We could soon watch matches like the Heineken Cup games on TV for free.
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan is in the process of wrestling many such matches from sports channels that currently charge viewers.
Ministers have approved the Minister's plan to add the Heineken Cup qualifiers, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals to the 'free-to-air' list, when an Irish team is participating.
The European Commission must now approve the proposal - which is being billed as an issue of "major national importance to society".