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RTE bosses plan soccer blockbuster John Moore

TV bosses are planning to set Ireland alight with World Cup football fever. As the Republic seems set to qualify for America, they are drawing up plans for the biggest television sports blockbusters ever.

• One of the Republic's two TV channels, Network 2, will be completely turned over to football and fans for the Cup, showing an incredible 50 live matches. • There will be six major TV spectaculars in the run-up to the contest, and • A special camera unit will be based with the Irish team to bring fans the inside stories.

The decision to turn the Cup into a huge entertainment event has been made because of the massive fan following which Jack Charlton and his Green Army have built up in their battle to quality.

The man in charge of the RTE operation is sports broadcasting chief Tim O'Connor.
He revealed: "We are seriously looking at the possibility of taking over Network 2 for the World Cup.
"We plan to screen live 50 out of the 52 matches which will be played during the competition.

"We will be able to do this because, for the first time in a World Cup, it seems there will be three different kick-off times each day with all three daily matches being staggered.

"That's why it makes sense to turn Network 2 into Ireland's soccer channel."
But RTE chiefs have ordered that TV coverage should also take in other topics.
"There will be a special magazine programme on what's happening behind the scenes," said Tim.

"And, in the six shows in the run-up to the Cup, we will be dealing with things such as security and personal safety for fans, as well as entertainment and what to do in America."

The Republic faces its next World Cup qualifying hurdle in Dublin on Wednesday when it plays Lithuania.

Northern Ireland are all but out of the competition, needing a miracle to make it to the US, Scotland are already out and Wales are still in with a chance.

England are in danger of failing to qualify and begin a three-match trail of truth on Wednesday against Poland.
