VIEWERS of RTÉ in the north were left watching blank screens on Wednesday night when both main channels were blocked at the same time.
Sky subscribers were left angered after RTÉ 1's screening of All Round to Mrs Brown's was blocked from 10.40pm, while those turning over to RTÉ 2 were also prohibited from watching the satirical football programme Après Match of the Day from 10.45pm.
Northern viewers were instead greeted with on-screen messages which stated "this programme is not available".
All Round to Mrs Brown's is shown on BBC and therefore understood to be subject to contractual and commercial rules which would only allow it to be shown on RTÉ in the Republic.
However, viewers were left bemused by the blocking of Après Match of the Day, which is not believed to be shown on television in Britain.
It is the latest programme to be cut off for northern viewers, after the blocking of football and rugby games was expanded to include popular shows.
RTÉ's coverage of international football and rugby, once a staple for sporting fans in the north, has disappeared from the radar as it is blocked on Sky, Virgin and Freeview.
In 2014 viewers of crime drama The Fall expressed anger after being prohibited from following the show on RTÉ after the broadcaster had screened the first two episodes.
Sky did not respond to a request for comment from The Irish News.
