UPC Ireland in €20m spending spree

Irish cable operator UPC Ireland is to add a number of international channels to its pay-TV package as part of a €20m spending blitz.

The Liberty Global-owned cabler has inked a deal with British commercial broadcaster ITV to add its digital thematic channels ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 to its package. These channels are currently not available to subscribers of UPC rival Sky Ireland. UPC has also secured carriage of sports channel ESPN, which airs English Premier League soccer, and ESPN America. The cable operator is also set to spend €10m on a marketing campaign, particularly targeting rural areas in Ireland.