We can go live now to Charlotte Jackson and Natalie Sawyer at Walsh Park, BOOM!!

juniorjudge (Waterford) - Posts: 383 - 11/03/2014 12:13:09    1558177

Id assume it would be select league games similar to the Setanta Package.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 11/03/2014 12:13:15    1558178

I'm always amused by the fear of some Irish people when this topic is raised. What Sky are good at is raising hype about sports that nobody is really interested in. Darts, Snooker, Netball and Rugby League are the main examples. Niche sports with minimal following until Sky got on board. I mean Rugby League in the UK is mostly played in Yorkshire and Lancashire and followed by a small diehard group. Sky has branded it SuperLeague and puts it up there with Football. Same with Darts, nobody watched it for years now its got a fanatical following. Once a larger audience gets even the slightest taste of GAA(far superior sports and Hurling in particular) the profile of the games will grow and that can only be good for the Association and especially our foreign units. We are still going to have the Sunday Game but hopefully they will have to raise their game to meet higher standards. Sky are not the enemy here. Inertia within RTE and the GAA are far more detrimental to the future of our games and if Sky shakes that up then more power to them.

jpcampion (Laois) - Posts: 194 - 11/03/2014 12:25:57    1558189

I am just hoping they are taking over from Premier Sports regarding showing the games in the UK.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 11/03/2014 12:33:44    1558192

gotmilk

No Htaem it is an amateur game so why make people pay to see it on the tv? This deal would go against the ethos of the game.


I'm sorry but the ethos argument is a load of rubbish, I won't listen to that nonsense and you're right it is an amateur sport, an amateur sport with many very amateur facilities and stadia across the country, it needs all the money and it can get to grow!

The problem of access to Gaelic games is an issue that I think is quite important though and I accept that as a genuine concern for many people. This is the real issue that the Gaa is going to have to consider when looking at offers from subscription networks (although they've been on Setanta for a while now), I'd personally be in favour of taking a punt, what's the worst that could happen = numbers don't add up and Gaa reverts back to RTE & TV3, doesn't look too bad to me.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/03/2014 12:38:10    1558195

gotmilk
County: Fermanagh
Posts: 1770

Anyway as another poster pointed out how are some people going to be able to afford to watch it? To watch it they will probably have to go to the pub which will cost them money as well. I think it's a bad move.

We have to pay Setanta as it is so where's the difference?

Besides which it is simplicity itself to watch Sky Sports on a laptop free of charge.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 11/03/2014 12:42:57    1558197

gotmilk
No Htaem it is an amateur game so why make people pay to see it on the tv? This deal would go against the ethos of the game. I'm not in favour of it.

The fact that some people have to pay for setanta, and everyone pays a tv licence, seems to be lost on you... As does the fact that you have to pay into the game to see it. Against the ethos? Nonsense. It is an amateur sport, that doesnt mean everything is free. The players dont get paid, that is as far as the ethos reaches.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 11/03/2014 12:54:47    1558201

This will be a disaster if it happens, anyone in favour of this must not have a sky subscription. When they cover Irish teams it's half assed: 15 minute build up to Irish soccer games whereas when England are playing Glenn Hoddle is on talking rubbish from midday till kickoff. They don't understand the Gaa culture and quite frankly in my opinion never will, it will be a cheap broadcast package that will make Setanta look like Hollywood. When it comes to pacifying their Irish viewing population they cut corners.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 11/03/2014 13:01:27    1558203

Well you would have to hope that this is a case of the GAA moving games from Setanta to Sky and that RTE will continue to broadcast championship ties. I can't see the GAA taking games from RTE. It would do more damage than good. A lot of people on hard times and elderly people on pensions would then be required to take out a Sky subscription to see programmes that have been part of Sunday Irish culture since the dawn of television. I just don't see that happening. At the same time what additional subscription take-up could Sky hope for if they are not going to be monopolising the broadcasts? Very little I would say. Doesn't make sense. Sounds like the GAA are positioning themselves ahead of the renewal date to squeeze more money out of the incumbents.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 11/03/2014 13:09:47    1558205

gotmilk
No Htaem it is an amateur game so why make people pay to see it on the tv? This deal would go against the ethos of the game. I'm not in favour of it.

By that logic they shouldn't charge at the gate either??

Aren't GAA Championship matches included on the list of protected events that must be made available to terrestrial tv stations? Surely as mentioned by others this will only be for league matches currently shown by Setanta. I would have no problem with Sky also broadcasting Championship matches provided that they were also broadcast by RTE or TV3 (although I would imagine that this would go against the terms of their packages, considering they can't even show different matches at the same time), which could hopefully increase the appeal of our games overseas

game.on.now.ger (Galway) - Posts: 423 - 11/03/2014 13:24:47    1558212

Getting a major broadcaster in the US to show Hurling and Football would be great.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 11/03/2014 13:28:18    1558218

In the 60's the average age of a Football fan stood on the terrace was 18 now it's 48. Sky Sports have Americanised all sports, the game is showcased over 3 hours of repetitive build up, beautiful women on sky sports news endlessly promoting the latest match, interviews and constant analysis (sic) has given birth to the armchair fan. Pricing (despite what you will be told) is not the issue as the average under 18 ticket at top clubs is £15-20, moreover the same survey found 75% of fans in the 60's supported their local side, now it's only a 1/3. Sky Sports have ruined football they will do the same with the GAA. Its a merely a case of 'the grass is greener' The non linear structure of Irish broadcasting is refreshing in comparative to the "Please don't say anything different or challenging" shitting myself English presenter style. If you think Sky will raise the profile of the game I would wonder why and to who and for what reason? If Sky will generate money then I would question their reason and the impact it will have on the game.

Fiveways (Mayo) - Posts: 19 - 11/03/2014 13:35:16    1558225

Fiveways
County: Mayo
Posts: 1

beautiful women on sky sports news endlessly promoting the latest match.

Welcome to HS fiveways!!

I have to wonder at your complaint about beautiful women though. Compared to looking at Marty Morrisey I'll take the Sky option any day of the week!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 11/03/2014 14:00:37    1558246

Fair enough comment Fiveways, as an exile all I ask is the possibility of a PPV service. I don't subscribe to either Sky sports (too full of itself), Premier Sports (more Aussie RL and motorsport than GAA) and Setanta on this side of the water went belly up long time ago. There was talk of such a service being provided and truth is I would much rather it come from the national broadcaster than anyone else. Thats another possible revenue stream that the GAA should be exploring, whether it be online streaming or via a satelite broadcaster.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 11/03/2014 14:01:43    1558247

I have my reservations about doing deals with the Murdoch empire but exposure on an international scale is no bad thing and raises the profile of our games. However I would also want reassurances that money will be spread out to those counties who are struggling badly with player losses and emigration. If this is just another excuse for thr GAA and Dublin to fill their treasure chests to the exclusion of others I wouldn't want to know. We are aleady in a 'have and have not' heirarchy within the Association and to make that worse would have a longer detrimental affect on the GAA.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 11/03/2014 14:06:13    1558253

If you live overseas and want to watch a game you should have the option to do so at home without having to go to a pub. Multiple platforms are also a must, its crazy that RTE.ie streams games live but only people in Ireland can watch. At least Sky offer multiple platforms to watch their channels. Its about giving more people the chance to see GAA in the most convenient way possible.

jpcampion (Laois) - Posts: 194 - 11/03/2014 14:27:49    1558273

Ulsterman
I have my reservations about doing deals with the Murdoch empire

Signed the contracts in blood did they? Under a full moon... By the 7th son of the 7th son etc etc. Could you be a little more over-dramatic please? Im not sure everyone got the point...

If it doesnt work they dont have to accept their offer the second time around and that is it done and dusted. There is nothing to lose and lots to gain. It is a no-brainer.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 11/03/2014 14:41:37    1558279

What difference does it makes to anyone in the Republic Of Ireland if Sky gets the rights? It won't affect Rte and TV3 coverage so why are lads so against it? Better Sky have it than Premier sports whose coverage of GA is about fifth choice on the station. At least with Sky having so many channels there will never be match coverage delayed

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 11/03/2014 14:56:51    1558287

11/03/2014 10:32:35
Htaem
I can't say I've heard anything about this and I don't really see it happening in the near future. But for curiosity sake if nothing else I wouldn't mind seeing how Gaa would do if Sky took some of the games, they have been great some other sports so why not give it a go. I understand though that Sky getting exclusive rights to certain games would cut a lot of people out of watching their national sport so the Gaa would have a lot to consider.

11/03/2014 10:43:30 RoyalBadger
If true this is the knock on effect from BTs Champions League deal. Sky doing everything they can to hold onto as many customers as possible. Its no coincidence that after ignoring GAA for 30 years they're suddenly interested as soon as they get a credible threat.
We'll get the usual 'Grab All Association' moaning and selling out to the Brits talk which I'll try to ignore. Competition for broadcasting has worked great for soccer but is destroying European Rugby so hard to say how it will effect GAA in that respect. My main hope would be it would lead to a higher standard of punditry and put an end to days of pundits like Spillane, Brolly and O'Hara using their position on TV to push personal agendas. Theyve ignored Hurling/Gaelic for years as for years they never had an audience to cater for it.
It isnt destroying european rugby and BT/Sky battle has caused serious issues in soccer as well with money invested driving clubs in an endless battle over spending cash.
BT and SKy real battle will be when the next soccer rights come up for Tender as thats where the real battle will be and could cause serious issues there

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 11/03/2014 15:01:49    1558288

I take it you've read 'Protocols of the Elders of Fox Corporation' then master!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 11/03/2014 15:05:56    1558289