Boost for local football as BBC to show live Friday night games
FOOTBALL bosses have welcomed a new TV deal that will see Irish League games shown live on the BBC for the first time.
Ten Danske Bank Premiership matches and three Tennent’s Irish Cup ties — including the final — will be broadcast this season.
The first live fixture will be the north Belfast derby between champions Crusaders and rivals Cliftonville on October 5.
The games will be shown on Friday nights on BBC 2 NI.
The news will be welcomed by local fans, as many have been unhappy at the lack of TV coverage of the Irish League.
A small number of local games are already broadcast by Sky Sports.
But prime-time terrestrial exposure will reach a much bigger audience.
The managing director of the NI Football League, Andrew Johnston, said: “This is a huge moment for the NI Football League and the Danske Bank Premiership, with the improvement in quality and growing attendances we’re delighted that we can bring our game to a wider Andrew Johnston of NIFL, Patrick Nelson of IFA, and Jane Tohill and Stephen Watson of BBC Sport NI announcing the new television deal
television audience this season. This announcement is testament to the commitment BBC Sport NI have shown the Irish League and we look forward to working with them to allow even more people to enjoy the unique passion and quality of our league.”
Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson said: “Having live football on a Friday night will be a huge boost for the game here
and I would like to thank BBC Sport NI for committing to cover these matches.
“I have no doubt that because of this new TV deal more people across Northern Ireland will follow local football and more young people will be inspired to get involved in the game.”
The Belfast Telegraph revealed in June that Irish League matches were to be broadcast
on the BBC. Currently the BBC shows highlights on its Saturday evening Final Score programme.
But this is usually a slot of between 10 and 20 minutes, shown at 5pm, when many supporters are returning from games.
A highlights package, The Irish League Show, is shown online on Sundays.
The Irish Cup final is also screened live each season, but this is the first time that league games will be broadcast on terrestrial TV.
Between 2007 and 2014 five games a season were shown live on Sky Sports.
After a gap of more than two years, Sky agreed a new deal to show Irish League football in early 2017.
The BBC’s live coverage kicks off with the Crues against the Reds at Seaview on October 5, presented by Stephen Watson.
Two other games have been scheduled — Glenavon’s visit to Ballymena on November 2 and Coleraine v Newry City on November 30.
Details of the other matches to be broadcast live will be announced at a later date.
BBC Sport NI editor Jane Tohill said: “This new agreement with the IFA and NIFL is brilliant news for local football fans and for our audiences.
“With 10 live league games across the season and three Irish Cup matches including the final, we are delivering a comprehensive live package of local football.
“We look forward to featuring as many clubs as possible throughout the season.”