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"Fresh TV Rights Deal"

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TV rights deal: "There is no automatic right for everybody to see every game."
08 September 2016

Those are the word's from GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail,
So in my humble opinion we have gone from being an amateur local/parochial organisation/ association to one that is neither here or there.
He goes on to say.
As GAA chiefs put the finishing touches on a fresh TV rights deal with interested parties, Association President Aogán Ó Fearghaíl has insisted that "there is no automatic right for everybody to see every game."
"Our biggest thing is always to make sure that people are at a match.
"Without the attendances we have difficulty, so there is no automatic right for anyone to see every single game"
Without going into the nitty gritty's of that, and with TV3 about to put their hat back in the ring along with eir, sky and one other, why beam out extra games at all, why not leave a hand full with our national broad castor RTE.
Can someone tell me, is the gaa an amateur or professional organisation, or both.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 08/09/2016 19:52:53    1912024

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Replying To supersub15:  "TV rights deal: "There is no automatic right for everybody to see every game."
08 September 2016

Those are the word's from GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail,
So in my humble opinion we have gone from being an amateur local/parochial organisation/ association to one that is neither here or there.
He goes on to say.
As GAA chiefs put the finishing touches on a fresh TV rights deal with interested parties, Association President Aogán Ó Fearghaíl has insisted that "there is no automatic right for everybody to see every game."
"Our biggest thing is always to make sure that people are at a match.
"Without the attendances we have difficulty, so there is no automatic right for anyone to see every single game"
Without going into the nitty gritty's of that, and with TV3 about to put their hat back in the ring along with eir, sky and one other, why beam out extra games at all, why not leave a hand full with our national broad castor RTE.
Can someone tell me, is the gaa an amateur or professional organisation, or both."
It's an amateur game run by professionals, many who act like amateurs, funded by the sweat of amateur players who act like professionals.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 08/09/2016 20:31:39    1912041

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Once broadcasting negotiations 'open' ALL GAA history, tradition and entitlement go out the window. I said when SKY got involved they would want a return on their investment and in my view we were being softened up for SKY and other broadcasters being given sole rights to not only matches but broadcasting rights in other jurisdictions. At the minute you can see games that RTE and SKY broadcast at the same time without games being blocked. This will end. If you live in the North I can see RTE being blocked out altogether when GAA games are on and SKY being given the sole rights for GAA games in the North and Britain. This is what happens with the Republic soccer games. We cannot get RTE2 when they are on for the past few years we lost the Dunphy/Giles stuff which most of us wanted to see. The FAI didn't give a monkey's about the North then and the GAA won't either when the Sunday Game gets blocked out. It is then I will walk away from the GAA for good.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9696 - 08/09/2016 20:57:47    1912047

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The usual crap from the GAA, blaming TV coverage for poor attendances, nonsense, the main problem is that a select number of counties are spending thousands and thousands of euro trying to win an All Ireland title either football or hurling while the rest hope to win a game or 2, that is why attendances are down for weaker counties, put a cap on spending by teams and level the playing field, that over time will bring the fans back if their team is improving. If the GAA really want to improve attendances in 2017 shorten the season and play games at the same time in different venues forcing the TV to show 1 game instead of 7 or 8, for example both Ulster semis could be played at 3pm on the same Sunday in Clones and Breffini and have 1 TV station choosing to show 1 game. Instead of 50 games up for grabs let them show 10-20 games altogether, there is no need for Ulster to have 4 weekends for the 4 quarter finals, 8 weeks between 1 Connacht champ game and their 2nd game etc. By reducing TV coverage, reducing prices to attend games and capping spending for counties you will eventually get the fans back in the stands, letting Sky dictate what times and what day games are on isn't the way, it's just an excuse for the GAA to make money and shaft the grassroots

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 08/09/2016 22:42:21    1912068

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "Once broadcasting negotiations 'open' ALL GAA history, tradition and entitlement go out the window. I said when SKY got involved they would want a return on their investment and in my view we were being softened up for SKY and other broadcasters being given sole rights to not only matches but broadcasting rights in other jurisdictions. At the minute you can see games that RTE and SKY broadcast at the same time without games being blocked. This will end. If you live in the North I can see RTE being blocked out altogether when GAA games are on and SKY being given the sole rights for GAA games in the North and Britain. This is what happens with the Republic soccer games. We cannot get RTE2 when they are on for the past few years we lost the Dunphy/Giles stuff which most of us wanted to see. The FAI didn't give a monkey's about the North then and the GAA won't either when the Sunday Game gets blocked out. It is then I will walk away from the GAA for good."
Interesting insight Ulsterman , I presume that blocking out of RTE only occurs on the SKY platform and wouldn't affect Saorview spill over in border counties.
Some viewers would not shed any tears if RTE lost the rights to show the Ulster championship,
Munster hurling and Ulster football keeps The Sunday Game meaningful during May -June.
RTE in fairness do an excellent job with their hurling coverage but show zero respect to Ulster players and teams.
For over a decade now we have been treated to the spectacle of their panel of pundits competing with each other for the funniest and most personally offensive put down of players/coaches alike. When you consider that the only time RTE reacted to distance themselves from this practice was when one of their own got insulted ... makes you wonder if the panel are actually encouraged to be personally offensive ??
Pundits are often correct to be critical but it can be done without being personal and offensive.
Many would question if RTE should be allowed to keep their rating boosted by having continued exclusive access to a championship that they show utter contempt towards.
Strong rumors circulating recently of a well funded media consortium ( not a broadcaster) making a bid for exclusive coverage of all Ulster matches including replays with the intention of passing rights onto a terrestrial broadcaster such as BBC NI / UTV IRL . Not sure how Croke Park will consider this but if it does come to pass it should start a long over due debate on how amateur players are treated in the media.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 503 - 09/09/2016 00:38:19    1912089

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Replying To riverboys:  "The usual crap from the GAA, blaming TV coverage for poor attendances, nonsense, the main problem is that a select number of counties are spending thousands and thousands of euro trying to win an All Ireland title either football or hurling while the rest hope to win a game or 2, that is why attendances are down for weaker counties, put a cap on spending by teams and level the playing field, that over time will bring the fans back if their team is improving. If the GAA really want to improve attendances in 2017 shorten the season and play games at the same time in different venues forcing the TV to show 1 game instead of 7 or 8, for example both Ulster semis could be played at 3pm on the same Sunday in Clones and Breffini and have 1 TV station choosing to show 1 game. Instead of 50 games up for grabs let them show 10-20 games altogether, there is no need for Ulster to have 4 weekends for the 4 quarter finals, 8 weeks between 1 Connacht champ game and their 2nd game etc. By reducing TV coverage, reducing prices to attend games and capping spending for counties you will eventually get the fans back in the stands, letting Sky dictate what times and what day games are on isn't the way, it's just an excuse for the GAA to make money and shaft the grassroots"
You make some good points regarding shortening the provincial championship,
I wouldn't agree with having the Ulster semi final clashing at two different venues at the same time as many would like to see both games,
How about having one on Saturday evening and the second one on Sunday afternoon to allow some attend both games.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 503 - 09/09/2016 00:46:54    1912090

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You cannot see every game even today!!!!! So what is the issue????

A lot GAA supporters are total sheep. Press go negative and they follow as everything in the press must be so.

The GAA is superbly run, and the constant knocking of officials is largely by people who won't put time in themselves. And these 'officials'/'suits' etc are largely elected officials.

So instead of moaning get off you ar** and go get elected like these people and then run it your way.

I am happy the Uachtarán is pressurising RTE. Why do you people want them to sign everything over to RTE??

Oh and by the way, all those lovely facilities around the countries do not grow on trees but are massive investments funded by revenues generated by the GAA. The GAA make a few bob and you knock knock knock. Money made is ploughed back into the clubs, compare that to FAI, IRFU, IOC etc.

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 09/09/2016 07:23:45    1912104

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Replying To witnof:  "You cannot see every game even today!!!!! So what is the issue????

A lot GAA supporters are total sheep. Press go negative and they follow as everything in the press must be so.

The GAA is superbly run, and the constant knocking of officials is largely by people who won't put time in themselves. And these 'officials'/'suits' etc are largely elected officials.

So instead of moaning get off you ar** and go get elected like these people and then run it your way.

I am happy the Uachtarán is pressurising RTE. Why do you people want them to sign everything over to RTE??

Oh and by the way, all those lovely facilities around the countries do not grow on trees but are massive investments funded by revenues generated by the GAA. The GAA make a few bob and you knock knock knock. Money made is ploughed back into the clubs, compare that to FAI, IRFU, IOC etc."
Well said, nothing to add or dispute, at the end of the day there is nothing better than being there !

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 09/09/2016 09:30:18    1912124

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If this means more money for distribution it can only be a good thing for counties.

Be careful what you wish for.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 09/09/2016 11:00:02    1912158

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Replying To witnof:  "You cannot see every game even today!!!!! So what is the issue????

A lot GAA supporters are total sheep. Press go negative and they follow as everything in the press must be so.

The GAA is superbly run, and the constant knocking of officials is largely by people who won't put time in themselves. And these 'officials'/'suits' etc are largely elected officials.

So instead of moaning get off you ar** and go get elected like these people and then run it your way.

I am happy the Uachtarán is pressurising RTE. Why do you people want them to sign everything over to RTE??

Oh and by the way, all those lovely facilities around the countries do not grow on trees but are massive investments funded by revenues generated by the GAA. The GAA make a few bob and you knock knock knock. Money made is ploughed back into the clubs, compare that to FAI, IRFU, IOC etc."
You assume that everyone else on here has never had involvement in the Gaa, then you state that the organisation is superbly run. Msny of us are & have being involved & would argue very successfully that it isn't brillantly run. As a Dub you have great public transport systems & whether your Dublin games are in Parnell park or Croke park you don't have far to travel for a live game. It's not the same across the country, if you lived in rural Galway, Mayo, Donegal for example if you want to go to Croke Park, public transport is an issue, it's much more expensive due to distance travelled. Even in those counties to get yo a county game people could end up driving for an hour & a half. So some people need to watch it on TV, some of these rural areas don't have cable TV do it's an mmds signal which is hit & miss & now not provided by companies since last year. So what's great in Dublin is not great else where. So people are entitled to object & air their views & Aogain O Fearghaíl is wrong in silencing critics & debate on this. In his presidency we have had Sky & the % deal of all revenue given to the GPA, all leading us down the road to professionalism where some are more equal than others. So your just like him, if people's dissent or criticism doesn't suit, dismiss them.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 09/09/2016 11:01:00    1912159

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Replying To moc.dna:  "You assume that everyone else on here has never had involvement in the Gaa, then you state that the organisation is superbly run. Msny of us are & have being involved & would argue very successfully that it isn't brillantly run. As a Dub you have great public transport systems & whether your Dublin games are in Parnell park or Croke park you don't have far to travel for a live game. It's not the same across the country, if you lived in rural Galway, Mayo, Donegal for example if you want to go to Croke Park, public transport is an issue, it's much more expensive due to distance travelled. Even in those counties to get yo a county game people could end up driving for an hour & a half. So some people need to watch it on TV, some of these rural areas don't have cable TV do it's an mmds signal which is hit & miss & now not provided by companies since last year. So what's great in Dublin is not great else where. So people are entitled to object & air their views & Aogain O Fearghaíl is wrong in silencing critics & debate on this. In his presidency we have had Sky & the % deal of all revenue given to the GPA, all leading us down the road to professionalism where some are more equal than others. So your just like him, if people's dissent or criticism doesn't suit, dismiss them."
So no debate. You are right and that's it. You can disagree with everything I say and I must accept it?? Any time people object to negative opinions about the GAA the likes of yourself shout out 'the big bullying GAA is always trying to silence critics'.

Some points:

1. 'No one has the right to see all the games' was the statement. Today you cannot see all the games so what is different?? When did RTE ever show all the GAA matches? When?

2. The GAA made no more money from SKY than they did with TV3. People like yourself forget this. I wonder if the objection to SKY is not also based on the fact they are a British company. Why no objection to Setanta/Eir getting the league?? Why did RTE never show the League??

Aside from that why did they go to SKY for the same money as TV3??

I believe it was, and rightly so, to pressurise RTE. You want to give RTE a monopoly and let them know they can keep that monopoly. Why? Monopolies have always been proven to be negative to the customers, no matter what sector.

3. You then bring up the GPA.The GPA when 'integrated' into the GAA started to get money. This is not a new. So you object to the GAA giving money to the GPA, then others will turn around and complain the GAA do not do enough for the inter-county players. Which is it??

The only argument you can make about the money going to the GPA is that is too little or too much. But you have produced no figures, just again the GAA are wrong because you disagree. And remember the monies going to the GPA are indexed linked per se (% of revenue etc) so it is not a financial burden that will grow out of all proportion.

To conclude:

The GAA are right to manage our TV rights and the finances with it. People forget it is actually a competition for money with other sports. Or should they allow all the money to go to other sports?? I for one, and there are others, believe the GAA has a fairly good balance, vast majority of games to RTE and some to SKY to keep RTE honest.

I will state it again. The GAA is a superbly run organisation. Not without its faults, but then again since it is 90% volunteer driven this is more than normal.

The revenues generated are ploughed back in a level beyond comparison to any other sport, and it handles it finances very very well.

In my opinion, which I am allowed to have even if you disgaree, is that no other sports structure in Ireland can hold a light to it. Not the IRFU, not the FAI, not the OCI....none of them.

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 09/09/2016 11:53:36    1912195

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I haven't a problem with Sky getting rights some of the games if that is what's being determined as what is best for the organisation as a whole.

One thing that makes it hard to believe that the real motivation is the comments that come from O'Fearghaill. I don't know if it's just that he's bad with the media or what but he comes across as lacking understanding with the membership.

What I got from his comments were that we should stop moaning we're lucky we get to see more than 6 games a season.

I can see why people don't trust he's their best interests at heart and it makes it harder to swallow this sort of thing.

Whether this deal is right or wrong the GAA need to sort out their PR department. I'd start with not allowing O'Fearghaill to say anything that hasn't been given the once over by someone with a bit of common sense.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4206 - 09/09/2016 13:40:09    1912241

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I haven't a problem with Sky getting rights some of the games if that is what's being determined as what is best for the organisation as a whole.

One thing that makes it hard to believe that the real motivation is the comments that come from O'Fearghaill. I don't know if it's just that he's bad with the media or what but he comes across as lacking understanding with the membership.

What I got from his comments were that we should stop moaning we're lucky we get to see more than 6 games a season.

I can see why people don't trust he's their best interests at heart and it makes it harder to swallow this sort of thing.

Whether this deal is right or wrong the GAA need to sort out their PR department. I'd start with not allowing O'Fearghaill to say anything that hasn't been given the once over by someone with a bit of common sense."
I find this post unbelievable.

He said the GAAs number 1 goal is to get people to go to games.

What the hell is wrong with this?

In this case he is 100% right.

With regard to the PR in the GAA I think they are not aggressive enough on pushing back on some of the rubbish talked about the GAA in the press but that is just my opinion.

So as an elected official and good clubman he should not talk to the press but get someone with common sense. Who? And why does he have common sense??

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 09/09/2016 14:15:54    1912259

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Usual comments by the Dublin brigade, it's all right for ye who have to travel 10 mins to get to a game, try telling somebody from Donegal to travel to Wexford for a game while the GAA, Sky, RTE mess around with TV rights. Nobody is saying that RTE should have exclusive rights to all GAA games, what we are saying is not everybody can travel to all games with work commitment, sick or elderly personal, kids, farming etc. If the GAA want to give out TV rights to subscription channels then use their heads and figure out what counties have good access and take up to sky, I know in majority of Connacht counties we don't have sky TV but I would assume that with better infrastructure Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork and the north etc would have easy access and therefore maybe TV rights to their matches could be given to sky, Mayo had I think 4 matches exclusively on sky and a lot who couldn't attend weren't happy with the TV rights, it's time the GAA realise you can't paint all counties with the same brush when it comes to TV broadcasting

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 09/09/2016 14:45:30    1912272

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Replying To witnof:  "I find this post unbelievable.

He said the GAAs number 1 goal is to get people to go to games.

What the hell is wrong with this?

In this case he is 100% right.

With regard to the PR in the GAA I think they are not aggressive enough on pushing back on some of the rubbish talked about the GAA in the press but that is just my opinion.

So as an elected official and good clubman he should not talk to the press but get someone with common sense. Who? And why does he have common sense??"
Well said. RTE have been getting away with it for years. Lip service is their stock in trade. Their coverage has not improved imo. T he only way to deal with them is by competition so in this regard I for one hope that Sky renew their coverage this year. Not saying they have been spectacular either but given they are new to the game they've done ok. Imagine having no choice but to listen to Carney and Duignan......

dead_as_dodos (Carlow) - Posts: 459 - 09/09/2016 14:54:43    1912281

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Replying To riverboys:  "Usual comments by the Dublin brigade, it's all right for ye who have to travel 10 mins to get to a game, try telling somebody from Donegal to travel to Wexford for a game while the GAA, Sky, RTE mess around with TV rights. Nobody is saying that RTE should have exclusive rights to all GAA games, what we are saying is not everybody can travel to all games with work commitment, sick or elderly personal, kids, farming etc. If the GAA want to give out TV rights to subscription channels then use their heads and figure out what counties have good access and take up to sky, I know in majority of Connacht counties we don't have sky TV but I would assume that with better infrastructure Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork and the north etc would have easy access and therefore maybe TV rights to their matches could be given to sky, Mayo had I think 4 matches exclusively on sky and a lot who couldn't attend weren't happy with the TV rights, it's time the GAA realise you can't paint all counties with the same brush when it comes to TV broadcasting"
This is a different argument than before.

Scheduling.

I agree on your point with regard to coverage. But then again its a hard one. Reason Mayo were 4 times on SKY was they went through the backdoor, won't have been the case if they won Connaught.

But the rights are sold by the match itself i.e. Munster Final or 4th round qualifier and then the TV station who has the rights gets the pick etc. Any TV station is going to pick the pick name, so in a sense its a compliment to Mayo by SKY.

Not sure how you can control who SKY gets to pick etc.

PS. Seems if you are from Dublin you are not allowed to have an opinion on GAA matters as all responses references my county.

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 09/09/2016 14:58:39    1912284

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Replying To witnof:  "I find this post unbelievable.

He said the GAAs number 1 goal is to get people to go to games.

What the hell is wrong with this?

In this case he is 100% right.

With regard to the PR in the GAA I think they are not aggressive enough on pushing back on some of the rubbish talked about the GAA in the press but that is just my opinion.

So as an elected official and good clubman he should not talk to the press but get someone with common sense. Who? And why does he have common sense??"
He could do some better media work. It's not the first time he's riled people.

I think the way in which he says things has a lot to do with that.

Saying things like: "I've said this before and I'll say it again, there is no such thing as a Sky deal, there is a media deal." Comes across as pompous.

Saying something like "there is no automatic right for everybody to see every game" is something else that could have easily been phrased better.

He comes across as arrogant and dismissive to me and as the figurehead of the association I think he needs to be more careful with how he says things. Particularly when they are not likely to be palatable to all of his membership.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4206 - 09/09/2016 15:19:20    1912292

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And what about the days that you could see 5 football games on TV ? Its not that long ago. 1990. I feel their is a element of the anti Brit brigade with sky. What these people seem to forget is that it is sky Ireland who paid to GEt gaa on their network, its a subsidiary of Sky, which isn't actually a British company but rather owned by a Australian, and part of newscorp , agree with them or not they have done wonder for sports. Sky will get the new deal, but I would love them to get the leagues, the revenues and interest would sky rocket (excuse the pun)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/09/2016 15:57:51    1912311

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Replying To witnof:  "You cannot see every game even today!!!!! So what is the issue????

A lot GAA supporters are total sheep. Press go negative and they follow as everything in the press must be so.

The GAA is superbly run, and the constant knocking of officials is largely by people who won't put time in themselves. And these 'officials'/'suits' etc are largely elected officials.

So instead of moaning get off you ar** and go get elected like these people and then run it your way.

I am happy the Uachtarán is pressurising RTE. Why do you people want them to sign everything over to RTE??

Oh and by the way, all those lovely facilities around the countries do not grow on trees but are massive investments funded by revenues generated by the GAA. The GAA make a few bob and you knock knock knock. Money made is ploughed back into the clubs, compare that to FAI, IRFU, IOC etc."
If money is being put back into the clubs as much as you say it is why are there people coming to my door from around 60 mile away selling tickets to raise money for their club?

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 09/09/2016 16:13:41    1912323

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Replying To royaldunne:  "And what about the days that you could see 5 football games on TV ? Its not that long ago. 1990. I feel their is a element of the anti Brit brigade with sky. What these people seem to forget is that it is sky Ireland who paid to GEt gaa on their network, its a subsidiary of Sky, which isn't actually a British company but rather owned by a Australian, and part of newscorp , agree with them or not they have done wonder for sports. Sky will get the new deal, but I would love them to get the leagues, the revenues and interest would sky rocket (excuse the pun)"
What are you basing that on or is just your opinion that it would sky rocket? We all thought that when sky got the deal it would open up the GAA to other parts of the world. The only thing i've seen is a couple of tweets about how mental hurling is. Poor viewing figures on sky for games as well. Where is the benefit?

IMO I don't like the sky deal, never have. You are turning it into an elitist game and only allowing those who have the means to buy sky tv the opportunity to follow the championship. RTE for everything that is wrong with them is available to everyone.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 09/09/2016 16:23:09    1912329

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