Football Association of Ireland teams with RTÉ Sport to launch OTT platform

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has teamed up with RTÉ Sport to launch a streaming platform for the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Working in association with GAAGO, an IPTV service from RTÉ and the Gaelic Athletic Association aimed at an international market of Irish sports fans, the watchloi.ie service will show each fixture from Irish football’s top flight as well as selected FAI Cup matches live with coverage produced by RTÉ Sport.

Season passes went on sale on Monday 27 July priced at €55 for supporters in Ireland and €69 for the rest of the world. Matches can also be purchased individually for €5.

Fans can support their team through their subscriptions, as revenues from sign-ups are set to go to each club.

The League of Ireland is set to restart on Friday 31 July with Derry City versus Sligo Rovers streamed live on the platform, with a 5.45pm kick off.

Declan McBennett, group head of sport, RTÉ said: “In these uncertain times, when dedicated fans are unable to attend games in large numbers, we are delighted to bring the games directly to them via WatchLOI. This is a chance for the whole of the Irish footballing family to get behind the SSE Airtricity League and lend their support in every way to the clubs as the heartbeat of the association.”

Said FAI commercial and marketing director, Mark Russell: “We’re absolutely delighted to launch our new streaming service, WATCHLOI. Working with RTÉ Sport and GAAGO will guarantee that we will have a best-in-class product which SSE Airtricity League supporters will be able to enjoy around the world.

“Especially with COVID-19 restrictions, this is the ideal time to launch this service but with the revenue it will generate for the clubs, this is also a major moment for the league and a fantastic opportunity to promote and enhance the domestic game in Ireland,” Russell concluded.