The Irish terrestrial TV broadcaster that will win the rights to one free-to-air game in each round of the European Champions Cup from next season onward "should be known by the end of next month," according to Gerry Thornley of the IRISH TIMES. RTÉ, TV3, TG4 and eir Sport "could all be in the frame to host the return of free-to-air games" after a 12-year hiatus. The last European Cup game shown live on Irish terrestrial TV was RTÉ's broadcast of Munster's '06 final win over Biarritz. A U.K. free-to-air channel will also have rights to one pool match per round, "while under a new deal," France Télévisions will show two live Champions Cup games in each round as opposed to one. This is "in tandem" with the deal BT agreed with European Professional Club Rugby for exclusive subscription-based rights to the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup from next year onward, which is believed to be worth more than €50M ($58.7M), as well as beIN Sport in France. EPCR Dir General Vincent Gaillard said, "All of them will be engaged. Who is likely, I genuinely don't know. Will RTÉ and TV3 be in it? Yes, it's fair to assume they will" (IRISH TIMES, 10/3).
