Eir pulls sports channels from Virgin Media
AUGUST 26, 2020 12.32 EUROPE/LONDON BY JULIAN CLOVER

A dispute over sports rights has left customers to both Virgin Media Ireland and Eir without access to key sporting events.

The two platform operators and content providers had a reciprocal agreement in place that ensured that both sets of customers had access to the sports channels offered by the rival operator.

Two weeks ago Virgin Media pulled its sports channels from Eir, claiming the Irish telco had not paid the “contracted distribution licence fee”. Eir says it cannot pay for events that didn’t take place as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response Eir withdrew its branded channels from Virgin’s platform on Wednesday.

While Virgin Media has the rights to the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Nations League, Eir Sport screens PRO14 Rugby as well as League of Ireland and National League GAA games.

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