National Forum

Media Coverage For 2nd Tier Teams

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As a supporter of a division 3 County I don't expect huge coverage but the current coverage given basically ignores 16 counties, how can that be good for the game? There are 8 games between division 3 and 4 on a given weekend, it isn't asking too much that at least a few clips of those games are available to view on the GAA website. The GAA could run a highlights programme online to at least give some semblance of coverage to these counties. Instead you have a large section of the playing population ignored and it will be only worse when the Tailtean Cup begins.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1656 - 15/03/2022 13:31:08    2405550

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Intercounty managers have access to footage for most games. But not anyone else?

During COVID I think RTE got a kick in the @r$€ by seeing that GAA fans were happy to support local streams, club and intercounty games. Perhaps that prodded them to show more live hurling and football league games.

Not sure how to check listener figures for podcasts but there's plenty of interest in local and national GAA abd other sports podcasts. Wooly Parkinson has clocked more than 3.2K subscribers for €6.10 per month, in less than 2 months, some people are willing to pay for GAA news/enertainment. So there's definitely a market out there. Maybe someone can come in podcast styke and show some live Div 3 and 4 games and have a highlights show on YouTube or wherever?

We're getting double, and more, taxed for watching and listening though. 160 for the licence plus government taking in loads in tax on broadband, TV subscriptions, streaming services like Netflix. At least for that money we've spent we can expect free game highlights or even full games on TG4 and RTE YouTube channels?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7360 - 15/03/2022 13:36:09    2405554

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The Joe McDonagh Cup has the same problem. The reality unfortunately is that the viewing figures aren't there.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7869 - 15/03/2022 13:59:21    2405557

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Replying To cavanman47:  "With the ability to record the live games, with online player services, etc. surely there doesn't need to be so much of the live games replayed that evening. If someone really wants to see them, the facility is there so long as they're somewhat tech savvy.

And what has happened to GAAGO? They have only been showing a fraction of the games, whereas a few years ago they had almost all league games. Is it a play by the GAA to boost attendances?

The staggering of games on the last weekend of the league looks like another missed opportunity.
Division 4 games all throw in at 1pm (apart from Tipp v London which is on Saturday for some reason), division 2 and 3 are at 2pm and division 1 are at 1.45.
Why not play Division 2 on Saturday evening, showing one live game, then D4 at noon on Sunday, D3 at 2pm and D1 at 4pm. 4 live games could be shown over the weekend, and 8 if more than one station are allowed to show them."
I'm not sure the viewers and license fee payers who have no interest in GAA would appreciate RTE becoming such a sports heavy channel in that way. No reason most live games can't be shown on GAAGo or streamed online (like LGFA does for ALL their league games, even lower division relegation playoff games at the weekend). The Sunday night prime time GAA slot can then be designated for highlights and discussion on all divisions. The tokenism given to Divisions 3 and 4 on Sunday night was painful. The motto is supposed to be 'GAA where we all belong' not 'GAA where the market dictates'.

LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 473 - 15/03/2022 14:09:02    2405560

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Just to clarify, the rationale behind raising this discussion is (i) due to the football championship being split, should there be separate coverage for the 2nd tier in some guise. I realise that large numbers of people won't demand this coverage but surely as a state broadcast money is not always behind every project they undertake due to the public money they receive? (ii) if pundits are asked a question concerning teams outside the top 5-6 teams they should be able to offer an informed opinion/analysis. This is not the case based on the current league coverage that i've seen to date.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1913 - 15/03/2022 14:46:39    2405569

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "I'm not sure the viewers and license fee payers who have no interest in GAA would appreciate RTE becoming such a sports heavy channel in that way. No reason most live games can't be shown on GAAGo or streamed online (like LGFA does for ALL their league games, even lower division relegation playoff games at the weekend). The Sunday night prime time GAA slot can then be designated for highlights and discussion on all divisions. The tokenism given to Divisions 3 and 4 on Sunday night was painful. The motto is supposed to be 'GAA where we all belong' not 'GAA where the market dictates'."
Yeah - there is a hell of a lot of people who don't like GAA, it wouldn't be fair to have GAA all though the weekend. Needs to go on line

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 15/03/2022 15:27:31    2405579

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Replying To The_Fridge:  "Yeah - there is a hell of a lot of people who don't like GAA, it wouldn't be fair to have GAA all though the weekend. Needs to go on line"
The Allianz League Sunday has prominent coverage. The Saturday live match has prime time viewing. Rugby gets a highlight programme on a Monday evening and the Association Football has no highlights programme at all.
If the Tailteann Cup semi-finals are broadcast, I think that will be fair coverage considering the amount of games being played and the live tv sporting market.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7869 - 15/03/2022 17:37:09    2405605

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Replying To LongfordgaaAbú:  "I'm not sure the viewers and license fee payers who have no interest in GAA would appreciate RTE becoming such a sports heavy channel in that way. No reason most live games can't be shown on GAAGo or streamed online (like LGFA does for ALL their league games, even lower division relegation playoff games at the weekend). The Sunday night prime time GAA slot can then be designated for highlights and discussion on all divisions. The tokenism given to Divisions 3 and 4 on Sunday night was painful. The motto is supposed to be 'GAA where we all belong' not 'GAA where the market dictates'."
It doesn't have to be on RTE 1 or 2 tho. .
Live on RTE.ie, on the RTE news channel, on tg4.ie, on tg4 player, VM player, RTE player (if they ever sort it out). Plenty of options.

I'm a licence payer. And a big GAA fan. I don't like watching 1 game in full, then tuning into a highlights programme to see it spend about 40% of its air time on that same game when there were another 15 played that weekend.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5016 - 15/03/2022 17:50:04    2405609

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Just to clarify, the rationale behind raising this discussion is (i) due to the football championship being split, should there be separate coverage for the 2nd tier in some guise. I realise that large numbers of people won't demand this coverage but surely as a state broadcast money is not always behind every project they undertake due to the public money they receive? (ii) if pundits are asked a question concerning teams outside the top 5-6 teams they should be able to offer an informed opinion/analysis. This is not the case based on the current league coverage that i've seen to date."
Tier 2 will be lucky if they get the final and semi-finals on RTE. Too many people on here seem to want RTE to become the GAA channel. RTE do have an obligation to support projects which are in the public interest but this includes historical shows or Irish language programming. Not the Tailteann Cup. The GAA are a private body. It is up to them to negotiate a contract which includes the TC on TV. RTE will shows sports which have strong interest among the public and it remains to be seen if that includes the Tailteann. I think it will go the same way as the Joe McDonagh and other hurling tiers and be largely forgetten about with a brief mention on final day.

Rolo2010 (Donegal) - Posts: 739 - 15/03/2022 18:52:38    2405614

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As the saying goes, - - - live horse and you'll get grass.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2908 - 15/03/2022 19:26:38    2405621

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Interesting how Galway/Derry, that have big urban populations, are not being televised.
There is a rumour that the GAA/media might change this however

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1670 - 15/03/2022 19:43:21    2405622

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Replying To Rolo2010:  "Tier 2 will be lucky if they get the final and semi-finals on RTE. Too many people on here seem to want RTE to become the GAA channel. RTE do have an obligation to support projects which are in the public interest but this includes historical shows or Irish language programming. Not the Tailteann Cup. The GAA are a private body. It is up to them to negotiate a contract which includes the TC on TV. RTE will shows sports which have strong interest among the public and it remains to be seen if that includes the Tailteann. I think it will go the same way as the Joe McDonagh and other hurling tiers and be largely forgetten about with a brief mention on final day."
It's also up to fans to show up. If there's good attendance then it might make RTE be more inclined to show these games.

I'm not sure why GAAGo hasn't been made available for all games like it was in late 2020.

RTE will show what's popular, or what they think it anyway, and at the moment that's anything Rugby related.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1380 - 16/03/2022 08:07:13    2405632

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Surely the Tailteann cup rights should be sold as a separate package so somebody else can show the games? I remember Newstalk had the rights to the 2nd choice game for radio coverage and then RTE outbid them and didnt broadcast any additional games. Looks like the same will happen here

martyW (Westmeath) - Posts: 319 - 16/03/2022 09:09:05    2405637

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All this about 2nd tier football ,if anything they need to cover d2 hurling 1st ,rather than d4! Football

Timmy86 (Sligo) - Posts: 270 - 16/03/2022 10:02:51    2405647

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Replying To martyW:  "Surely the Tailteann cup rights should be sold as a separate package so somebody else can show the games? I remember Newstalk had the rights to the 2nd choice game for radio coverage and then RTE outbid them and didnt broadcast any additional games. Looks like the same will happen here"
Newstalk gaa match coverage was far more entertaining and better presented than anything on rte. And games weren't constantly being interrupted to hear how some nags got on in the 4.15 at Listowel that maybe 20 listeners are interested in like on rte radio

Leitrim_12 (USA) - Posts: 207 - 20/03/2022 11:40:37    2405893

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Replying To The_Fridge:  "Yeah - there is a hell of a lot of people who don't like GAA, it wouldn't be fair to have GAA all though the weekend. Needs to go on line"
Pity about them. Bombarded with rugby and horse racing too on it, which many of us have zero interest in. National sports should get prominence on the national broadcaster. It is cultural after all.

Leitrim_12 (USA) - Posts: 207 - 20/03/2022 11:42:41    2405894

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It's a shame that all the games not on TV aren't made available on GAAgo. I thought that the GAA made great progress by putting streaming all games during the restrictions. Even the option was left open to individual counties and they charged like they did for club championship games. At least they'd be an option. Some people still have to self isolate as covid as still around and then can't go to games. One of my mates is self isolating and can't go to the Longford game today, he'll have to put up with local radio which is be coming and going from the game and can be a frustrating listen. He'd have no bother paying €10 or €15 for a stream of the game today.

Mull93 (Longford) - Posts: 119 - 20/03/2022 12:06:01    2405900

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The only way tier two tailteann cup will get a attention is that the gaa tie it into the deals for the tier one competition. The media is not that interested because their audience is not that interested and I wouldn't be completely lambasting rte on this. I doubt the gaa have much intention of pushing this. They don't exactly push the Mcdonagh cup much.

In saying that it doesn't mean the competition can't do well. There should probably be three levels rather than 2. The Gaa has done very well in club based on senior, intermediate and junior. They just should have replicated that. The intermediate and junior club provincial and all ireland series have not got much national attention but locally they have been a tremendous success. Steelstown in derry is a great recent example

When leitrim got to the division 4 final a few years ago they brought a great crowd and there was clearly interest in the county. It was a little bit of pity they met a derry team who should not have been in division 4. I'm sure local radio and gaa programs were all very hyped up. The national media are just not going to give that the same attention as the local media.

And to those who think pundits don't know much about the lower levels in division 3 or 4 it's not Just that. Even the lower teams in division one. Pretty much every gaa program focuses on dublin number 1, David clifford/kerry number 2 and mayo number 3. Tyrone as all ireland champions get a bit but not as much because they are in the North. And then whomever happens to being viewed as the next coming team. Maybe armagh this year and a little derry. The knowledge when pundits do talk about the rest is quite limited. On that basis that's why you listen and read the local media.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 696 - 20/03/2022 12:36:23    2405902

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Replying To The_Fridge:  "Yeah - there is a hell of a lot of people who don't like GAA, it wouldn't be fair to have GAA all though the weekend. Needs to go on line"
Perhaps there is a lot of people who don't like the gaa but deep down inside they love it, like yourself if you didn't love it you wouldn't be posting here on a gaa forum

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2908 - 20/03/2022 13:19:43    2405908

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Replying To Mull93:  "It's a shame that all the games not on TV aren't made available on GAAgo. I thought that the GAA made great progress by putting streaming all games during the restrictions. Even the option was left open to individual counties and they charged like they did for club championship games. At least they'd be an option. Some people still have to self isolate as covid as still around and then can't go to games. One of my mates is self isolating and can't go to the Longford game today, he'll have to put up with local radio which is be coming and going from the game and can be a frustrating listen. He'd have no bother paying €10 or €15 for a stream of the game today."
Agreed - I found myself watching way more than normal; e.g. I watched most of the Fermanagh club championship, really enjoyable, perhaps more enjoyable than watching your own club where the nerves always gets me etc; as well as all the Tyrone club championship matches, whereas in the past I'd generally only have seen championship matches in which my own club was playing.

One way or another, the coverage should be available.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 20/03/2022 14:47:57    2405921

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