreements with the sport’s governing bodies in France, Italy and Ireland, the Fédération Française de Rugby, Federazione Italiana Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Under RTÉ’s extension with the IRFU, the public-service broadcaster acquired exclusive Irish free-to-air rights to the games as part of a deal covering television, digital and radio platforms.
RTÉ Sport will also continue to act as the host broadcaster for television coverage of Ireland’s autumn international matches.