MEP insists Govt can undermine TV rights deal
Irish MEP John Cushnahan has insisted that the Government can include Irish football internationals in a list of “free-to-air” cultural events without the co-operation of Irish sporting organisations.
Mr Cushnahan said EU Commissioner Viviane Reding confirmed to him yesterday that events whose live TV rights have already been purchased can be included in the list retrospectively.
If the Irish Government were to do this, he said, Sky Sports would be obliged to broadcast Irish home internationals on terrestrial television free of charge.
“What the Government should do as a matter of urgency is contact the commissioner’s office right away, clarify the situation to their satisfaction and then have the back-bone to take any decision that is necessary in the interest of Irish sporting fans in general,” he said.
