Irish-language free-to-air broadcaster TG4 has struck a four-year extension to its broadcast rights and sponsorship agreement with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, on the back of a record year for the organisation.
TG4’s new deal with the LGFA will run from 2019 to 2022 and incorporates the inter-county championships.
TG4 have committed to screening 17 championship fixtures during the 2018 season, beginning on July 14 and running until All-Ireland final day on September 16, when the junior, intermediate and senior finals will be screened exclusively live.
Over the course of eight weekends, TG4 will bring viewers the best action from the revamped senior championship, which will be played on a round-robin basis before the eight quarter-finalists are determined.
TG4 and the LGFA have also announced that a special All-Ireland final preview show will be broadcast live on September 15. The show will be designed as a wider celebration of women in sport.
TG4 became title sponsors of the ladies football championships in 2000 and 2020 will mark the 20th year of the agreement.
Said to be the fastest-growing sport in the country, last September’s All-Ireland finals attracted a record 46,286 attendance to Croke Park (pictured) in Dublin, a figure that the LGFA claims was a world record for a standalone female sporting event last year.
Marie Hickey, president of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, said: “With such a large overseas population to cater for, and huge interest in our sport across the globe, TG4’s ability to provide coverage to people located outside of Ireland is hugely important to us.
“Women’s sport remains very much on the rise and on an upward curve, with increased coverage playing a big part in that.”