The bidding process for Uefa Champions League rights in the Republic from the 2015/16 season onwards is underway and the outcome, expected shortly, could be an interesting pointer to the budget strength of the free-to-air broadcasters relative to each other and to their pay-TV competitors.

RTÉ currently has the rights to first-pick of Wednesday night matches and exclusive coverage of the finals, while TV3 has first-pick on Tuesday nights. It’s an arrangement that appears to suit both broadcasters and any ambitions held by Setanta Sports, which shows second-pick matches under the current three-year deal, to encroach on their packages would likely be detrimental to both Montrose and Ballymount.

The rights up for grabs now are for the three seasons starting from next autumn. Earlier this year, TV3 anticipated that it would be “a good contest”, while RTÉ has pointed out that the profile of the tournament benefits from the fact that it is broadcast on the main free-to-air channels. It is not known whether UTV Media, via the soon-to-launch UTV Ireland, is in the market.

The television rights to the Champions League for the period have already been the subject of upheaval in the UK, where they will move from Sky and free-to-air ITV to BT Sport.