RTE seeks rights to show European Championship matches

RTE say that they are currently following a “twin-track approach” to ensure that the European Championship qualifying match, Ireland v Albania, in Lansdowne Road on June 7, 2003, is available to the Irish public on free-to-air terrestrial television.
The Irish broadcaster is seeking this by pursuing both legal means and direct negotiation with key parties.
RTÉ has welcomed recent developments in court when a hearing date was set for Thursday May 29 was set.
Also Sky Television's legal representative indicated that the nature of the contract between Sky and the FAI had been changed from exclusive to non-exclusive, in anticipation of the listing of the Ireland v. Albania match, and other home and away games in the European Championships.
A spokesperson for RTE said that this meant that one of the key obstacles to the terrestrial broadcasting of key Irish sporting events has now been removed.
RTÉ is continuing negotiations with all parties and is hopeful of reaching a conclusion before the hearing date scheduled on next Thursday.
(SP)