RTE regularly sells stories elsewhere. It has to. It needs to. Would the number of GAA stories dwarf rugby?
The rugby sides train every day, the provinces have a minimum of 28 games a season and then the international side have about 11 games on top of that. The amount of stories that can be produced is huge. The rugby players are pro and therefore available for media work much more than the amateur GAA players. To say competitiveness only comes in during the last games of European pool stages and after the 6 nations shows you as not knowing or not watching much rugby

Ormonde how attractive is an Irish broadcasters story on Irish teams to international audiences, cant see that being a big seller top be honest. I watch enough rugby to know that a team with any kind of dominance can put up a big score fairly quickly. To use the IRB's ranking system any win over 15 pts is classed as a big win and gains more ranking points internationally, therefore 2/4 x WC qtr finals were noncompetitive and that is the elite level. In the pro 12 in 24 games thus far 5 have been won by a greater than 15 point margin, is a fifth of games being noncompetitive any better or worse than GAA? In the aviva 1 out of 6 was noncompetitive again is this any better or worse than the gaa. So I dont agree on the more competitive, there are more games covered over a wider period of time which can give the perception of more competitive (plus beatings tend to be glossed over) but it also gives rise to threads like this when the coverage is deemed to be ott for what is being portrayed.

Rugby is far from perfect. Its what some people criticise it for which is what annoys me.
Most soccer numbers come from pub leagues. My home area North Tipp has dozens of soccer "clubs" but the vast majority are 1 team clubs based on a pitch very near to a local pub and it varies year to year if the club will play or not. They are pub social teams.

Look you've said you are sensitive to some of the criticism rugby gets and thats grand everyone has things which hack them off, but we are discussing a perceived inequity between the media coverage for rugby and GAA and whether or not people want to have a dig at rugby the perceived bias is still evident, with the media commenting on it themselves in the story posted on one other post it appears some journalists perceive there to be a favoring of one sport also.

The comment re the soccer clubs doesn't interest me, if lads want to kick a ball around a field rather than go on the beer that cant be a bad thing and you are being as dismissive of soccer as others have been of rugby, which you have stated gets your heckles up pub team or wannabe's at the end of the day it is an organised game. I'm no fan of soccer but if people want to have a kick around more power to them doesn't make it any better or worse than GAA or Rugby.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 23/10/2015 11:57:58    1801495

RTE regularly sells stories elsewhere. It has to. It needs to. Would the number of GAA stories dwarf rugby?
The rugby sides train every day, the provinces have a minimum of 28 games a season and then the international side have about 11 games on top of that. The amount of stories that can be produced is huge. The rugby players are pro and therefore available for media work much more than the amateur GAA players. To say competitiveness only comes in during the last games of European pool stages and after the 6 nations shows you as not knowing or not watching much rugby
23/10/2015 11:57:58 duckula20
Ormond how attractive is an Irish broadcasters story on Irish teams to international audiences, cant see that being a big seller top be honest. I watch enough rugby to know that a team with any kind of dominance can put up a big score fairly quickly. To use the IRB's ranking system any win over 15 pts is classed as a big win and gains more ranking points internationally, therefore 2/4 x WC qtr finals were noncompetitive and that is the elite level. In the pro 12 in 24 games thus far 5 have been won by a greater than 15 point margin, is a fifth of games being noncompetitive any better or worse than GAA? In the aviva 1 out of 6 was noncompetitive again is this any better or worse than the gaa. So I dont agree on the more competitive, there are more games covered over a wider period of time which can give the perception of more competitive (plus beatings tend to be glossed over) but it also gives rise to threads like this when the coverage is deemed to be ott for what is being portrayed.Yes world ranking points are higher for wins over 15 points but a win by more than 15 points doesn't mean a game is uncompetitive. Saying that is ridiculous
France New Zealand was a blow out but Argentina Ireland was damn competitive with the pumas just pulling away on scoreboard in final quarter.
Saying games won by more than 15 points are uncompetitive is a ridiculous marker.
ormond
Rugby is far from perfect. Its what some people criticise it for which is what annoys me.
Most soccer numbers come from pub leagues. My home area North Tipp has dozens of soccer "clubs" but the vast majority are 1 team clubs based on a pitch very near to a local pub and it varies year to year if the club will play or not. They are pub social teams.
23/10/2015 11:57:58 duckula20
Look you've said you are sensitive to some of the criticism rugby gets and thats grand everyone has things which hack them off, but we are discussing a perceived inequity between the media coverage for rugby and GAA and whether or not people want to have a dig at rugby the perceived bias is still evident, with the media commenting on it themselves in the story posted on one other post it appears some journalists perceive there to be a favoring of one sport also.
The comment re the soccer clubs doesn't interest me, if lads want to kick a ball around a field rather than go on the beer that cant be a bad thing and you are being as dismissive of soccer as others have been of rugby, which you have stated gets your heckles up pub team or wannabe's at the end of the day it is an organised game. I'm no fan of soccer but if people want to have a kick around more power to them doesn't make it any better or worse than GAA or Rugby. Im not being dismissive of soccer at all. Just showing soccer is easiest sport to play on a totally social setting. easiest sport to play. less likely pick up injuries etc etc

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 23/10/2015 12:49:01    1801524

Duckula. You make good points and you're a lot more reasoned than some posters. If it bothers you that much then do something to change it. I don't think it bothers you as much as some, could be wrong. It isn't fair but neither are a lot of things. A bit like the anti water protectors, at first I thought they were a bunch of whingers. Now I admire them for sticking up for themselves and not taking more crap from Merkel's Muppets. Recognising an unfairness is easy, doing something about it isn't. Like everyday complaining about the rain Like a broken record instead of buying a fkn umbrella.

If you want to get RTE's attention get a campaign going to boycott their 6 Nations coverage sponsor(s) and also to tune in up to kick-off and then switch off. If you had sufficient takers it'd be clear to RTE that a large number switched off in protest.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8174 - 23/10/2015 13:01:10    1801526

Ormonde you raised the spectre of competitiveness I have merely pointed out the level at which the IRB considers a team has taken as big a beating as they will acknowledge with ranking points, greater than 15 points. You have stated that rugby is competitive over an 8 month season yet we know there are mismatches and as my earlier post stated roughly 1 in 5 matches in the pro12 this season ends up being greater than 15 points defeat.

We then have rte and the like telling us about this wonderfully competitive championship, yet at the same time the rte rhetoric is that the GAA championships are lopsided and these mismatches are bad for the game. A difference in approach or reporting between the sports, some might call this a bias.

As green and red said earlier a defeated WC qtr finalist was on the front pages of the papers, so the rugby team gets plaudits and a free pass even after the disappointment of the qtr final. Contrast this to Fermanagh vs Dublin, Fermanagh were roundly ridiculed for celebrating an excellent performance against the eventual champions and they bowed out with their heads held high, both teams excited at the same stage of their respective championships yet one is lauded even though they had the tools to beat the other team, whilst the other whom were told they were lucky to be there got lambasted after a gutsy and battling performance.

You will no doubt say two differing sports and differing interpretations but my argument would be that RTE and the media take a very different approach when comparing the respective performances and in my view and in the view of many others on this thread it would appear, they seem to turn a blind eye to rugby's failings whilst crucifying the GAA where possible.

Let me clarify this also it is not a failing of rugby as a sport we are discussing, it is what it is, it is a failing in the media coverage which is not equitable between the differing sports.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 23/10/2015 13:19:27    1801533

Green and Red you are right it doesn't really bother me to the point where I wont watch RTE and you are also right when you have said it isn't fair but agreed lots of things aren't fair.

I would compare it to this celebrity culture we are told that celebrity X is great because of Y and Z yet last weeks flavour of the month is a no-body because of this that and the other. The coverage isn't equitable or reasoned and I find it depressing that this type of journalism permeates sport which should be above all that.

Unfortunately at this moment, for RTE and some print media the flavour of the month appears to be rugby, and there are some reasons, successful provinces reasonably successful national team, but that shouldn't then lead to the slew of stories which cast a less than glowing light on the GAA.

Realistically I can't see an awful lot changing because as you say doing something about it is hard, this allied to the fact that we do like a good ol moan every so often, plus there are enough people interested in both to warrant coverage the argument would be the relative scales of such coverage.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 23/10/2015 13:36:14    1801545

23/10/2015 13:19:27 duckula20
Ormond you raised the spectre of competitiveness I have merely pointed out the level at which the IRB considers a team has taken as big a beating as they will acknowledge with ranking points, greater than 15 points. You have stated that rugby is competitive over an 8 month season yet we know there are mismatches and as my earlier post stated roughly 1 in 5 matches in the pro12 this season ends up being greater than 15 points defeat.
We then have rte and the like telling us about this wonderfully competitive championship, yet at the same time the rte rhetoric is that the GAA championships are lopsided and these mismatches are bad for the game. A difference in approach or reporting between the sports, some might call this a bias.Firstly a 15 point win is not a monstrous beating. It is an arbitrary number that just happens to be over 2 full scores. Rugby is competitive over an 8 month season of course there is hammerings etc in that time. They exist in all sports.
The pro12 was going on when the world cup was so using that to defend your points is ridiculous as how teams were affected by the world cup totally varied. that there is a difference in approach between sports coverage in RTE is only an issue for the GAA staff and the staff in RTE who cover GAA. That GAA is covered more negatively is an issue for the GAA and RTEs GAA staff and cannot be used in any way to attack/run down/dismiss rugby
23/10/2015 13:19:27 duckula20
As green and red said earlier a defeated WC qtr finalist was on the front pages of the papers, so the rugby team gets plaudits and a free pass even after the disappointment of the qtr final. Contrast this to Fermanagh vs Dublin, Fermanagh were roundly ridiculed for celebrating an excellent performance against the eventual champions and they bowed out with their heads held high, both teams excited at the same stage of their respective championships yet one is lauded even though they had the tools to beat the other team, whilst the other whom were told they were lucky to be there got lambasted after a gutsy and battling performance.
You will no doubt say two differing sports and differing interpretations but my argument would be that RTE and the media take a very different approach when comparing the respective performances and in my view and in the view of many others on this thread it would appear, they seem to turn a blind eye to rugby's failings whilst crucifying the GAA where possible.
Let me clarify this also it is not a failing of rugby as a sport we are discussing, it is what it is, it is a failing in the media coverage which is not equitable between the differing sports. The rugby team has in no way got a free pass from the media - plenty have criticised the team/irfu - you can look those critics up yourself
rugbys failings get plenty of coverage. though they have improved there has been plenty of coverage on the poor work in past on concussion/managing the club game etc et

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 23/10/2015 13:41:51    1801549

that there is a difference in approach between sports coverage in RTE is only an issue for the GAA staff and the staff in RTE who cover GAA. That GAA is covered more negatively is an issue for the GAA and RTEs GAA staff and cannot be used in any way to attack/run down/dismiss rugby

Ormonde as I stated I am not trying to dismiss rugby, over the coming years and with the WC 2023 bid there will be a lot of cross pollination between the two. As I said the issue is in the reporting, that you acknowledge the difference now is great but remember RTE has a head of sport and the consistency in approach and standards for the organisation should come from them so it isn't really acceptable to lay the onus at the door of the GAA and rte's GAA pundits as the question is does this difference arise because of the nature of the sports or is it more institutional bias.

If RTE doesn't value the GAA, and there are ways of showing the value other than broadcasting i.e analysis, advertising etc, will they surprised when the championship goes the way of rugby and ends up on pay tv, The Gaa has a product to sell, if their current partner isn't giving the exposure they would like then I would expect the GAA to find a new partner to work with.

Each of the sports has their positives and negatives, my issue is that the sports which most people would identify with seem to be getting a bad press from those whose responsibility it is to promote it.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 23/10/2015 14:16:16    1801564

that there is a difference in approach between sports coverage in RTE is only an issue for the GAA staff and the staff in RTE who cover GAA. That GAA is covered more negatively is an issue for the GAA and RTEs GAA staff and cannot be used in any way to attack/run down/dismiss rugby
23/10/2015 14:16:16 duckula20
Ormond as I stated I am not trying to dismiss rugby, over the coming years and with the WC 2023 bid there will be a lot of cross pollination between the two. As I said the issue is in the reporting, that you acknowledge the difference now is great but remember RTE has a head of sport and the consistency in approach and standards for the organisation should come from them so it isn't really acceptable to lay the onus at the door of the GAA and rte's GAA pundits as the question is does this difference arise because of the nature of the sports or is it more institutional bias.
If RTE doesn't value the GAA, and there are ways of showing the value other than broadcasting i.e analysis, advertising etc, will they surprised when the championship goes the way of rugby and ends up on pay tv, The Gaa has a product to sell, if their current partner isn't giving the exposure they would like then I would expect the GAA to find a new partner to work with.
Each of the sports has their positives and negatives, my issue is that the sports which most people would identify with seem to be getting a bad press from those whose responsibility it is to promote it. no e in Ormond.....
There has always been "cross pollination" between the two organisations and always will be... What exactly do you want the head of sport to do? What do you want the RTE GAA staff to do?
If RTE didn't value the GAA then why did they react the way they did when GAA announced Sky were coming on board?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 23/10/2015 15:07:31    1801574

Another example of the biased coverage will be on Show tonight by RTE when we will have Joe Smith (Rugby) the losing Irish Manager on the Late Late Show, yet there is no slot for the Dublin winning manager - Jim Gavin. There are far more GAA supporters (licence holders) than rugby supporters (licence holders) as is evidenced by match attendances week after week throughout the year.

fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 602 - 23/10/2015 19:52:10    1801648

23/10/2015 19:52:10
fainleog
Another example of the biased coverage will be on Show tonight by RTE when we will have Joe Smith (Rugby) the losing Irish Manager on the Late Late Show, yet there is no slot for the Dublin winning manager - Jim Gavin. There are far more GAA supporters (licence holders) than rugby supporters (licence holders) as is evidenced by match attendances week after week throughout the year. Ireland were knocked out of the world cup last weekend. The all Ireland final was on a month ago
The Cork Ladies football champions, Henry Shefflin, have been on the show in the last month as have Brent Pope, George Hook and Tom McGurk so where is the bias in favour of rugby?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 23/10/2015 21:07:48    1801671

Orrmond, the interview on the LLS with the Cork ladies football team was embarrassing- a few questions for Ciara O'Sullivan about playing with her sisters, a few questions to Val Mulcahy about her wedding, and not a word with one of the really great coaches in Irish sport, Eamonn Ryan - a condescending interview with no respect shown whatsoever. So tonight, we get the coach of another under performing rugby team, getting a soft-ficus interview about the "heroic" victories over those mighty rugby nations, Canada and Romania. Really, Ormond, even you can't depend that tripe, surely?

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 23/10/2015 21:59:55    1801676

23/10/2015 21:59:55
football first
Orrmond, the interview on the LLS with the Cork ladies football team was embarrassing- a few questions for Ciara O'Sullivan about playing with her sisters, a few questions to Val Mulcahy about her wedding, and not a word with one of the really great coaches in Irish sport, Eamonn Ryan - a condescending interview with no respect shown whatsoever. So tonight, we get the coach of another under performing rugby team, getting a soft-ficus interview about the "heroic" victories over those mighty rugby nations, Canada and Romania. Really, Ormond, even you can't depend that tripe, surely? What would you be expecting Tubridy to ask them?
He could have asked about the coach but when so few in general across the country know of the talents of the team they'll keep it light and not anything to do with the team
What would you expect tubridy to ask Schmidt?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 24/10/2015 12:35:53    1801702

Should be plenty of coverage on this story in tomorrow/Mondays papers

After 8pm when Portlaoise got trophy for game this evening and they've to play at 2.30 in Carlow tomorrow.

That's a joke

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 24/10/2015 20:41:27    1801751

Another big day of football and hurling finals tomorrow. It's probably too much to expect our national broadcaster to provide us with the results but given that the inter-county phase of the All-Ireland Club Football and Hurling Championships (last 32 in each) also begins tomorrow surely there's no way they can ignore those as well? After all the entire GAA community has a stake in the knock-out stages of competitions that lead to Croke Park on St. Patrick's Day.

mediaman (Antrim) - Posts: 355 - 24/10/2015 21:17:17    1801760

Irish rugby team flop two world cups in a row and it's the fault if the six nations not the player or coach.
Mayo lose a semi final replay and the players are chokers. Go figure

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1521 - 24/10/2015 21:56:45    1801767

Singing in the rain.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8174 - 25/10/2015 15:25:12    1801806

It appears there is general agreement that RTE coverage of GAA is no balanced in terms of quantity (disproportionately less) and attitude (frequently negative) It is good to see some of the posters are moving on to "What can we do about it?" The suggestions from Green and Red are constructive. I think there has to be a means of documenting perceived bias. Perhaps Hoganstand might facilitate this or someone with the expertise might set up a website where GAA fans can record examples of RTE bias.
Perhaps RTE is beginning to listen the radio had very good coverage of the club championship last Sunday and while one swallow doesn't make a summer its no harm to recognise it.
The comments re Joe Smidt appearance on Late Late are interesting. He got a very soft time considering the non stop hype beforehand and the subsequent collapse during the tournament.
I saw one poster on twitter asking the question "What is the first question an RTE interviewer asks a manager directly after he has lost a championship match?" Joe was certainly treated differently.

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 27/10/2015 15:42:44    1802346

Interesting article in Irish Times online about Australian Rugby Union captain Stephen Moore's Irish connections in Galway and Meath. The writer could have informed us of the teenage Australian's days spent down at the field in Skyrne (Co.Meath)playing football with his cousins or even mentioned the fact that one of his first cousins Paddy O'Rourke co-incidentally went on to play International Rules for Ireland against Australia. But no the illustration the writer used was little short of mean spirited in its content and ridiculously condescending in tone. Judge for yourselves.


'Some of those cousins are from Meath footballing stock. Current goalkeeper Paddy O'Rourke, who is a nephew of Colm O'Rourke, is related to Moore.

The same Paddy O'Rourke who would have been cited and banned at this World Cup for the red card he received at Croke Park in June after driving, elbow-high into Westmeath's Kieran Martin.'

Even in the middle of a Rugby Union article some writers seem to feel the need to take a swipe at one of our players. Still good luck to Stephen Moore. Hopefully the first former Gaelic footballer to win the RWC.

mediaman (Antrim) - Posts: 355 - 27/10/2015 18:54:15    1802430

Isn't it typical that after the world cup final, domestic rugby dominates the media coverage over the weekend. Laughable when you look at the half empty thomond park tonight. Where oh where have the 90000 so called greatest supporters in the world gone too. With the bandwagon parked in sarajevo ready for off there will be more fans at the Dublin county final than any other sporting event this weekend.

sceptical (Cavan) - Posts: 544 - 30/10/2015 19:36:05    1803233

30/10/2015 19:36:05
sceptical
Isn't it typical that after the world cup final, domestic rugby dominates the media coverage over the weekend. Laughable when you look at the half empty thomond park tonight. Where oh where have the 90000 so called greatest supporters in the world gone too. With the bandwagon parked in sarajevo ready for off there will be more fans at the Dublin county final than any other sporting event this weekend. The game kicked off at 6pm on a weekday. Most of the fans are still at work/on way home from work.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 30/10/2015 20:54:25    1803247