Sky Sports has won the right to show the vast majority of Premier League games in Ireland for the next three seasons. The five packages Sky secured are identical to those awarded to the broadcaster in the UK.

Setanta Ireland retained rights to broadcast 33 matches per season on Irish television until the 2012/13 season. All of the Setanta games will be broadcast live at 3pm on Saturdays, the highest-rated slot on Setanta's schedule.

ESPN, which entered the market following the collapse of Setanta’s British operation earlier this year, was awarded the rights to broadcast 23 fixtures in this country every campaign for the next three years.

Commenting on today's news, Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “This is great news for Sky Sports viewers in Ireland . . . with this year’s new deals for UEFA Champions League and the Football League, plus our range of other games, we can offer over 400 live matches each year.”

“We are delighted with the news,” said Michael O’Rourke, co-founder of Setanta Sports. “It is great to end 2009 on a strong note. We are very confident that in 2010 we will continue to bring Irish sports fans great premium sport with a uniquely Irish angle combined with relevant local sports.”