Ireland’s TV3 takes Rugby World Cup rights

Irish commercial broadcaster TV3 has secured the Irish rights for all 48 matches in next year’s Rugby World Cup.

TV3 will broadcast all of Ireland’s matches and the final stages of the tournament free-to-air. It will also manage live coverage of all the tournament’s matches and will deliver a TV, digital and mobile highlights offering.

TV3 said it is currently in discussions with platform operators about carrying a high definition feed of its channel from mid-2015 – in time for the rugby tournament, which takes place in England and Wales from September 18 to October 31, 2015.

“As Ireland’s leading commercial broadcaster TV3 is building its strongest ever schedule of originated programming. The Rugby World Cup win is an endorsement of the strategy to invest in the most relevant content for Irish audiences and advertisers,” said TV3 Group CEO David McRedmond.

TV3 said that it expects to broadcast around 20 matches on its network and the remainder on its youth-skewing channel, 3e. However, it said it has not ruled out some sub-licenses to other Irish broadcasters.