Contractual obligations have been blamed for the geo-blocking of a documentary charting the extraordinary career of Belfast-born footballer Jimmy Hasty.
Viewers in the north who tuned-in to RTÉ 2 on Tuesday night were disappointed to find the 30-minute programme about the former Dundalk FC striker was unavailable.
Originally from the Sailortown area of Belfast, Hasty enjoyed a prolific career with the Oriel Park outfit, despite having lost an arm as a teenager.
In the 1960s, he scored more than 100 goals during six seasons with the Co Louth club.
However, the 38-year-old father of two was shot dead by loyalists in October 1974 as he walked to work on Brougham Street near the current site of Yorkgate Shopping Centre.
The Protestant Action Force, a cover named used by the UVF, claimed responsibility for his killing.
A recent documentary by UEFA TV charting his career has received widespread acclaim but viewers north of the border hoping to watch it on RTÉ were left frustrated.
The geo-blocking of One-Armed Wonder: The Extraordinary Story of Jimmy Hasty is the latest in a long list of programmes that northern viewers have been unable to watch.
RTÉ has also faced criticism in the past over the inability of northern viewers to take part in the national broadcaster's competitions.
SDLP sports spokesperson Justin McNulty said there would have been keen interest in Jimmy Hasty's story north of the border because, as well as being from Belfast, he also represented Newry Town.
“We have repeatedly called on RTÉ to address these issues and I have personally met with them to discuss problems around people in the north being prevented from viewing certain programmes, particularly sporting events," the Newry & Armagh representative said.
"While I understand that in some circumstances rights issues do occur, it’s hard to imagine why this programme about a footballer from the north who reached prominence in the 1960s cannot be viewed here today."
A statement from RTÉ said: "One-Armed Wonder: The Extraordinary Story of Jimmy Hasty is a UEFA documentary which we are contractually obliged to broadcast but are also obliged to block in Northern Ireland (as is the case with all UEFA programming) as we only have rights for the Republic of Ireland."
