Pitch battle: Virgin expected to launch sports channel after Champions League coup

The company, which owns TV3, last week won exclusive rights to the lion’s share of Uefa Champions League and Europa League matches and the finals for the next three years.

Georginio Wijnaldum (left) of Liverpool scores against Roma in the Champions League semi-final earlier this month: Virgin Media Ireland has just snapped up the TV rights to the lion’s share of the competition’s next three seasons Pic: Getty

Virgin Media Ireland is expected to launch an exclusive sports channel as it continues to buy up sporting rights, a move that would intensify the battle for sports rights among Irish broadcasters. The company, which owns TV3, last week won exclusive rights to the lion’s share of Uefa Champions League and Europa League matches and the finals for the next three years.

While Virgin Media and TV3 have kept silent on their scheduling ...