RTÉ "is understood to be considering sublicensing various 2016 sports rights to other broadcasters, including TV3, to balance its books next year," according to Laura Slattery of the IRISH TIMES. TV3 said it was interested in "taking on the burden" of coverage, including perhaps some Euro 2016 fixtures or part of the action from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. TV3 Group Commercial Dir Pat Kiely said, "We are offering to take on any rights that RTÉ would make available under sublicensing arrangements." Next year "is set to be expensive for RTÉ, with Euro 2016, the Olympics, the general election and the 1916 centenary commemorations, on top of its GAA coverage and its penultimate broadcast of the Six Nations rugby championship." Kiely said, "We would imagine everything is crying for a piece of the budget. It clearly would be a burden for RTÉ to do it all, and they are going to be under pressure to pay for everything. They’re going to have a very tough year." As well as possible sublicensing deals in '16, TV3 "is also keen to bid for sports rights in partnership with RTÉ in future, partly to lock out other broadcasters, but also because of the high costs involved" (IRISH TIMES, 11/27).
