Irish telecom Eir "could establish a free-to-air TV channel in the coming years to better compete with the likes of RTÉ and TV3 for lucrative sporting rights," including competitive Irish football internationals, according to Peter O'Dwyer of the IRISH EXAMINER. Having acquired Setanta Sports in a deal last December, Eir is "making plans to relaunch the broadcaster and take on established competitors with a broader range of content." As part of that strategy, the group "could establish a free-to-air channel" aimed at competing for competitive Irish football internationals. Setanta currently holds TV rights "across a range of sports" including football, rugby, mixed martial arts and the GAA’s Allianz Leagues. Eir CEO Richard Moat said that the "initial focus will be on consolidating those areas but further growth will be needed to remain competitive." Moat: "Obviously, we’re up against big competitors who’ve got exclusive sports content and so getting that for Eir for the first time and continuing to expand the range of content we have is going to be a key part of that strategy in the future." Attaining the rights to European Championship or World Cup qualifiers and tournament games "would mean working with the free-to-air restrictions that come with Republic of Ireland games." Moat said that to that end, establishing a free-to-air Setanta channel is something Eir realizes it “may have to do one day.” Eir is also open to further acquisitions on the entertainment side of its business “having demonstrated its capability with the acquisition of Setanta” (IRISH EXAMINER, 5/27).
