American football has been gaining popularity in Ireland and Europe over the past few decades. With more games being played internationally, including some taking place in Dublin, many American football fans in Ireland are wondering if they can watch the American football games on TV.
Background on American Football in Ireland
American football first arrived in Ireland in the early 2000s, when the Irish American Football League was established. The league started out small, with only a handful of teams, but has expanded over the years to over 30 teams across three divisions. Some of the teams play in Dublin, including the Dublin Rebels, South Dublin Panthers, Trinity College Dublin, and University College Dublin.
The game has caught on with both Irish players and fans. Many Irish people were first exposed to American football through family or friends in the US. The Super Bowl is also broadcast on Irish TV channels, helping to increase interest and knowledge of the game. Major American football events held in Dublin, such as the Emerald Isle Classic in 1988, 1996, and 2016, have also helped boost the sport’s popularity.
Growing Interest in Watching American Football
As more Irish players and fans engage with the sport of American football, there is a corresponding desire to be able to watch American football games on TV. Fans want to keep up with the latest NFL games, college games, and international matchups.
Additionally, the ability to watch American football on TV allows Irish fans to better understand the intricacies and rules of the game. By being able to see games live and in action, Irish audiences can more fully immerse themselves as fans.
American Football Games Broadcast on Irish TV
At present, a selection of American football games are shown on Irish TV channels:
NFL
The NFL has been building its international fanbase, including in Ireland and the UK. A number of NFL games are shown each week of the season on Sky Sports. This includes the London Games, which have been held annually at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since 2019.
Virgin Media Sport also has rights to broadcast some NFL games in Ireland each week during the regular season. The Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football matches tend to be shown each week on Virgin Media.
Both Sky Sports and Virgin Media show the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl live.
College Football
College football has a small but dedicated following in Ireland. Live games are hard to come by on Irish TV, but sports channels do sometimes show highlights packages. ESPN America used to show some live college football before it closed in 2013.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a strong connection to Ireland, with ND games sometimes shown on Irish TV. When Notre Dame played in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in 2012 and 2016, the games were broadcast by TV3.
International Games
When American football games take place in Ireland or the UK, there is typically live TV coverage on domestic channels. For example, the American football games in the BAFA Premiership in Britain are often televised.
Broadcasters like the BBC, Sky Sports, and Premier Sports provide coverage of major events like the International Series games at Wembley Stadium. When Ireland hosted the Emerald Isle Classic in Dublin, the nationally televised the games live.
Will the Upcoming Game in Dublin Be on TV?
There is an American football game scheduled to take place in Dublin in October 2023. This game between Navy and Notre Dame will be played at the Aviva Stadium on October 28, 2023.
Based on past precedent of American football games in Dublin, it is highly likely that this Navy vs. Notre Dame contest will be televised live on Irish TV.
TV Channels Expected to Broadcast
Virgin Media Television – Since they already show some live Notre Dame and NFL games, Virgin Media would be a prime candidate to televise the Dublin game. Their sports channel Virgin Media Sport could provide the live broadcast.
RTE – As the Irish national broadcaster, RTE would be another likely outlet to televise the game. RTE2 provided live coverage of the previous Notre Dame games held in Dublin.
TV3 – Now part of Virgin Media Television, TV3 has broadcast American football from Dublin before and could do so again. Their outlet Virgin Media Sport, Virgin Media More, or Virgin Media Two could carry the game.
Premier Sports – This sports-focused TV channel has broadcast prior American football clashes in Britain. As they have the channel infrastructure in place, Premier Sports emerges as a contender to air the Navy vs. Notre Dame matchup.
BBC – The BBC has shown NFL games before and covers a wide range of sports. However, as a British broadcaster, they may be less inclined to televise an American football game happening in Dublin.
Estimated Viewership
Based on viewership figures from previous American football games televised from Ireland:
– 2012 Notre Dame vs. Navy game in Dublin: 1 million viewers on TV3
– 2016 Notre Dame vs. Navy game in Dublin: Unknown, but likely 500,000+ on RTE2
– 2019 NCAA season average viewership on ESPN America: 206,000
– 2021 NFL International Series game on BBC: 800,000
The 2023 Navy vs. Notre Dame game in Dublin could potentially draw 500,000 to 1 million+ viewers on Irish TV depending on the broadcasting channel and compatibility.
Other Options for Watching the Game
If the Navy vs. Notre Dame game is not shown on domestic Irish channels, there are other ways for fans to tune in:
Streaming
– The American broadcasting network covering the game, likely NBC, could provide a stream on their website or app for international audiences.
– Sports streaming services like ESPN Player or FloSports could buy rights to stream the game outside the US.
– More informal streams may be available on social media or sports streaming sites.
Pubs
– Pubs and sports bars in Dublin will likely show the game if it’s not on domestic TV.
– US sports-focused pubs like The Big Tree, Sinnotts, and The 51 are good bets for finding it on.
In Person
– Attending the game live at the Aviva Stadium is an option for devoted fans who can get tickets. That will guarantee the ability to watch it.
Conclusion
Based on Ireland’s appetite for American football and history of televising Dublin games, the odds seem high that the 2023 Navy vs. Notre Dame American football game will be broadcast on Irish TV. Virgin Media Television and RTE appear the most probable channels to air the matchup.
If the game is not shown on domestic TV, fans will still have alternative options like streaming, heading to sports bars, or being there in person. But the growing popularity of American football in Ireland points to strong interest in watching the game locally on Irish TV channels. An expected 500,000 to 1 million or more viewers could tune in making it a TV event for sports fans.