In a bid to save a few bob, RTE have axed their Premier League highlights show. What now for Kenny Cunningham’s extraordinary eyebrows?
Looks like we are now down to a straight choice between Match of the Day and Goals On Sunday if you want to get your Premier League highlights on TV.
Today’s Irish Independent confirms that RTE have axed Premier Soccer Saturday, saving the station a reported €1.3million a year. The show drew in 200,000 viewers a week so the rights to Premier League highlights may be picked up by TV3 or Setanta for the Irish market but for now there will be no domestic Premier League highlights show next season.
RTE are reported to be refocusing on local sport and Head of Sport, Ryle Nugent, was emphasizing the positives.
“This is a hard choice to make and I won’t pretend that the news is anything other than a biting disappointment.
“We have recently announced new contracts for television and radio in soccer, with the Republic of Ireland European and World Cup qualifiers, home and away, until 2018.
“In addition, we have secured the World Cup finals of 2014, 2018 and 2022. In rugby, we have secured the national team’s matches in the Six Nations and autumn internationals until the end of 2017.
“This summer we will begin the process of renegotiating with the GAA and I will have definitive news on the Summer Olympics in 2016 in the coming week.”
Hmmm… Whatever happens, we sincerely hope this isn’t the last we see of Kenny Cunningham’s magic eyebrows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhmA0LHJIK0
