Thousands of Eir customers were left without Virgin Media Sports content on Thursday evening after the service was pulled over a contractual dispute. Virgin Media, which provides its sports channels to Eir for what is believed to be a multimillion euro annual fee, pulled the plug at 6pm ahead of a Champions League football quarter final. In a statement it said it had suspended provision of both Virgin Media Sport and Virgin Media Sport Extra to Eir Sport “because Eir has failed to pay the contracted distribution licence fee”. While it is unclear how many people view the content via the Eir service, it had been available to all Eir broadband customers. In a counter statement issued shortly afterwards, Eir accused Virgin Media of refusing to agree to renewed terms in their contract given the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on sports fixtures.

Source: The Irish Times August 13, 2020 21:22 UTC