The new format for the football championship has caused complications for the sale of the GAA's domestic television rights. Although RT╔ are the main rights holders, the Ulster Council has, over the past 10 years, sold its championship matches separately. An accommodation has been reached by RT╔ and UTV or BBC Northern Ireland whereby the stations share coverage.

This year, however, with the introduction of the All-Ireland qualifier rounds, Ulster counties will be playing in the open draw competition for defeated teams up to and including provincial finals level. The problem for the northern television companies is that they want to have access to those teams whose matches are no longer within the remit of the Ulster Council once they lose.

In recent years UTV and BBC have made joint bids to the Ulster Council for the rights to the provincial championships. They then alternate the main broadcasting function (live matches and the Sunday evening highlights package) with the right to show clips on news and sports programmes.

This year, the question of access for both types of coverage is up in the air with the companies reluctant to conclude a deal which could lock them out of any rights to those matches involving Ulster teams.

Alan Bremner, head of UTV sport, explains the broadcasters' dilemma. "We could end up with a match between Down and Mayo if both get knocked out of the provincial championships. What we want is access to all of those sort of fixtures, to make sure that all three companies can have that broadcast."

The finalised deal between RT╔ and Croke Park is expected soon as negotiations are believed to be reaching their conclusion. A preliminary schedule of matches to be televised will become available with the qualifier series obviously depending on how the provincial championships progress.