Heard a bulletin on radio this morning suggesting a deal could be imminent. Can't find anything online....anybody hear anything similar? Could except alot of protest at this but I believe it will raise the profile of the game.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11229 - 11/03/2014 09:51:35    1558086

the rights have been up since end of february and negotiating is in process
gaa said they werent revealing the rights until end of march
so id say its a red herrin at the moment to stir interest

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 11/03/2014 10:26:53    1558108

Great if it happens. Setanta are poor in my opinion.

jpcampion (Laois) - Posts: 194 - 11/03/2014 10:28:37    1558110

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.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/03/2014 10:32:35    1558113

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.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 11/03/2014 10:43:30    1558118

Hayley McQueen and Rachel Wyse how are ya!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 11/03/2014 11:01:38    1558136

There's a bit about it in the Star today for anybody who's interested in reading it but it doesn't obviously know which way the deals are going to go so we'll still have to wait and see.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/03/2014 11:10:26    1558140

Dear god I hope not

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 11/03/2014 11:15:27    1558141

gotmilk

Could be good for us though, you wouldn't know.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/03/2014 11:18:00    1558144

The GAA needs this. our sports need this. the games will spread across the world as sports in their own right. My own feelings is that the power of the GAA as an organisation will be weakened unless it get a more international feel to it anayway seen as hurling and football are being set up independently be foreign people who want to play our games. More power to em

Fishermantom (Limerick) - Posts: 569 - 11/03/2014 11:22:03    1558145

Always thought this was a bit of bluffing, off flirting with Sky to put a bit of manners on RTE and TV3. But if both are refusing to play ball as it were then why not? Worst case it forces a few more people along to the games themselves.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 11/03/2014 11:30:31    1558149

That's grand lads but not every1 can afford 40 or 50 euro for sky sports , now I know Down here in the south there isn't much work people are struggling to pay mortgages and put food on the table and a lot of our old people would have only the rte channels , also if there is a sky deal if I was a player I'd be wanting some of that money so lads think of this from every angle

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 11/03/2014 11:37:18    1558152

Competition cant be a bad thing. RTE might learn a few things in the process. Also, if it doesnt work they wont want to get it again, and if it does they will obviously have done a good job and we would be the beneficiaries, so what is the problem? Some people are just afraid of change.

Personally, Id much rather paul merson than joe brolly, he would probably be more knowledgeable also. His efforts at pronouncing the names of guys from the gaeltacht would be worth the admission fee alone!

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 11/03/2014 11:39:22    1558153

Is Georgie Thompson still with them?

Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 11/03/2014 11:52:37    1558160

You could make the same point about the television licence KingdomBoy1. Also, it should be pointed out that this would most likely replace setanta, not take games away from the national broadcaster like some people seem to think.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 11/03/2014 11:57:54    1558163

Personally I think the last thing the GAA needs is exclusiveness, which is what this would bring about. It's already well know that the hierarchy of the GAA are well cushioned from the concerns of people on the ground who would not be able to afford Sky's prices.

The All-Ireland Rugby League didn't work out well for Sky, so they dropped it like a hot potato after the first season. A bad, bad idea.

Midleton (Cork) - Posts: 643 - 11/03/2014 11:58:31    1558164

That'd be class.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 11/03/2014 12:01:28    1558168

wont happen for championship matches
they might give couple leauge games but no way exclusive championship matches to an outside station
would be commercial suicide!
its a red herrin to up the anti in the bidding for championship rights
no doubt sky have enquired that much would be true
as they obviously would like to see whats on offer
but gaa releasing this is to put the wind up rte sales
and I think its about time the gaa have done this to rugby tv i mean rte
as for too long rte have had it all their own way
its like when you go to buy a house and they say others have put in a bid of 200 thousand are you willing to offer 210 thousand
also dont see how people believe sky will offer better punditry haha
whats the option an english panel of guys who never played or no anything about gaa
or guys that rte setanta and tv 3 deemed not good enough

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 11/03/2014 12:04:46    1558169

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.

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.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 11/03/2014 12:12:46    1558175

I do not think this will impact RTE or TV3 and only applies to broadcast rights outside of Ireland.????? I guess if it goes well there might be future implications for the Irish rights???

fingalman (Dublin) - Posts: 233 - 11/03/2014 12:12:48    1558176