The GAA must be the greatest hypocrites going. Cork teams and players got pulled down the years for the 3 stripe jersey's, advertising suits, advertising bookies on their boots yet the GAA can deprive their members of watching their national game mar dhea.

I have no problem with the GAA selling TV rights to Sky if they align their ethics all these lines. The preach an amateur ethos all the time yet going with Sky is anchoring a definite statement that its members are far from their priority. This nonsense of money filtering down to grassroots is beyond a cliche at this stage. Fair enough RTE and TV3 paid the GAA large sums to broadcast games but at least the nation can watch these. Sky sports subscription is in excess of €60 a month.

People wonder why the GPA was formed, well it is very clear now and it wouldn't surprise me or bother me if they became more militant again. Since the opening of Croke Park, which i was in favour of, the GAA greed seems to have enraptured them to a level alien to GAA members. Another fact is the capacity for croke park for the real supporter has only increased 10,000 since its redevelopment. The Corporate/Premium account for approx. 10,000. This move may not cripple membership but it will damage it and leave a sour taste in a lot of members mouths

The_Bull (Cork) - Posts: 248 - 28/03/2014 13:28:10    1566198

Perhaps Sky will promote the games they have better. Tomorrow there is a repeat of the All Ireland final in Croke park but there is zero marketting being done. It will still attract a reasonable crowd but the Aviva will be packed for a pretty much meaningless Rabo game - the rugby equivalent of the O'Byrne Cup - between Leinster and Munster. The reason it will be full is because everyone in the country knows that it is on. There has been no advertising of the Dublin/mayo game.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 28/03/2014 13:28:19    1566199

Sky dont have exclusive rights to the pro12 in rugby. They have first pick on a game a weekend the rest will be on free to air.

Oh jeez, right fair enough. Bottom line is all the big games and derbies will be on Sky. The Leinster-Munster match this weekend as an example will no longer be on terrestrial TV. And it should be called terrestrial TV, not free-to-air. You pay for a TV license and at the very least a Saorview box. They show plenty of adverts. None of this stuff is free.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/03/2014 13:32:38    1566207

People wonder why the GPA was formed, well it is very clear now and it wouldn't surprise me or bother me if they became more militant again.

YES!! THE GOOD OLD DAYS... WHERE DO I SIGN UP!!!!

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 28/03/2014 13:33:42    1566208

Another fact is the capacity for croke park for the real supporter has only increased 10,000 since its redevelopment. The Corporate/Premium account for approx. 10,000.

Hah, this old chestnut. I or none or my family have climbed the corporate ladder in any way shape or form and have still have had the opportunity a few times to avail of premium tickets. As have lots of people I know and I'm sure most people here also.

But yes you're post sums up the usual attitude. Sponsors on the jerseys, sponsors for the championship, increased media coverage, corporate tickets. Every time we've been told the sky (pun not deliberate) was going to fall in. Instead the GAa has gone on to creat club houses and training centres, pitches and stadia the envy of other sports on the island.
The GAA know what they're doing. Giving away 14 matches a year to increase the profile of the game dramatically. It's a price worth paying. Evolve or Die.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/03/2014 13:40:41    1566216

KingdomBoy1

It's a total joke, after all the work and time and money that we the volunteers have put in to the GAA to help make it what it is today Liam o'neill turns around and gives us a kick in the guts by selling out to sky and making us pay to watch something that we have all contributed to and the least we deserve is to see them for nothing on rte, well now Liam I hope this back fires on you, if I was the players I would be thinking why should the top brass be getting there hands on this money and why can't I have some and rightly so in my opinion, and for the fellows who say that sky will only have 14 games well that just this year it'l only be a mater of time before they will have the lot. Shame on Liam o'neill.

In fairness I think that's a post very much written in the heat of the moment, the Gaa technically 'sells out' every time they charge their punters at the gates or charge any Tv station to bring their cameras into Gaa grounds, Sky will have to pay aswell, like everybody else. The Gaa is an amateur organisation in that most of it's members are volunteers and all credit to them but it can't and won't survive without money, so the Gaa are fully entitled to talk to Sky if they wish.

Again I'd just ask people like yourself to calm down and try your best to see the potential benefits of this, but it's very hard to do that when you've already made your mind up before seeing it in action or even seeing any official details.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 28/03/2014 13:49:56    1566223

doublehop

The GAA know what they're doing. Giving away 14 matches a year to increase the profile of the game dramatically. It's a price worth paying. Evolve or Die.

Spot on, I think far too often there's a large minority of people who basically fear change, but changes isn't always a bad thing, you never know how things will go till you've tried them. Sky has worked wonders for other sports in the past so to dismiss them out of hand seems a bit strange to me, let's just have a punt and see, fairplay to the Gaa if this all goes through.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 28/03/2014 13:55:28    1566229

doublehop
Although the total offer of matches, spread across six packages, has gone up from 40 to 45, Sky's share, believed to be packages five and six, amounts to 14.
Sky will only have 14 games which will not be shown on terrestrial TV.

Actually it isnt even that many. There are 5 more games being shown this year for a start. So that is down to 9, plus 4 semis and 2 finals are being shown on both channels. So basically, RTE are losing 3 games from last year - at least 1 of which will probably involve london...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 28/03/2014 13:56:13    1566231

I have Sky already but am angered by this tbh as I do feel it is going to deprive people who have put a lot of time & effort into promoting GAA games of being able to watch games. On the back of all the concerts in Croker this year we are being made to look like a bunch of greedy bollixes.

hurler in the ditch (Louth) - Posts: 439 - 28/03/2014 13:59:04    1566235

FairShoulder
County: Armagh
Posts: 293

Ireland is not a British Isle , it is the neighbouring Island next to the Bristish Isles ...its not rocket science.

It is part of the british isles. Hence why its called Isles, not Island. A geographical term, same way the say between us is called the Irish sea. Unbelievable some of the nonsense people get worked up over

jafallon (Galway) - Posts: 489 - 28/03/2014 14:13:01    1566244

Let's see the detail of the deal before getting all hot & bothered.

Nicky Brennan was on radio earlier & he made a fair point that the money from a deal like this goes straight to the grassroots not into anyone's back pocket.

Let us not compare what the GAA is doing to the PL where supporters are paying £60 and more to watch games, most of which goes to overpaid players, managers & owners.

Without revenue The GAA will wither & die & Sky are willing to pay. This is the world we live in, there is no going back to all games being on RTE no more than we are going back to Blackthorn boots, lace up footballs & the buck lep.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/03/2014 14:15:06    1566249

On the back of all the concerts in Croker this year we are being made to look like a bunch of greedy bollixes.

In comparison to who?

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/03/2014 14:18:32    1566250

Htaem
I appreciate what you are saying as far as the GAA trying to progress it self abroad but not at the expense of the poor people that helped make it what it is today , I have 2 grand uncles who have put so much in to the local GAA over the years and trained allireland winners and never looked for a thing in return but they do look forward to the football and hurling championships on telly coz they can't manage to go to games anymore and they can't afford sky to be honest, it is always the poor that become cannon fodder for the rich, I don't think people understand how hard things are for outside the pale.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 28/03/2014 14:49:16    1566260

28/03/2014 11:26:26
H_Bomb12
I think this is the best thing to happen to the GAA in a long while.. Look at all the events they show that are actually much less attractive than they make them out to be, The Ashes, The Lions tour, Championship Soccer. Sky Sports would make an under 12 soccer game attractive if they had got the tv rights to it One of the best ways to promote this sport globally. Well done GAA. They may seem unattractive to you but for significant proportion of english people and skys market those events are very attractive.
Ashes is huge. English Aussie rivalry across everything is huge and ashes is central to that rivalry.
Championship soccer is pretty big as well in terms of attendance and potential for growth etc for sides from winning/promotion to premieship

28/03/2014 12:34:22 jimbodub
Simple fact
Less games on TV for the Irish population who don't have Sky
Which is a sizable %
People bemoaned TV3's coverage
At least it was free... they'll soon have none and you'll have to pay to see the same games on Sky
It's coming... Significant numbers of people have access to Sky or tvs showing sky Across all platforms that host sky digital. for people who dont have sky and have computers they can watch streams on online sites of games covered by sky

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 28/03/2014 14:59:07    1566266

28/03/2014 12:40:58
ringo
The GAA by doing this are moving closer to professionalism in my opinion.
The Association is now debt free. There is a strong chance that a lot of the regional stadia will be upgraded over the next 10 years with Government/IRFU funding.

What more will they be able to spend the growing pile of cash on? The county boards will look to get their hands on it anyway to fund team preparation, the cost of which is going up through the roof. What are you on about IRFU funding?
Its not really a step closer to professionalism and what would be wrong with some form of pay for players/coaches that is above board, properly managed etc?

28/03/2014 13:17:07
KingdomBoy1
It's a total joke, after all the work and time and money that we the volunteers have put in to the GAA to help make it what it is today Liam o'neill turns around and gives us a kick in the guts by selling out to sky and making us pay to watch something that we have all contributed to and the least we deserve is to see them for nothing on rte, well now Liam I hope this back fires on you, if I was the players I would be thinking why should the top brass be getting there hands on this money and why can't I have some and rightly so in my opinion, and for the fellows who say that sky will only have 14 games well that just this year it'l only be a mater of time before they will have the lot. Shame on Liam o'neill.

28/03/2014 13:27:45
Crossgaa
What about the poor old people who cant travel to games or afford to pay for Pay Per View. The old man that cut the grass all the years????
It would be good though to open our game up to an international audience..

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 28/03/2014 15:02:35    1566268

Games were free - now they wont be

Games were shown on Irish terrestrial television to eveyone - now we will have less than that

Yayyyyyeeee...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 28/03/2014 15:03:41    1566270

jafallon
County: Galway
Posts: 405
It is part of the british isles. Hence why its called Isles, not Island. A geographical term, same way the say between us is called the Irish sea. Unbelievable some of the nonsense people get worked up over

You seem to be getting pretty worked up there yourself. In any case, its a pretty outdated term, no longer accurate. Like saying Portugal was part of the greater Spanish peninsula.

As for the Sky deal, I still don't think its going to happen, I think having these rumours floating about is just a way of getting a better price from the domestic broadcasters.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 28/03/2014 15:07:24    1566276

28/03/2014 13:28:10 The_Bull
The GAA must be the greatest hypocrites going. Cork teams and players got pulled down the years for the 3 stripe jersey's, advertising suits, advertising bookies on their boots yet the GAA can deprive their members of watching their national game mar dhea.
I have no problem with the GAA selling TV rights to Sky if they align their ethics all these lines. The preach an amateur ethos all the time yet going with Sky is anchoring a definite statement that its members are far from their priority. This nonsense of money filtering down to grassroots is beyond a cliche at this stage. Fair enough RTE and TV3 paid the GAA large sums to broadcast games but at least the nation can watch these. Sky sports subscription is in excess of €60 a month.
People wonder why the GPA was formed, well it is very clear now and it wouldn't surprise me or bother me if they became more militant again. Since the opening of Croke Park, which i was in favour of, the GAA greed seems to have enraptured them to a level alien to GAA members. Another fact is the capacity for croke park for the real supporter has only increased 10,000 since its redevelopment. The Corporate/Premium account for approx. 10,000. This move may not cripple membership but it will damage it and leave a sour taste in a lot of members mouths Using sky to cover lines is not ethically wrong as you are implying.
RTE and TV3 pay a significant sum but are big fry in a small limited market in terms of broadcasters. Getting Sky/UTV or whoever else wants to join the market can increase money spent by broadcasters and potentially make things cheaper for customers in the long term.
sky sports isnt €60 a month(my deal at home certainly isnt that much)

28/03/2014 13:28:19
hurlingdub
Perhaps Sky will promote the games they have better. Tomorrow there is a repeat of the All Ireland final in Croke park but there is zero marketting being done. It will still attract a reasonable crowd but the Aviva will be packed for a pretty much meaningless Rabo game - the rugby equivalent of the O'Byrne Cup - between Leinster and Munster. The reason it will be full is because everyone in the country knows that it is on. There has been no advertising of the Dublin/mayo game. Rabo game is not meaningless in any aspect. Both Munster and Leinster are first and second. Whoever loses will drop to third behind Ulster who will beat Cardiff. first 2 teams at end of regulation league have home semi finals and first place in full seasn will get a home final if they reach the final so tomorrow is not meaningless at all.
Pro12 is much more than O Byrne Cup especially with new regulations regarding qualification for new europan competition.
Thats the GAAs fault they dont market themselves as well as rugby does

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 28/03/2014 15:15:26    1566283

28/03/2014 13:32:38
doublehop
Oh jeez, right fair enough. Bottom line is all the big games and derbies will be on Sky. The Leinster-Munster match this weekend as an example will no longer be on terrestrial TV. And it should be called terrestrial TV, not free-to-air. You pay for a TV license and at the very least a Saorview box. They show plenty of adverts. None of this stuff is free. All big games cant be on Sky only 1 of the 2 Leinster-Munster clashes a season will be on Sky the other will be on TG4(with news RTE are not likely to be showing pro12 anymore)

28/03/2014 13:17:07
KingdomBoy1
It's a total joke, after all the work and time and money that we the volunteers have put in to the GAA to help make it what it is today Liam o'neill turns around and gives us a kick in the guts by selling out to sky and making us pay to watch something that we have all contributed to and the least we deserve is to see them for nothing on rte, well now Liam I hope this back fires on you, if I was the players I would be thinking why should the top brass be getting there hands on this money and why can't I have some and rightly so in my opinion, and for the fellows who say that sky will only have 14 games well that just this year it'l only be a mater of time before they will have the lot. Shame on Liam o'neill. this isn a sell out. this is good for GAA. Games still shown. more exposure and better coverage for sponsors who back the GAA up in terms of running costs.
write to liam o neill and gaa hq if you have such an issue with what theyve done

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 28/03/2014 15:20:52    1566288

Ormomdbannerman
But not at the expense of the poor people, the people that helped make GAA what it is today , it's a kick in the guts , and old Rupert will have us by the balls.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 28/03/2014 15:20:55    1566289