My main concern on this deal will be down the line. First and foremost SKY and RTE are broadcasters and consequently will compete for market share and advertisingin respect of Gaelic games. The only way many in the North can get RTE is through the satellite channel and though SKY have said they won't block RTE coverage at this time this could and probably will change as SKY seek to corner the Northern market if GAA proves successful. As a commercial unit SKY will seek to maximise their share and if that means blocking out RTE in the North in the future they will do it as they do now in the soccer. Northern customers cannot get RTE 2 for the Republic's matches and have to watch SKY. Don't be under any illusions they won't do the same for GAA and if that heppens RTE coverage of the GAA will be blocked out totally in the North. In such a context we are in then in to a two tiered Association North and South; what will Croke Park do then?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 06/04/2014 17:25:09    1571090

Ulsterman,

For crying out loud. Do you guys not get it?

These things are all decided by negotiation. Sky can't make decisions like these off their own bat if the GAA is not agreeable.

In the same way as some of the games this time are exclusive & some are simultaneous broadcasts, the scheduling of transmissions in any subsequent contract will also be by agreement. If the GAA is not happy then no deal.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 06/04/2014 17:41:21    1571104

Mmmmmm don't kid yourelf Muckcross; I suppose you also believe the Earth is Flat and The Moon is made of Cheese? This is the real world my friend and if Gaelic Games take off and SKY start waving bigger dollars around do you seriously think the GAA will just ignore them? The FAI didn't care much about Northern soccer fans losing coverage of the Republic's games on RTE and if the two broadcasters are covering the same GAA games and competing for the same market SKY will no doubt use this as a bargaining tool in the future. Sure didn't Liam O'Neill say that people could just go out to pubs or around to friends if they couldn't see the games on TV? He doesn't seem too concerned about GAA fans losing out now so why would he or any other President or Chief Executive worry about Ulster fans losing out either down the line?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 06/04/2014 17:55:07    1571112

Yeah sky will bring hurling to people across the world and they will all fall in love with it. Just like the folks of longford, fermanagh and Tyrone.

This deal is going to end badly. 10 years from now sky will be calling the shots.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 06/04/2014 20:09:55    1571277

Funny enough, I wouldn't be surprised if the local Premier league heads were to suddenly gain an appreciation of Gaelic games through Sky's coverage. "Grass is greener" scenario on it's head, if you will.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/04/2014 20:39:22    1571313

I wonder will Sky have a specifically designed 'Results Center' which will only be used right at the end of
a Highlights show and with a resident reader of the results like Clare McNamara on League Sunday?

I believe it is crucial to have a 'Results Center' with a results reader and only to be used at the very end of a Show,I hope Sky
Employ a Results reader and have a very modern 'Results Center' with the required technology to ensure that the results
can be given to the Public.

salvador (Roscommon) - Posts: 439 - 06/04/2014 20:52:41    1571333

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 2331

1570934
keeper7
County: Longford
Posts: 1877

1570930
Brilliant article in the Examiner by Donal Óg Cusack:

link

As the old saying goes "I couldn't have put it better myself".

Donal Og and the GPA have a stake in it, so I wouldn't say he's actually unbiased.

Midleton (Cork) - Posts: 643 - 06/04/2014 21:06:23    1571349

The levels of paranoia being displayed by some people is truly staggering.

Lads, I would truly get some help with this, it's not good for your health.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 06/04/2014 21:45:59    1571413

Muckross Head I agree 100%. Tons of red herrings including some from those who I suspect rarely attend a GAA game. SThe KY deal doesn't cover all games, you don't have to get SKY if you don't want to. You can still attend the games you are interested in. This is a great opportunity to spread the experience of Gaelic Games to a wider audience. I have always thought it very strange that such a popular even attracting 82,000 twice a year ever year in their nearest neighbours is not covered on British TV. This is a chance the GAA would be foolish to turn down and if it doesn't work out then don't renew it.

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 06/04/2014 21:56:01    1571438

I congratulate the GAA on their securing deals with all the stations for coverage of our games.
I am delighted that SKY have gotten 14 games. They will bring a new approach to the coverage and will entice a lot more young people to watch the channel over its areas within and without Ireland.

I think that a lot of posters will be a little embarrassed in a few years if they re read their posts on this thread. Too many people do not realise that the GAA is not FREE! Why should it be FREE? It is a sporting organisation that needs revenue to ensure it stays in the prominent position it currently has. It needs money to run and fund the organisation. Pitches need lights, dressing rooms, hurling walls etc. The money received for this deal will help fund these projects up and down the country.

The GAA have gotten a hard time on recent programmes from the National Broadcaster - RTE - over the past few days - it has a vested interest. They have had it too easy for years with no competition. Lets see what innovations they can now bring to their coverage!

The GAA in times past had a deal with Setanta - a commercial outfit and put logos on jersies - another commercial move. How many people objected and moved to boycott games after these decisions?

Roll on the next 3 years! If you cannot get the games then go to them - That's what generations of fans have done for years and years1 As the slogan says - you cant beat being there!!

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1821 - 06/04/2014 21:59:17    1571447

Was chatting to an auld buck in the pub about this last night. Told me he thinks its a disgrace. Then he said he already has Sky Sports. I said well then you won't have to pay anything extra to see the exclusive matches on Sky! He didn't believe me. Just goes to show the level of ignorance there is mainly caused by all this ridiculous scaremongering.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 07/04/2014 11:53:22    1571626

the bottom line is why should the real supporters the ones who go to support their own county and pay in
then be the ones forced to pay if they want to watch another match on tv the weekend their own county is not playing?
just to suit people who left the country or have always lived in another country and dont pay in week in week out.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 07/04/2014 19:49:31    1571984

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 7260

1571984
the bottom line is why should the real supporters the ones who go to support their own county and pay in
then be the ones forced to pay if they want to watch another match on tv the weekend their own county is not playing?
just to suit people who left the country or have always lived in another country and dont pay in week in week out.

If their county is not playing, then surely these staunch Gaels will be out supporting their clubs, or am I missing something?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/04/2014 19:56:37    1571989

muckrosshead

so every club game takes place donegal on purpose to clash with live intercounty matches
interesting no wonder they are having fixture rows in that part of the country!

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 07/04/2014 19:59:52    1571993

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 7262

1571993
muckrosshead

so every club game takes place donegal on purpose to clash with live intercounty matches
interesting no wonder they are having fixture rows in that part of the country!

No, but club games have to be played sometime & the logical time to play them is when the county team is not playing. There is never a weekend in the summer when there isn't a game to go to.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/04/2014 20:02:51    1571998

Something I may have missed.

Does anyone know if RTE will be showing matches on the same day if not at the same time as Sky have exclusive games.

Say Sky have an exclusive game at 3.00 could RTE be showing a game @ 5.30 or a different game @ 3.00.

I haven't seen anything about this.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/04/2014 20:11:05    1572005

yeah and the county team generally plays six matches over 4 months to win the all ireland hardly means club games have to be played every sunday at 2pm and 4pm and saturday at 7pm the exact times games are shown on tv when their own county aint involved.
I play club football and never have matches on sunday afternoons its generally sunday mornings or saturday evenings and a lot of time its saturday evening before dublin play on a sunday

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 07/04/2014 20:23:25    1572010

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 7265

1572010
yeah and the county team generally plays six matches over 4 months to win the all ireland hardly means club games have to be played every sunday at 2pm and 4pm and saturday at 7pm the exact times games are shown on tv when their own county aint involved.
I play club football and never have matches on sunday afternoons its generally sunday mornings or saturday evenings and a lot of time its saturday evening before dublin play on a sunday

There is the kernel of the problem hill, nothing to do with sky, just crazy scheduling of games in Dublin, never have a game on a Sun afternoon!!!, playing on Sun Mornings when you should be at Mass!!! The Dublin County Board have some serious questions to answer.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/04/2014 20:43:15    1572018

hpw is it crazy scheaduling?
I dont miss any games on tv ,
was that an attempt at a joke or something haha ?

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 07/04/2014 20:46:54    1572024

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 7260

1571984
the bottom line is why should the real supporters the ones who go to support their own county and pay in
then be the ones forced to pay if they want to watch another match on tv the weekend their own county is not playing?
just to suit people who left the country or have always lived in another country and dont pay in week in week out.

Hill,
We have been paying to watch games here in the US since the early 90's. We have spent years developing the games with non-irish players who have to travel hours by plane to compete in the North American Championships, they pay for their own flights and hotels to do so. When they get there they have to actually pay in to the tournament they are playing in. In some cases just to get competitive games prior to the championship we have to drive 8 hours to the nearest team.
Now I know your response might include some jibe about all the players being paid to play in the US, well before that happens let me explain that only happens in select teams in the big cities like Chicago, Boston, San Fran. There are thousands of American born players in teams all over the country promoting and loving our National sports. Most clubs like that only have a handful of Irish lads trying to grow the games here and get so much out of watching non Irish learn and compete in our sports. And by the way, we will have to continue to pay to see the games over here as we did not get the same deal as in Australia. We have to join a subscription on line service set up by the GAA and RTE and we still have no idea what that will cost us yet.

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 07/04/2014 22:00:30    1572082