The Republic of Ireland soccer team's European Championship qualifying game next week now seems likely to be broadcast only to Sky subscribers following a decision by Sky not to broadcast it on Sky One or any free-to-air terrestrial television station, writes Miriam Donohoe.
The Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, will bring a list of sporting and cultural events, including home soccer internationals, which he wants broadcast free-to-air under the EU Television Without Frontiers Directive to Cabinet for approval today.
However, the broadcasting protection procedure will not be finalised on time to ensure next Wednesday's Ireland-Switzerland game can be broadcast live on RTÉ or TV3 on October 16th.
There was surprise in Government circles last night that Sky was not going to show the game free-to-air as Mr Ahern had been given strong indications to that effect in the last month.
Sources said there had been strenuous behind-the-scenes efforts to broker a deal with Sky and the broadcaster had given the Minister and his officials the impression it was prepared to walk away from the deal with the FAI.
There was uproar earlier this year when it emerged that the FAI had sold broadcasting rights for all of Ireland's home European Championship qualifying games to Sky Sports for €7.5 million.
Following the public furore, Sky indicated it would allow the game to be shown on Sky One, which can be seen by 600,000 people in Ireland, and maybe even on free-to-air television. However The Irish Times has learned that Sky is planning only to show the game live on Sky Sports and on TV3 35 minutes after the final whistle.
Following the outcry over the Sky deal, Mr Ahern put in train a process for drawing up a list of sporting and cultural events to be protected under the EU Directive.
A preliminary list was published on July 17th and a process of public consultation began. A spokesman for the Minister said last night that Mr Ahern promised to bring a full list for approval to Cabinet after the summer recess. Until the process was complete, the Minister did not have the power to force the issue.
Mr Brendan Menton, general secretary of the FAI, said it had originally been his understanding that the game would be shown on Sky One and on free-to-air television. He said that events appear to have been overtaken since then by the listing issue. He did not want to comment further.