British Eurosport had intended to show the Irish Masters snooker, but were prevented by the host broadcaster and UK rights holder RTE.
This was Eurosport's reply:
We must apologise for the mis-information about whether or not we were showing snooker at this time. Originally snooker was scheduled to be shown, however on late last week it became apparent that the Irish TV station RTE (who own the UK rights for this competition) would not allow British Eurosport to broadcast the event. Unfortunately by this time all information had been sent to the press and the snooker was listed in all TV guides.
Anyone have an idea on RTE's reasons for this strange decision given that it meant the Citywest Irish Masters would not be shown in the UK at all?
Was there any tobacco sponsorship or whatever involved in this competition?
If there was, that would probably have made broadcast in the UK impossible.
I think the suggestion that RTE would hold the UK rights to anything, let alone not exercising them, must be nonsense. What would be the point anyway, even if law allowed it?
Was there any tobacco sponsorship or whatever involved in this competition?
If there was, that would probably have made broadcast in the UK impossible.
I think the suggestion that RTE would hold the UK rights to anything, let alone not exercising them, must be nonsense. What would be the point anyway, even if law allowed it?
Benson & Hedges sponsorship of the Irish Masters ended some years ago. For the last few years the event has been sponsored by the Citywest Hotel in Dublin (where it is held), with secondary sponsorship by the Irish Dept. of Health.
Maybe RTE justing getting one over on a UK broadcaster, they have a lot of fighting with Channel five over Home and Away few yrs back, as Five wanted RTE to fall in line with them and RTE wouldnt, and Five wont let them show it in the North.
At time it all seemed 2 faced on fives behalf as on one hand they begged ITV to let them show it and on other hand they took a court injustion out against RTE who hadda take it off air for few weeks.
Anyway nice to see RTE have some clout.
RTE's coverage of the Irish Masters was shown in the UK on Tara until its demise a couple of years ago, previously their coverage was relayed by Sky.
This is why they hold the rights for the whole of the UK. Can't see what they gain from no-one showing it though.
Eurosport International has screened live coverage of all the televised snooker tournaments this season, those shown here by Sky and BBC as well as the RTE one.
British Eurosport only shows delayed highlights of the BBC one's as these are the only UK rights they are being allowed to have.