RTÉ Sport have secured a four-year contract extension with the FAI for television, radio and online broadcasting rights.  The contract will secure coverage up to and including the 2014 season.

All Republic of Ireland home internationals in European and World Cup qualifying up to the 2014 finals in Brazil are covered under the contract extension.

RTÉ television will have deferred access to all of Ireland's home friendly internationals within the contract period, while RTÉ radio will broadcast these matches live.

Also, a new one-hour highlights package of the eircom League of Ireland will be screened by the national broadcaster.

RTÉ also intends increasing its live coverage of domestic games, culminating with 33 live matches (one-per-week) in the final year of the term - the 2013 season.

RTÉ radio will continue to broadcast live its Friday night show covering domestic soccer games.

FAI chief executive John Delaney said:  "This is a ground-breaking deal for the eircom League of Ireland and will bring its profile to a new level with the introduction of a weekly one-hour prime-time highlights programme.

"The commitment to increase the number of live games to one per week during the course of the deal is another tremendous boost for the League."