Mooley
TK Veteran
This is from last week but still very relevant:
INTENSE negotiations to secure the broadcast rights for the away leg of the crucial World Cup play-off against France are continuing, RTE revealed yesterday.
It followed reports in France which claimed that negotiations had hit a stumbling block over the French Football Federation's (FFF) asking price.
The dispute has sparked fears among Irish fans of a repeat of the play-offs for Euro 2000, when RTE did not broadcast Ireland's away game against Turkey after the Turkish FA sought a massive €3m.
Earlier this week, 'Le Parisien' newspaper said that the FFF was looking for €1.5m, with RTE's bid understood to be in the region of €600,000.
Ireland play France in Croke Park on November 14, with the away leg fixed for the Stade de France in St Denis, Paris, four days later.
RTE would not be drawn on the situation and revealed no details on any potential deal.
Speculation in France suggested that the FFF's high price stemmed from a decision by the FAI to sell the broadcast rights for the Dublin leg to an independent station, rather than national broadcaster TF1.
The sale is estimated to have netted it up to €5m.
FAI chief John Delaney said yesterday: "It's a commercial matter. The French football association are obviously going to sell their rights to RTE or TV3.
"It's what I would call commercial posturing between the French FA and the two television companies from Ireland.
"I don't see any reason ultimately why they wouldn't be sold because the French FA would have to sell it, there's nothing in it for them from not (selling) it because they're not going to get revenue for it.
"They're probably trying to get the best deal they can out of the Irish market.
"Before a match, there's always some commercial posturing going on and I would imagine and hope that the Irish fans that don't travel to France get to see that game on terrestrial television."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the national station said: "RTE are currently in negotiations with a sports rights agency on behalf of the French Football Federation.
"We are not commenting on the subject yet as we have not concluded our negotiations."
TV3 also refused to comment, but it is also trying to secure the rights, which would draw massive advertising revenue for one of the biggest television events of the year.
The Ballymount broadcaster said it could not comment because of commercial sensitivities.
A spokesperson for the FFF also declined to comment. Sky Sports, which has the rights to Ireland's group qualifiers, is adopting a 'wait-and-see' approach and may not bid for the away leg in Paris until the result of the home game in Croke Park is known.
Sky may not bid for the rights if the result in Dublin turns out to be one-sided, with either France or the boys in green taking a commanding lead to the Stade de France.
The return leg, despite boasting legions of Premier League and international stars, may not appeal to wider audiences in the UK if one team has a mountain to climb to qualify for South Africa.
INTENSE negotiations to secure the broadcast rights for the away leg of the crucial World Cup play-off against France are continuing, RTE revealed yesterday.
It followed reports in France which claimed that negotiations had hit a stumbling block over the French Football Federation's (FFF) asking price.
The dispute has sparked fears among Irish fans of a repeat of the play-offs for Euro 2000, when RTE did not broadcast Ireland's away game against Turkey after the Turkish FA sought a massive €3m.
Earlier this week, 'Le Parisien' newspaper said that the FFF was looking for €1.5m, with RTE's bid understood to be in the region of €600,000.
Ireland play France in Croke Park on November 14, with the away leg fixed for the Stade de France in St Denis, Paris, four days later.
RTE would not be drawn on the situation and revealed no details on any potential deal.
Speculation in France suggested that the FFF's high price stemmed from a decision by the FAI to sell the broadcast rights for the Dublin leg to an independent station, rather than national broadcaster TF1.
The sale is estimated to have netted it up to €5m.
FAI chief John Delaney said yesterday: "It's a commercial matter. The French football association are obviously going to sell their rights to RTE or TV3.
"It's what I would call commercial posturing between the French FA and the two television companies from Ireland.
"I don't see any reason ultimately why they wouldn't be sold because the French FA would have to sell it, there's nothing in it for them from not (selling) it because they're not going to get revenue for it.
"They're probably trying to get the best deal they can out of the Irish market.
"Before a match, there's always some commercial posturing going on and I would imagine and hope that the Irish fans that don't travel to France get to see that game on terrestrial television."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the national station said: "RTE are currently in negotiations with a sports rights agency on behalf of the French Football Federation.
"We are not commenting on the subject yet as we have not concluded our negotiations."
TV3 also refused to comment, but it is also trying to secure the rights, which would draw massive advertising revenue for one of the biggest television events of the year.
The Ballymount broadcaster said it could not comment because of commercial sensitivities.
A spokesperson for the FFF also declined to comment. Sky Sports, which has the rights to Ireland's group qualifiers, is adopting a 'wait-and-see' approach and may not bid for the away leg in Paris until the result of the home game in Croke Park is known.
Sky may not bid for the rights if the result in Dublin turns out to be one-sided, with either France or the boys in green taking a commanding lead to the Stade de France.
The return leg, despite boasting legions of Premier League and international stars, may not appeal to wider audiences in the UK if one team has a mountain to climb to qualify for South Africa.
