BBC NI announce new deal with IFA

The deal covers international football for the next two years, and the Irish FA Premiership for the next four seasons.

BBC NI will have live coverage on Radio Ulster, and highlights on BBC One NI, of all Northern Ireland’s home international matches for the next two seasons.

BBC NI will be enhancing coverage of domestic football by providing fans with a new online programme on bbc.co.uk/sport NI called Final Score 2. The programme will launch on the afternoon of Monday, August 13, and will provide goal highlights and expert analysis from the weekend matches.

Final Score will also be back on our screens from Saturday, August 11 with scores and goals from the day’s games and all the goals from Saturday’s action will be available that evening to watch on bbc.co.uk/sportni. There will also be enhanced coverage of the local game on BBC Newsline.

On radio, Saturday Sportsound is also back on BBC Radio Ulster with live coverage of the day’s top game and updates from all the other grounds.

Shane Glynn, Editor Sport NI said: “BBC Northern Ireland is delighted to be renewing our partnership with the Irish FA for coverage of domestic and international football. At the start of a new era for the international side, with Michael O’Neill at the helm, we’ll have highlights of all Northern Ireland’s home games for the next two years, starting with the World Cup qualifier against Luxemburg in September.

“Domestically, we’ll cover every game in the Irish FA Premiership over the next four years. Saturday Sportsound will continue to provide unrivalled radio coverage of all the title twists and turns, while Final Score will show highlights from at least three of the day’s top games. All the goals will be broadcast via our website from Saturday evening, and this season we’re going to bring fans a new feature with an online programme, Final Score 2. Featuring a presenter and expert analysis, as well the goals from the weekend matches, this will be available on our website every Monday afternoon.

Patrick Nelson, Chief Executive of the Irish FA said: “The Irish FA has a long standing partnership with BBC Northern Ireland and we are delighted that this partnership has been extended for a further period. The signing of this agreement demonstrates the BBC’s strong interest in and commitment to local and international football.”

Aubry Ralph, Chairman of the Premiership Committee said: “As Chairman of the Premiership committee I am thrilled that BBC Northern Ireland has committed the next four years to the coverage of our game locally. I am particularly delighted that the coverage will be enhanced with the introduction of a weekly online magazine programme, Final Score 2, which will help to promote football in Northern Ireland.”