Advertisement
Brian O'Driscoll burrows forward during Leinster's win. ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Live

UPC's red button hiccup for Leinster clash unlikely to be repeated

The Irish province’s Heineken Cup game in Castres was unavailable live, even to viewers with Sky Sports add-on packages.

UPC SAY THEY did their utmost to warn its subscribers that the Heineken Cup clash between Leinster and Castres last weekend would not be available live.

Due to Sky Sports pushing the Pool 1 encounter onto the red button, UPC customers with subscriptions to the sports channels were unable to watch the game live. This occurrence was met with annoyance, particularly as Sky Sports add-on packages costs from €34.00 up to €54.00 per month.

UPC insist that the situation was out of their hands due to the lack of red button functionality on their service, although they also pointed out that due warning was provided through the Leinster Supporters club and other avenues.

A spokeswoman for the digital cable television provider told TheScore.ie:

The Heineken Cup game was scheduled by Sky to broadcast via their Red Button functionality which UPC currently does not offer. That said, highlights were available on TG4 from 5pm onwards yesterday.

“In addition, UPC proactively informed our customers via Twitter, IVR and via our call centre. We have been informed that this was the first Leinster game of the season and the only one according to Sky that will be shown on the Red Button functionality.

“The game on Friday (Leinster versus Ospreys) will be shown on Sky Sports – as the main match.  Furthermore, Sky has confirmed that their line-up for all four Irish provinces will broadcast as part of their main events schedule.”

That, thankfully, means there will be no red button involved in the screening of the Irish sides’s European games this weekend. The UPC spokeswoman also added that they had been “in contact with the Leinster Supporters Club via Twitter and informed them of the above and apologised in advance.”

Referee Owens left ‘shaken’ but unharmed after motorway collision

Captain Clarke returns as Connacht dream of quarter-final spot

Your Voice
Readers Comments
8
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.