Best TV sports packages in Ireland
If you’re a sports fan, a standard digital TV bundle may not cut it. Here’s how to choose a TV package that lets you watch all the action, for less.
Who offers sports channels?
There are three digital TV providers that offer sports packages in Ireland:
All three let you add sports channels to their digital TV packages, but only Sky offer standalone TV deals.
Virgin Media or Vodafone don’t offer TV only sports packages so you’ll need to sign up to a broadband and TV bundle to get their sports plans.
What sport packages are on offer?
Ireland’s main TV providers offer different sports channels, bundles, and add-ons. Here’s what’s available from Sky, Virgin Media, and Vodafone:
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Sky Offers new TV customers the option to add Sky Sports or Sports Extra for a monthly fee (min. 12-month contract). You can also add Sky Sports via NOW or Sky Stream subscriptions.
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Virgin Media Includes a base ‘Sport’ service with its TV bundle, with the option to add Sky Sports, or Sky Sports + Sports Extra. The Virgin TV Go app gives live sports on the move.
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Vodafone Their standard bundle includes channels like Sky Racing, Fast & Fun Box, Fight Box and Game Toon. To get full Sky Sports access you opt for their TV Sport bundle with a NOW Sports membership.
Free to air channels like RTÉ, Virgin Media One and BBC also offer sports coverage.
Sky Sports
Includes 9 dedicated Sky Sports channels including:
- Sky Sports Main Event
- Premier League football
- GAA Championship
- Cricket
- Golf Majors
- Tennis
- Rugby
And more. If you sign up with a Sky TV package, you’ll also get the exclusive Sky Sports F1 channel.
Sky Sports Extra
Features 6 sports channels, including:
- TNT Sports 1,2,3, 4 (formerly BT Sport)
- Premier Sport 1 and 2 plus La Liga TV
- UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League games
- Premier League games (including 3pm kick-offs)
- Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Rugby
- United Rugby Championship
Plus Scottish FA Cup and Challenge Cup Rugby.
Virgin Media
Broadcasts over 400 matches of:
- All UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Europa League
- UEFA Nations League games
- Eurosport 1 and 2
- Sky Sports News and Sports Mix
You can also add Sky Sports, Sports Extra, TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) and Premier Sports to your existing TV channels for a monthly fee.
What sports can you watch with each package?
Sports channels cover everything from football to Formula 1, but not all providers show the same events. Here’s a quick look at what you can watch on each package.
| Sport | Sky Sports | Sports Extra | Virgin Media TV (add-ons) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby | European & domestic leagues | Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, URC | Six Nations, selected club games | |
| Football / Soccer | Premier League, EFL, SPFL, Euro qualifiers | 100 Premier League games, La Liga TV, UCL via Premier Sports | Champions League, Europa League, Nations League | |
| Golf | All 9 majors, PGA & European Tours, TGL | – | The Masters (select coverage) | |
| Tennis | US Open, ATP, WTA Tour | Select events | French Open (select), mixed coverage | |
| Motorsports | Formula 1 (all sessions) | NASCAR, Moto GP | – | |
| Other sports | Boxing, NFL, GAA, darts, cricket | Cricket & boxing | Women’s sport, domestic leagues, free-to-air fixtures |
Rights vary by sport, season, and fixture, check your provider’s TV schedule for full details.
How to choose a sports TV package
This often comes down to the channels you want, but also consider the TV package as a whole. When you’re comparing TV deals, think about the:
What about pay per view events?
Big one-off events like boxing title fights, MMA cards and WWE main events aren’t usually part of standard sports packages.
To watch them:
Common pay-per-view events include:
Prices for PPV events vary, usually around €20–€30 depending on the fight card or promotion.
Streaming-only options
If you prefer to stream rather than commit to a full TV bundle, several platforms offer flexible ways to watch live sport in Ireland, often without a contract.
NOW Sports
Watch Sky Sports channels live or on-demand with a NOW Sports Membership;
- Available on smart TVs, consoles, and mobile apps.
- No long-term contract, cancel anytime.
- Ideal for short-term coverage (e.g. Premier League weekends or GAA season).
Discovery+
Home to Eurosport 1 & 2, with coverage of tennis Grand Slams, cycling, winter sports, and the Olympics, and is:
- Subscription-based, with monthly or annual plans.
- Bundled free with some Sky TV or Virgin Media packages.
Amazon Prime Video Sport
Streams selected Premier League matches, ATP tennis, and documentaries, and is:
- Included with a Prime subscription
- Available to stream across multiple devices or download events for offline viewing.
Can you stream any sports for free?
It’s illegal to stream paid-for sports without permission, and it risks poor quality and malware.
You can, however, watch free and legal live sport on:
- RTÉ Player: GAA, rugby, and football fixtures broadcast on RTÉ channels.
- Virgin Media Player: UEFA Champions League, international football and other highlights.
These services are free to use in Ireland and don’t require a pay-TV subscription.
So, which provider is best?
That depends on what you watch most - and your budget.
- Sky Sports: gives the widest choice, with exclusive Premier League and F1 coverage.
- Virgin Media Sport: is strong on European football, including Champions League games.
- Vodafone TV: offers flexible streaming with NOW Sports for casual viewers.
Most providers bundle their own sports channels and charge extra for competitors’ networks, so the best deal often comes from bundling TV and broadband together.
Quick decision guide
Still not sure which provider suits you best? Use this quick guide to match your favourite sport with the right plan:
| Your priority | Best choice | Why | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Sky Sports | Exclusive rights to 126 live games per season | |
| Champions League | Virgin Media Sport | Full UEFA Champions & Europa League coverage | |
| Formula 1 | Sky Sports | Exclusive Sky Sports F1 channel | |
| Rugby & URC | Sports Extra (TNT & Premier Sports) | Champions Cup & Challenge Cup matches | |
| On a budget | Virgin Media TV bundle | Includes Virgin Media Sport free with most plans | |
| Stream-only viewer | NOW Sports or Discovery+ | Watch without a contract, cancel anytime |
Sports TV FAQs
What sports channels are included with Virgin Media Sport?
Virgin Media Sport includes Virgin Media Sport 1, Eurosport 1 and 2, Sky Sports News and Sports Mix.
You can also add Sky Sports, TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), or Premier Sports for an additional monthly fee.
These add-ons expand coverage across football, rugby, tennis, motorsport and more.
What’s the cheapest way to watch the GAA Championship in Ireland?
Many GAA Championship games are free-to-air on RTÉ One, RTÉ 2 and the RTÉ Player.
Selected fixtures are shown on Sky Sports Arena or GAAGO, the GAA’s official streaming service.
Combining free-to-air coverage with short-term access via NOW Sports or GAAGO is usually the best value option for most fans.
What is the best-value sports package in Ireland?
The best deal depends on your viewing habits and whether you prefer a bundle or standalone option.
Virgin Media TV offers strong value as Virgin Media Sport is free with most TV bundles., while Sky TV provides the widest choice and exclusive coverage of Premier League and Formula 1.
Vodafone TV is ideal for flexible streaming through a NOW Sports Membership.
Can I get Sky Sports without broadband?
Yes. Sky offers standalone TV plans, so you can subscribe to Sky Sports without broadband.
Alternatively, you can stream Sky Sports via NOW; available on smart TVs, consoles and mobile devices - with no contract and flexible day or month passes.
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