RTE has reversed its decision not to screen the English Premiership this season. The soccer programme will now go ahead, starting next Saturday, after the station received a "much more favourable" offer from the Premiership organisers.
Under the deal, RTE will screen the show at 6.55 p.m. on Saturdays, with a repeat on Sunday mornings. The schedule means a five-minute start on ITV, which secured coverage in the UK for a 7 p.m. slot.
Explaining RTE's initial decision last week, the director of television, Mr Cathal Goan, said it "didn't make competitive sense" for both stations to screen the football at the same time. The estimated cost of a three-year contract was thought to be more than £2 million.
Last night, confirming that the programme would go ahead, covering next week's season opening, RTE said in a statement it had secured a much improved deal: "Following an approach to RTE by the FA Premier League, after last week's decision not to broadcast the programme, a three-year contract, much more favourable for the national broadcaster, has been negotiated, and the programme will now go ahead."
Details of the format are to be announced next week.
