Sky Sports sign six season deal with NIFL

Northern Ireland domestic football will feature on Sky Sports in a new live broadcast deal. Sky Sports will screen five Danske Bank Premiership fixtures and the Northern Ireland Football League Cup Final this season and in each of the next six seasons. 

 

A couple of big games this weekend get the coverage underway with more live games planned for March and April.

 

Cliftonville’s Danske Bank Premiership encounter with Glentoran will take place in front of Sky’s live cameras at Solitude on Friday 17 February 17 (kick-off 7.45 p.m.).

 

Attention will then switch across North Belfast to Seaview and Saturday’s NIFL League Cup Final between Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers (kick-off 5.30pm), which will also be screened live.

 

NIFL Managing Director, Andrew Johnston, spoke excitedly about the new long-term deal, which runs to the end of the 2021/22 season. 

 



“This is fantastic news for fans of Irish League football and I am delighted that the Danske Bank Premiership and the NI League Cup Final will be back on Sky Sports,” said Johnston. 

 

“The coverage that Sky provide is fantastic. It is fantastic platform to promote our league, our clubs and our players to a wider audience of football fans across the UK and around the world. I would like to place on record our appreciation of the assistance provided by the Irish FA and UEFA in developing this agreement.”

 

“Since the formation of the NIFL we have worked hard with our clubs, sponsors and media partners to develop and enhance the competitive structure and excitement of the League and I believe that Sky Sports customers will enjoy the passion, honesty and commitment of our clubs.

 



"Having averaged over three goals per game to date this season I believe viewers will not be left disappointed,” Johnston concluded.

 

 

 

    About John Manning

    John Manning began writing for Extratime.ie this year after retiring from the insurance industry. He has been a regular attendee at League of Ireland football matches since the 1970s. He has particularly supported Cork Hibs, … View Full Profile