Soccer:RTÉ Sport has secured the rights to Champions League on Wednesday nights for another three seasons. There had been fears the broadcaster, which is seeking to make €25 million in savings by the end of next year, would pull out of the deal.

However, the station has agreed a new contract with Uefa to broadcast 18 live matches, including exclusive coverage of the finals, until 2015. “We are delighted to have been able to secure these rights in the current difficult financial climate in line with our policy of significantly reducing sports rights costs,” explained head of sport Ryle Nugent.

“We’re particularly delighted to be able to continue to deliver Uefa Champions League live coverage to fans in Ireland until 2015. In an increasingly competitive climate securing the premium package for Wednesday night matches is a significant coup for a public service broadcaster.”

Setanta Sports also today confirmed that they will continue to show the competition on the Setanta Ireland and Setanta Sports 1 channels on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. As with RTE, the satellite broadcaster has agreed a deal for the next three years.