According to Wales Online (I know, the same guys who announced Nakarawa would be leaving Racing for the Dragons)...
Sky Sports bid for the UK & Ireland rights from 2018, but lost Ireland to Eir Sport. Their strategy was Islands-wide, so Sky have pulled out of the bidding. BT Sport is thought NOT to be interested, having won the exclusive rights to the European Champions & Challenge Cups from next year, and already having the Aviva Prem.
So it is thought that Premier Sports (subscription channel available for extra through Sky) are in the hunt, with the BBC regions. TG4 is likely to have some Irish games free to view also. Overall it is 'hoped' that the combined deals will mean an increase on the current rights.
All speculation of course. Concerning if the Pro 14 TV revenue is static, as the gulf with England and France will widen further if so.
I'm surprised if BT Sport doesn't make a bid after the cosying up to the SRU and WRU, and the opportunity to pad out their schedule a bit, personally I'll be a bit hacked off if I have to consider a third Sports pay TV package (although could be the prompt to ditch Sky Sports).
I think there had been some talk of fairly dismal viewing figures on Sky, for whom the Irish clubs were the biggest draw anyway. Of course, alongside TV money you have to consider development of the supporter base (and accessibility) through free-to-air.
Thoughts?