The FAI will today unveil details of a new agreement with three of the state's broadcasters - RTÉ, TG4 and Setanta Sports - that will dramatically increase the amount of Irish soccer games carried live on television. It is expected the number of matches broadcast live will more than double from 13 last season which included five of Shelbourne's European outings, writes Emmet Malone
Setanta has already committed itself to showing 11 of the 13 games in the six club inter-league competition it is sponsoring, while RTÉ has apparently recommitted itself to broadcasting the semi-finals and final of the FAI Cup.
Both stations have suggested that they may show games played by Irish teams in European competitions, including the Inter-Toto Cup while they and TG4 are expected to confirm today that they will between them broadcast substantially more than the five league games carried last year.
RTÉ are set to broadcast the game between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers on the opening Friday night of the National League (March 18th), a prospect that yesterday prompted Shelbourne to request that their game with UCD be brought forward 48 hours to Wednesday, March 16th.