Sky Sports and ERC have announced that a record 35 fixtures from the first four rounds of the 2008/09 Heineken Cup will be televised live.

Viewers will be able to watch up to nine live ties from each of the first four rounds, with all 24 competing teams featuring at least twice.

At least one match will be screened each Friday, three each Saturday, and two each Sunday, with extra select Heineken Cup matches available live to Sky Digital viewers through the interactive function by pressing the red button.

Many games will also be shown exclusively live throughout the UK and Ireland in high-definition, with Sky+ HD viewers offered a cinema-like experience with sharper, clearer, more vibrant pictures.

The live Heineken Cup fixtures for the first four rounds include:

+ MUNSTER vs MONTAUBAN - Friday 10 October: Munster open the defense of their title at the newly redeveloped Thomond Park against French side Montauban, to kick off the exclusive Heineken Cup coverage on Sky Sports.

+ LEICESTER TIGERS vs OSPREYS - Sunday 12 October: Live and exclusive coverage of this rematch between the two EDF Energy Cup finalists, when the Ospreys became the first Welsh side to lift the trophy at Twickenham.

+ LEINSTER vs LONDON WASPS - Saturday 18 October: In the second round of the tournament, viewers can watch an exclusive clash between last season's Magners League winners and the Guinness Premiership title holders.

Announcing the fixtures, Martin Turner, executive producer for Rugby Union at Sky Sports, said: "The Heineken Cup is now better than ever and supported by great television coverage. There are more matches and more chances for fans to see their team, giving viewers at home more reasons to tune in."

Derek McGrath, ERC Chief Executive said: "The quality and quantity of coverage of the Heineken Cup offered by Sky Sports and ERC's other European partners means fans have a wealth of world class European rugby to look forward to when the 14th Heineken Cup kicks-off in October."

Highlights, analysis and a comprehensive round-up of the weekend's matches will be shown on European Rugby Special, a weekly programme broadcast every Sunday of the tournament.

The Heineken Cup is part of a non-stop season of live rugby union on Sky Sports, from international, European and domestic levels. Alongside the Heineken Cup, Sky Sports will broadcast exclusively live coverage of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, along with England's Autumn internationals, the Guinness Premiership, Tri Nations, Super 14s, Currie Cup, Air New Zealand Cup, and the Varsity match.

Live broadcasts are supported by The Rugby Club, now in its 12th year. The weekly magazine show features in-depth previews, analysis and reaction throughout the season, with presenter Simon Lazenby joined in the studio by Dewi Morris, Stuart Barnes, Will Greenwood and Ieuan Evans.

Simon Lazenby will host the Heineken Cup matches with studio analysts including Dewi Morris, Will Greenwood, Michael Lynagh, Ieuan Evans, Paul Wallace, Mark Robson, Kenny Logan and Scott Quinnell. Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison are behind the mics for many of the big games and Graham Simmons will be pitchside for interviews with players and coaches.

Confirmed live matches from the Heineken Cup:

Round 1 Friday 10 October Munster v Montauban LIVE 20:00
Round 1 Saturday 11 October Edinburgh v Leinster LIVE 13:35
Round 1 Saturday 11 October Rugby Calvisano v Cardiff Blues LIVE 13:35 i
Round 1 Saturday 11 October ASM Clermont Auvergne v Sale Sharks LIVE 13:35 i
Round 1 Saturday 11 October Ulster Rugby v Stade Français Paris LIVE 15:30
Round 1 Saturday 11 October Llanelli Scarlets v Harlequins LIVE 15:30 i
Round 1 Saturday 11 October Gloucester Rugby v Biarritz Olympique LIVE 17:30
Round 1 Sunday 12 October Leicester Tigers v Ospreys LIVE 13:00
Round 1 Sunday 12 October Toulouse v Bath Rugby LIVE 15:00
Round 2 Friday 17 October Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse LIVE 20:00
Round 2 Saturday 18 October Stade Français Paris v Llanelli Scarlets LIVE 13:35
Round 2 Saturday 18 October Benetton Treviso v Leicester Tigers LIVE 13:35 i
Round 2 Saturday 18 October Ospreys v Perpignan LIVE 15:30
Round 2 Saturday 18 October Leinster v London Wasps LIVE 17:30
Round 2 Saturday 18 October Castres Olympique v Edinburgh LIVE 17:30 i
Round 2 Sunday 19 October Sale Sharks v Munster LIVE 13:00
Round 2 Sunday 19 October Bath Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons LIVE 13:00 i
Round 2 Sunday 19 October Cardiff Blues v Gloucester Rugby LIVE 15:00
Round 3 Friday 5 December Ulster Rugby v Llanelli Scarlets LIVE 20:00
Round 3 Friday 5 December Cardiff Blues v Biarritz Olympique LIVE 20:00 i
Round 3 Saturday 6 December Leinster v Castres Olympique LIVE 13:35
Round 3 Saturday 6 December Toulouse v Newport Gwent Dragons LIVE 13:35 i
Round 3 Saturday 6 December Rugby Calvisano v Gloucester Rugby LIVE 13:35 i
Round 3 Saturday 6 December Stade Français Paris v Harlequins LIVE 15:30
Round 3 Saturday 6 December Leicester Tigers v Perpignan LIVE 17:30
Round 3 Sunday 7 December Bath Rugby v Glasgow Warriors LIVE 13:00
Round 3 Sunday 7 December ASM Clermont Auvergne v Munster LIVE 15:00
Round 4 Friday 12 December Castres Olympique v Leinster LIVE 20:00
Round 4 Friday 12 December Llanelli Scarlets v Ulster Rugby LIVE 20:00 i
Round 4 Saturday 13 December Biarritz Olympique v Cardiff Blues LIVE 13:35
Round 4 Saturday 13 December Benetton Treviso v Ospreys LIVE 13:35 i
Round 4 Saturday 13 December Munster v ASM Clermont Auvergne LIVE 15:30
Round 4 Saturday 13 December Harlequins v Stade Français Paris LIVE 17:30
Round 4 Sunday 14 December London Wasps v Edinburgh LIVE 13:00
Round 4 Sunday 14 December Perpignan v Leicester Tigers LIVE 15:00