Htaem
You keep saying keep an open mind but don't you really mean keep an open wallet/ pocket, or how about keep an open eye? Coz wait for it the GAA are going to do what economists call slow boiling where sky will get 14 games this year and people will say ah sure that's nothing then in 3 years that'll double and in 6 years sky will have it all, but sure that's grand for you and the people that can afford sky what about the poor people? Now it's up to the players to go look for a cut of it, and I love the way pauric Duffy says they aren't a lot of money from the sky deal which is bull s**t.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 01/04/2014 19:41:25    1568830

Good post muckrosshead.Im happy with the deal.evolution not revolution.anyone know hen NBC are coming on board?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 01/04/2014 19:46:25    1568832

barrnasraide


Good post, I'm also hopeful that Sky will up the ante in broadcasting terms, certainly in promotional terms anyway, they tend not to do things by half measures so let's hope this is no different. I just think the extra exposure can only be good for our games, people who are genuine sports fans have a lot to admire about our great games, regardless of where they're from.

Ok the Gaa is not going to take off like wildfire but let's just see how it does do, games like Dublin v Kerry or Dublin v Cork (hurling) last year were absolutely absorbingly brilliant and hopefully many Irish abroad and a few foreigners aswell will now get to see games like that.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 01/04/2014 19:51:13    1568834

Great news, raise the profile of our games....and sky think Mayo won the All Ireland....a good omen maybe ;)

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 01/04/2014 19:51:47    1568836

A good day for GAA fans abroad which is great.

It is unfortunate however that the GAA couldn't serve those abroad properly without having to restrict viewers in Ireland to those who can afford to pay extra.

Pricing people out of viewing somes games is regretable in my opinion, although I take the point that not all agree and some think it is a good thing.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 01/04/2014 19:55:28    1568841

KingdomBoy1

To be honest I think you're just pushing the panic button a little bit KingdomBoy1, I can't see Sky taking over every Gaa game, for a start I thought by law the AI finals have to be free to air, could be wrong though. But that aside, the only way Sky would get the full package is if their coverage turned out to be a landslide success, which in itself would be great but I can't see that happening really.

Let's again just wait and see, hopefully Sky will a good job and force RTE to up their game, but again I still think that RTE will be the main broadcaster of our games for years to come, that't how I see it at the minute anyway.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 01/04/2014 19:58:04    1568842

Htaem
I hope your right, and the GAA aren't shooting them selfs in the foot. Time will tell I guess.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 01/04/2014 20:06:39    1568847

Haven't read many comments but delighted that RTE is finally giving people abroad like myself a chance to watch games live!! Trying to find a good stream is frustrating to say the least hopefully RTE will provide a good quality reliable service!! Even the Sunday game doesn't go up on the international player until like a Thursday or Friday!

JMK (Kerry) - Posts: 273 - 01/04/2014 20:10:44    1568850

I see professionalism and semi pro coming into the GAA now because the GPA and Players will want there cut too, why should the suits pocket all the money from this deal.

DUALSUPPORT (Limerick) - Posts: 1038 - 01/04/2014 20:18:37    1568853

Sky will get more coverage in the years to come. RTÉ coverage will eventually return to that of an era where their only live games were AI semi-finals and AI finals. Match of the Day like, The Sunday Game highlights will remain.
By the sounds of things some people might need to get re-accustomed to radio commentary. Many of the games handed to Sky seem the type where people have stayed at home to watch on tv than go to the games.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7857 - 01/04/2014 20:27:13    1568859

A lot of talk about money money money but the fact is the increase in revenue is minimal compared to the tv3 deal.
Non sky subscribers can get sky mobile for €6 a month.

Floops (Dublin) - Posts: 1623 - 01/04/2014 20:29:34    1568864

This nonsense about not being able to watch the games is something I refuse to listen to. Go to a pub and watch it. It is a small price to pay to allow the thousands of irish in the british isles to see their national games.

Also, I cant fathom why australian tv got all the games for free, while sky had to pay through the nose for a watered down version. Why are ex-pats in oz more worthy than those in england, scotland and wales?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 01/04/2014 20:32:48    1568869

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 10616

1568869
This nonsense about not being able to watch the games is something I refuse to listen to. Go to a pub and watch it. It is a small price to pay to allow the thousands of irish in the british isles to see their national games.

:)

Of course you do.

What could we not have had both?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 01/04/2014 20:44:06    1568881

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 2281


4 Many thousands of Irish folk living in the UK will now have access to championship GAA action in their homes.

they have that access at the moment with premier sports (without a sky subscription)

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 01/04/2014 20:50:14    1568886

Let's hope they can afford the subscription in the UK

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 01/04/2014 20:55:14    1568890

01/04/2014 19:23:28
REDANDBLACK30
What next Sky will be moving around fixtures?? Match times set for the convenience of Sky??Alas there is nothing that can be done about it now. Regrettable as it shows the GAA has truly lost its soul.
GAA hasn't lost it soul.
By moving round fixtures you mean to when exactly?

01/04/2014 19:36:46 MuckrossHead
let's get a few facts straight here.
1 The number of games on free to air goes down from 40 in 2013 to 31 in 2014, hardly earth shattering.
2 For the odd vitally important game exclusively on sky there are alternatives.
a) Go to the bloody game. b) Go to the pub c) Go to a friend's house
d) For the odd person in Ireland who doesn't have Sky, is barred from every pub in the area & has no friends there is always radio c coverage followed by highlights at night, a situation which was the norm up until recently
3 Sky will really force RTE to up it's game
4 Many thousands of Irish folk living in the UK will now have access to championship GAA action in their homes.
5 The superb spectacle that is football & especially hurling will be available to millions in the UK which can surely only be good for t the status of the association.
6 Last but not least there is the money!!!!!
Is it a perfect deal? No of course it isn't. Losing the 2 quarter finals is a blow, but considering the lengths my own county men went to get tickets for the AI final in 2012, surely a real supporter can find a pub somewhere to support his beloved county. +1

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 01/04/2014 21:00:25    1568893

The only issue I have is this will lead to either semi professionalism or full professionalism. When pay per view money becomes part of the spending of a sports organisation and the gaa embrace coporate sponsorship, corporate & permium boxes in croke park(the real reason why dublin play all there championship matches in croke park) you cant expect players to play in front of 82,000 people for free. They will demand to be paid
Then there will be more money required and hence gaa will go the route of rugby, soccer, english cricket etc. and will put it all behind a pay wall to pay players
This will be the end of the county system as players will freely move between teams in pursuit of contracts and the gaa will not be able to stop it due to employment laws
I for one will not support dublin or the gaa if dublin is based with non dublin players etc..
Maybe this future will not come to pass maybe most gaa members would embrace this future but i think its opening a pandoras box that will never be closd again

TrueGrit (Dublin) - Posts: 42 - 01/04/2014 21:00:49    1568895

Exactly Goldrick and the GAA could have given only joint rights to Sky if they were concerned about the Irish in the UK as they claim.
It's all about the money.....

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 01/04/2014 21:00:53    1568896

01/04/2014 19:39:30 county man
Very Very surprised with the GAA. Setanta had league matches but they were matches that RTE/TV3/TG4 weren't going to broadcast ( with a few exceptions) and it was only the league. This is different, this is championship and at poor as TV3 was at least it was free to air. Sure Sky Sports will hype it up and get more World coverage but is that what the GAA is about now?
The GAA's first loyalty should be to its memebers not to gaining more World coverage or more money. Many elderly people in rural Ireland will miss out on watching All Ireland quarter finals which I think is a disgrace. There are also many othere who can't afford Sky Sports. Also there are many who get rid of Sky Sports during the Summer as it terrible with endless hours of golf or rugby league (which is part of the reason Sky went for this I suspect)
The All Ireland will always be on terrestial tv but the Semi-finals don't have to be. Sky will not stop at 14 games, they are in it to win exclusive rights (apart from the All Irelands) of all games.
Sad day for the elderly/poor GAA fan. How many people don't have access to sky or at least a family member/neighbour that would have the channel and be showing the game.

01/04/2014 19:41:25
KingdomBoy1
Htaem You keep saying keep an open mind but don't you really mean keep an open wallet/ pocket, or how about keep an open eye? Coz wait for it the GAA are going to do what economists call slow boiling where sky will get 14 games this year and people will say ah sure that's nothing then in 3 years that'll double and in 6 years sky will have it all, but sure that's grand for you and the people that can afford sky what about the poor people? Now it's up to the players to go look for a cut of it, and I love the way pauric Duffy says they aren't a lot of money from the sky deal which is bull s**t.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 01/04/2014 21:03:35    1568898

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 6964

How many people don't have access to sky or at least a family member/neighbour that would have the channel and be showing the game.

Plenty.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 01/04/2014 21:07:45    1568902