This will come as welcome news to thousands of disappointed music fans who failed to get their hands on a ticket for the festival before it officially sold out. Newspaper reports have recently carried stories of some desperate fans forking out exorbitant sums to buy tickets over the internet.

According to an RTE spokeswoman, fans who won't be able to get to the event in Stradbally will now be able to enjoy the experience on television. RTE Two will broadcast the festival from afternoon to late night on 2 and 3 September, excluding time given to two major sporting activities that weekend . . . the Ireland v Germany European Championships qualifier and the 2006 All Ireland hurling final.

The coverage will be a mixture of live and recorded footage and interviews with bands and festival revellers.

The line-up of this year's Electric Picnic festival will include Damien Rice, The Pet Shop Boys and New Order. It is expected that the names of the RTE presenters will be announced early this week.