Sport

Sports minister in push to add 14 events to free-to-air TV list

Significant number of female sporting events on broadcast list in government move to address gender imbalance

Dublin's Lauren Magee and Libby Coppinger of Cork in action in the 2023 All-Ireland senior football championship semi-final: it is proposed that all quarter and semi-finals in the championship be designated free-to-air. Picture: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

The government is pushing to have a range of major sporting events designated on free-to-air television in a move that’s likely to spark opposition from governing bodies.

Catherine Martin, the sports minister, has identified 14 events she wants added to the free-to-air broadcast list, including several GAA, rugby and soccer games.

The list also features a significant numbers of female sporting events in a bid to address a gender imbalance on the current list.

They ...