"Why should anybody have the God-given right to see all games on television? That was never the case back in the day and we all survived. Just because it's a luxury that's available nowadays and some people can pay for it, other people may choose not, and we'll all have the luxury of seeing highlights afterwards if we didn't go to the game."

________________________________

I don't think I've read something so spot on RE: televised games in all my life.

People might not like hearing it, but its true. Good man Mickey.

All this mumbo jumbo about the elderly who cant make it to the game, or people who cant afford it, or those in care homes etc, while its unfortunate and not nice that those people cant see their county play on tele, What about 30 or 40 years ago when there was one game a week if you were lucky?. How did the elderly, people who couldn't get to the game itself, or those in care homes manage to see their county back then ? They didn't.

And whats more, it only seems to be an issue talked about for the big games. What about followers of Sligo football for example ? Wicklow, Antrim football. The ulster and Connaught hurling teams ? None of their games were broadcast live to the elderly or those who couldnt afford to go to in Sligo, Wicklow, antrim etc. Nobody cared about them. Nobody was having a go at RTE/SKY etc for not showing Any Wicklow football games to the elderly in Bray or Greystones, those in Wicklow care homes that may want to watch their county.

The fact of the matter is this, There is more GAA games shown live/exclusively live now than ever before. Its impossible to please everyone. Its unfortunate but if for whatever reason you cant go the game and its not shown on tele, then that's just how it is. Some of us support other teams in other sports, we cant go to all their games, we cant watch them all on the box either, you don't hear other fans giving it socks about their organisations being a disgrace.

Its impossible to show every single inter county game on tele, and every single club game on tele. Impossible. But of course you have the cry-a**ing GAA people who moan and whinge and want everything for free, as if the whole organisation runs on monopoly money. Have a day off.

I drive a VW golf, and id love to buy a brand spanking new one in January, but I cant afford it. So I wont get one. Do I expect VW to just bend over and hand me one FOC cause I want one ? no. So why should we expect to be able to watch games for free on the telebox ? Where does this type of pathetic, entitlement come from ?

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 06/08/2019 13:47:13    2221592

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 06/08/2019 14:10:16    2221604

waynoI,

Agree 100%. I cant stand this constant lobbying from RTE. Let's be honest this is one broadcaster trying to put pressure on the GAA to abandon a commercial contract with another broadcaster.

It's totally despicable.

Imagine the out cry if Sky pundits spent half their programme arguing that games on RTE should be shown on Sky instead. Due to let's say their superior production values.

So what if people in old folks homes cant watch a couple of games every year.

What about league matches that are not on TG4 or like you said what about the dozens of other games involving lower level teams that never get shown.

The majority of games are free to air including provincial finals, all ireland semi finals and finals.

Plus the GAA don't know which games are going to be critical. I.e. what if the Mayo/Donegal match was a dead rubber and the Tyrone/Dublin match was all to play for. Would RTE's pressure group still have something to say?

Wally (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 06/08/2019 14:19:04    2221608

My issue is not that all games should be televised. I don't think they should be. My issue is that the GAA should not be getting in bed with Sky. Sky's ethos is the antithesis to the GAA's supposed ethos.

I do agree with him that the analysis is better though.

HighKings (Meath) - Posts: 271 - 06/08/2019 14:23:34    2221610

wicklu (Wicklow) - Posts: 331 - 06/08/2019 14:24:14    2221611

it's an amateur game being played by amateurs, it is not professional sport but we see fit to allow full time paid officials to make decisions who would not put the decision to go with Sky before congress.

Not everyone can afford Sky, and many who cant are GAA volunteers at local level who the Top Brass in the GAA have no regard or respect for. Older people who may not be physically able to attend games but who may have given lots of service to the GAA in the past are being ignored as well.

The GAA love to clap themselves on the back about community???....is pay per view TV central to community????.........put this to John Horan and no doubt he will behind the diaspora which seems to be GAA's standard answer to any difficult question these days.

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 916 - 06/08/2019 14:28:35    2221613

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 916 - 06/08/2019 14:38:00    2221620

I do find the "my grandad wants to watch games" line strange considering their grandad properly spent the first few decades of his life watching no games, then the next few decades watching a handful of games a year, but now he can't live without multiple games a weekend?!

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1646 - 06/08/2019 14:42:22    2221621

Agreed. Mickey H is spot on here.

CornAghais91 (Dublin) - Posts: 126 - 06/08/2019 14:44:45    2221626

These crocodile tears shed by the RTE pundits are embarrassing but then again whoever pays the piper calls the tune. It is interesting to note that back in the day an enterprising lad used to video tape GAA matches televised on RTE on Sunday and get the tapes over to pubs in London on the next day where they were eagerly awaited by the exiled Irish. RTE took action to put a stop to the practice. So much for caring about thise who couldnt attend.

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 06/08/2019 14:44:48    2221627

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7346 - 06/08/2019 14:53:41    2221630

achara (Monaghan) - Posts: 562 - 06/08/2019 14:57:01    2221631

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7346 - 06/08/2019 14:58:50    2221632

Wally (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 06/08/2019 15:01:28    2221634

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 06/08/2019 15:02:14    2221635

Mickey Hartes comments come across awfully imo. I think he obviously and perhaps rightfully has disdain for the national broadcaster and his comments are aimed at RTE rather than joe public who cant see the matches.

lilylanger (Kildare) - Posts: 758 - 06/08/2019 15:07:01    2221639

Harte has his own agenda and of course his opinions are tailored to fit that agenda. Those who bemoan the fact that games are not on terrestrial tv have every right to express their opinions in whatever media format is available to them without being castigated.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 06/08/2019 15:12:46    2221644

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 06/08/2019 15:14:21    2221646

Guess I'll be one to go against the consensus here. The debate that's been sparked now isn't really about watching all games, it's about the availability of our national sport to as many people here as possible. The Sky deal was peddled as a great way for the diaspora to get access to games. Now people on our own island can't see them. The broadcasting rights weren't perfect before either. But it's my opinion that as much of the games should be free-to-air as possible. Take a look at other sports and you'll see that if you put a paywall up, interest drops, it's just the way it is. And to make some comment about people just wanting everything for free, are you telling me the Sky deal is the only thing keeping the GAA afloat? Nonsense.

Harking back to 40 years ago sitting by a wireless is just an absolute nonsense point as well because the fact is, we're not back in those days, we're in 2019 and if the will is there, everyone COULD have access to these games. It's not about any "god-given" right or anything else, it's about community and access to our sports.

The only game with anything on the line at the weekend and half the country couldn't see it.

The same reason I don't have an issue with Dublin getting a lot of money for games development is the same reason I have an issue with the big championship matches not being free-to-air. The GAA first and foremost is about community and developing and promoting our games. Everything should be geared towards that in my opinion. It's not about wanting something for nothing, we all put plenty of money in the GAA coffers following our clubs and counties. So give me a break making this out to be some freeloading motive.

One final point, I find Mickey's comment here: "I've never seen so many people so interested in people in homes & other places around the country that can't see the games on TV. It seems strange that these people suddenly have such a grá for these kinds of people." extremely distasteful. But I'll say no more there.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 06/08/2019 15:15:01    2221648

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 916 - 06/08/2019 15:16:18    2221649