Cantillon: Will RTÉ score by sub-licensing Euro 2016?

Next year is shaping up to be expensive for RTÉ, providing coverage for the 1916 commemorations, the general election, the Rio Olympics, the Six Nations rugby and the Euro 2016 soccer tournament in France.

No surprise, then, that the State broadcaster is seeking to spread some of the burden by offering to sub-license matches at the Euros to rival broadcasters. It won the rights to broadcast all 51 matches via a European Broadcasting Union centrally negotiated agreement with UEFA.

RTÉ on Friday advertised for expressions of interest from rival Irish broadcasters, although it did not say how many matches it might be willing to hand over, how much it wants for them or what matches they might be.

Expressions are due in by January 4th, with tender documents to be issued the following day and a January 14th deadline for bids.

Given the small pool of potential applicants in Ireland and the tight time- frame that incorporates the holiday season, it is highly likely it has already done plenty of talking with those who may be interested.

TV3 is an obvious candidate and it has already indicated it will look at any package that RTÉ chooses to sub-license. UTV, with help from ITV perhaps, may also look to get involved, while Eir is also likely to be interested in acquiring games for its new toy, Setanta Ireland. The attractiveness of the packages eventually released by RTÉ will inevitably depend upon how pressing is its financial need.

For a rival broadcaster to justify putting in the resources to provide coverage, it would want to gain the rights to some games of significance, not just the dross.

One would imagine that any bidder would want at least a couple of significant knockout games, a few big-ticket group games and timely highlight packages for all the most important games.

If the model is successful and RTÉ gets through the process without falling out with the other broadcasters, perhaps it may try to do something similar with the Olympics and, possibly, the 2018 World Cup.

Be nice, guys.