Setanta get Rugby World Cup rights

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Originally Posted by pete

Rugby internationals don't get huge ratings on RTE.

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350,000 for last years 6 Nations games is big enough - that's 1 in 10 in the country. The only sport to beat it was Ireland's World Cup qualifiers and All Ireland finals.

http://www.medialive.ie/index.html - its somewhere in there.

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Originally Posted by finlma

The only sport to beat it was Ireland's World Cup qualifiers and All Ireland finals.

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I thought Cork-Derry beat that as well.

Edit: Apparently Cork-Derry got 266k, beating Ireland-Australia. That's probably what I was thinking of.

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

I hate this but - Dodge, you were right, I was wrong.

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:D :D

I am only saying rugby doesn't get huge numbers & doesn't get as big a boost as other sports for the big games.

I think Bertie is ok for votes in D4 so may not need to change the law again...

Who has the UK coverage of the Rugby World Cup? If it's ITV or BBC, who cares about RTE losing it - it'll be Free To Air (properly FTA, not RTE makey uppy FTA), digital, widescreen, without someone who know's nothing about rugby (George Hamilton) commentating. Only difference is not having Hook and Popey, but then if it's the Beeb it'll be Kieth Wood anyway.

btw I thought Ireland RWC games were designated? Or are they classifying Setanta the same as RTE/TV3?

btw2 anychance Setanta bidding for TV3's licence that's up for renewal next year (I think)? Now that would through the cat amongst the pigeons in Donnybrook Sport Department...

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Originally Posted by Macy

digital, widescreen, without someone who know's nothing about rugby (George Hamilton) commentating.

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Only one problem their Macy...ITV have the rights so it will be covered by people who know nothing about rugby. Their coverage of the last two World Cups was shambolic and I'm not expecting great things this time round.

The Ireland games are designated and RTÉ (doubt anyone else will be interested) will have to bid to Setanta for them.

I think ITV usually get the rights but I'm not sure about this one.

They definitely have it, I remember them making a big deal when they confirmed getting them.

I remember around the time SKy got the Ireland football matches was talk they could transmit on Sky One becuase over 1m people had access so might quality as "terrestial" as high enough percentage had access.

If someone else wants TV3 licence then they should get it. TV3 is just like regional version of ITV. Will be interesting to see if ITV or someone else bids for the 45% share those Canadians selling...

ITV's rugby coverage has always been awful