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Does GAA get fair coverage compared to soccer and rugby

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RTE 6.01 News and Sport found time for all 23 of today's results which took all of 1 minute and 15 seconds out of a total sports bulletin of just over 9 minutes. The difference was that all the other sports covered were backed up with video coverage as well. It's not that footage wasn't available. You can see highlights of Derry and Tyrone online including a terrific Patrick Quinn goal for Tyrone. Other great goals this past week which RTE could have shown were Bam Neeson's incredible chipped goal for Antrim against QUB on Wednesday night and Frank McGlynn's goal for Donegal against Down a superb example of how to beat a massed defence. Where there's a will there's a way. But then that's the real problem with RTE. They don't really care that much about football or hurling it seems.

mediaman (Antrim) - Posts: 355 - 10/01/2016 19:01:39    1815645

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I don't really understand why people are complaining about the lack of coverage of these pre season games. Obviously Rte are going to cover the Pro 12, Champions Cup, Fa Cup, Premier League etc since they're important games, the ones the vast majority of people care about! Come Summer time you never really hear much about the Rugby or Soccer pre season results since the Gaa Championship is in full swing and thus gains the importance and coverage!

meathguy123 (Meath) - Posts: 16 - 10/01/2016 19:47:42    1815663

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But then that's the real problem with RTE. They don't really care that much about football or hurling it seems.

mediaman (Antrim)


...and yet they broadcast far more live football and hurling matches than any other sport. They have multiple highlights and preview shows and even recently had an hour long show covering next years championship draw live. Your claims just dont add up.

RangersFan (Dublin) - Posts: 117 - 10/01/2016 21:02:33    1815681

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hear hear rangers fan - i did previously point this out to mediaman - no response was received

Ormondbannerman - i think i got my numbers wrong in the amount of games rte covered in gaa and rugby so here goes

GAA =37 (31 championship (advertised at start of c'ship) plus 2 replays, plus 2 camogie games plus international rules/shinty)
may been some other games web only but not sure (camogie semis maybe)

Rugby - 22 - 15 x 6 nations plus 2 club games plus wolfhounds plus womens game, plus (not sure on this) i think 3 under 20 matches
-in non world cup year they show 3 more autumn internationals as well (why call them autumn internations when they are played in winter is beyond me!!)
may have been maybe 2 more womens games on web only again not sure)

so 37 to 25 split in favour of gaa

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 11/01/2016 17:06:29    1815878

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Mediaman - The case has been put forward that because the O'Byrne Cup, McKenna Cup, McGrath Cup, Connacht League etc. are 'Third Tier' ?competitions they don't deserve to be covered on RTE. Odd then to note that in 2015 RTE gave full live coverage to two 'Sixth Tier' Club Rugby Union matches, the Bateman Cup Final and the Division 1 League Final.

Tell you what so - lets say ryle nugent approaches you and gives you a choice

-37 GAA games with all the marquee fixtures i.e. current Gaa overage
OR
-25 gaa games (including 2 obyrne cup games- akin to tier 6) ,dont show 3 of the main 4 competitions (so dont show e.g. leinster and ulster football) and in 2 years time dont show any of the big competitions) - i.e. akin to rugby coverage

What would you choose

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 11/01/2016 17:12:41    1815881

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Why are you asking Mediaman about the GAA ? He knows nothing about Gaelic games. Never posts any opinions about players or games on Ireland's number one GAA site other than talk about an anti-GAA bias. He'd be happy if there was a pro-GAA bias, God knows why as he hasn't demonstrated any knowledge or experience of GAS matters. He won't reply of course. Finding a real representative audience on a GAA site to push his agenda. His agenda isn't pro-GAA. It's an anti-rugby and anti-soccer agenda. He knows nothing about them sports either.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8184 - 11/01/2016 18:50:54    1815904

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Ah Greenandred - don't be too hard on him. This thread is a great source of amusement - to think that there are people using stopwatches to time the GAA results on RTE - sure you couldn't make it up!

jimski (Kildare) - Posts: 381 - 11/01/2016 19:53:05    1815921

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shock!! horror!!

knockout games involving our national teams drew a bigger audience than games involving two counties within Ireland.

I'd be more worried about how RTE treat GAA games when it isn't the big games towards the end of the summer
only for TG4 there'd be very little GAA on the tv

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1905 - 11/01/2016 20:26:58    1815927

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shock!! horror!!

knockout games involving our national teams drew a bigger audience than games involving two counties within Ireland.

I'd be more worried about how RTE treat GAA games when it isn't the big games towards the end of the summer
only for TG4 there'd be very little GAA on the tv

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts:1005 - 11/01/2016 20:26:58


Good point. It should be no surprise that a rugby international in a world cup game is the highest viewed sport's programme. Next year we would expect the soccer games in Euro 2016 to be the top matches.

I would also worry about how the GAA treats the GAA except for the big games at the end of the summer.

The league will start in a few weeks time. It is a great competition that will get some big crowds. However, the top managers at the end of every game will say that 'sure its only the league'. No TV cameras can change that attitude (though perhaps Sky if they put enough money in).

The provincial system is outdated. No TV camera will make Longford v Dublin look good. Sorry. The good games come at the end of the year and there is lots of 'good' coverage on RTE (if listening to Brolly, Spillane and O'Rourke can be considered good)


I still think RTE should spend a trivial number of seconds calling out the results but no more than that. However apart from that their coverage is more than adequate.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 11/01/2016 21:19:33    1815944

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Re Jonesboro There is no such sport as GAA. The GAA is an umbrella organisation representing at least 4 sports two of which are more popular than rugby i.e. Gaelic Football and Hurling so going by your figures (and im not too sure how accurate they are) Rugby get 25 games while Gaelic Fotball and Hurling combined get 37 games. Rugby is still way over represented.
But that is not the real problen its the type of coverage. GAA coverage on RTE is decidedly more negative than coverage of rugby. If there is a brawl at a GAA match it is forensically examined and (the cameras hone in on it) while similar on a rugby pitch is ignored. The problem is the double standards.
The GAA Championship is covered but there is no positive advance publicity such as will be given in the next few weeks for the six nations.

mod (Mayo) - Posts: 859 - 11/01/2016 21:24:58    1815948

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Re Jonesboro There is no such sport as GAA. The GAA is an umbrella organisation representing at least 4 sports two of which are more popular than rugby i.e. Gaelic Football and Hurling

Wow I never knew that the GAA represented hurling and football!! - I hope in the interest of consistency that you will inform all posters of same and not just pick on me because i disagree with you - even the title of this thread compares GAA to soccer and rugby

so going by your figures (and im not too sure how accurate they are) -well then please give us the accurate figures - i did even endeavour to give a breakdown

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 12/01/2016 09:35:27    1815964

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MEdiaman Why are you asking Mediaman about the GAA ?

WELL I WAS HOPING FOR A RESPONSE- THEN AGAIN I WAS HOPING THAT MILLWALL WOULD WIN THE UEFA CUP!!

- to think that there are people using stopwatches to time the GAA results on RTE - sure you couldn't make it up!

jimski (Kildare) - Posts:188 - 11/01/2016 19:53:05

HAHA VERY GOOD

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 12/01/2016 09:37:41    1815966

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Mod- Rugby get 25 games while Gaelic Fotball and Hurling combined get 37 games. Rugby is still way over represented.

Correct me if i am wrong but there are only 26 senior c'ship hurling games (Qualifier 6 Leinster 5 Munster 4 All Ireland 5 Qualifier 6) of which 14 (1 qualifier 3 leinster 5 Munster and 5 All Ireland games were covered ) plus 3 more on sky- in order to have parity RTE would need to cover each hurling championship game. Also for RTE to cover more games they would have to be put on at awkward times as the sat 7pm and 2pm and 4pm slots are already shown, thus putting out players and fans.

But that is not the real problen its the type of coverage. GAA coverage on RTE is decidedly more negative than coverage of rugby.

If there is a brawl at a GAA match it is forensically examined and (the cameras hone in on it) while similar on a rugby pitch is ignored. The problem is the double standards.

Ok fair enough - sure we all know that incidents for example involving Pascal Pape, Sean Obrien, even the stade francais guy at the weekend got no coverage at all on RTE. Maybe you should give examples

As for the cameras honing in on it - the 2 red cards in european games this weekend were directly as a result of the TMO i.e. cameras honing in on it-

The GAA Championship is covered but there is no positive advance publicity such as will be given in the next few weeks for the six nations.

Fair enough- obviously the radio previews, tv ads for matches, big launch of announcement of fixtures being covered live the championship preview on league sunday, or thank gaa its friday are a figment of my imagination.

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 12/01/2016 09:51:12    1815973

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When mediaman first started discussing this issue he was mocked for his views and people asked where were the facts to support his case. Mediaman then presents the facts and he is mocked for having nothing better to be at. Some people seem to just want to insult the poster rather than discuss the topic for some reason.
Rugby attendances and, in particular, playing numbers which have fallen off a cliff in recent years, indicate that rugby is struggling to keep the publics interest in Ireland but mediamans figures suggest this has not filtered through to RTE yet.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 12/01/2016 14:36:02    1816064

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Soma When mediaman first started discussing this issue he was mocked for his views and people asked where were the facts to support his case. Mediaman then presents the facts and he is mocked for having nothing better to be at.

I did present some counter facts - sadly it did not illicit a response


Some people seem to just want to insult the poster rather than discuss the topic for some reason.
Rugby attendances and, in particular, playing numbers which have fallen off a cliff in recent years, indicate that rugby is struggling to keep the publics interest in Ireland but mediamans figures suggest this has not filtered through to RTE yet.

http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=248888

This article suggests that rugby is not struggling to keep the publics interest- nor are hurling and football orsoccer for that matter -- maybe just maybe people are interested in all 4 sports

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 12/01/2016 15:07:03    1816073

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THE actions of a TMO in punishing foul play has nothing to do with this discussion on bias, perceived or otherwise in the media. You're waffling Jonesboro

benched (Tyrone) - Posts: 534 - 12/01/2016 15:14:59    1816075

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Benched yes it does - i was responding to a point made that If there is a brawl at a GAA match it is forensically examined and (the cameras hone in on it) while similar on a rugby pitch is ignored. --If RTE are showing a rugby match and an incident of foul play is referred to the TMO -the cameras do hone in on it and show it to the viewers as well as the referee, they are then usually commented on by the commentators and analysed in studio and afterwards e.g. pascal pape, sean o'brien , The point i was responding said "similar on a rugby pitch are ignored" - I am merely making the point that they are not which in my view is not waffling

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 12/01/2016 15:33:34    1816084

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Janesboro your counterfacts included saying there is no bias because when you add gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies football together RTE show more live games than in men and womens rugby. It is a 'fact' so poorly constructed its hardly worth arguing. And that RTE also show the incidents being viewed by TMO during a game which is similar to the foul play highlighted in GAA coverage, again a fairly poor argument. As someone earlier mentioned, one of the questions on the RTE Sports Quiz was footage of the brawl in the hurling game in Boston and how the teams had made an exhibition of themselves, before asking which baseball team usually plays in the ground. It is the exact type of negative image mediaman highlights as par for the course with RTE and their coverage of GAA. Maybe you think all of this is just a coincidence but it shows a certain naivety if you do.
The viewing figures for the big international games are still excellent, but for the rest of the sport interest appears to be dwindling as crowds at games and the fall-off in playing numbers indicate. It is these competitions that are getting so much attention on RTE just now which it is looking hard to justify.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 12/01/2016 16:03:04    1816091

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But that is the TV cameras following the action as it unfolds what else can they do, show re-runs of a try and pretend it isn't happening? No one is saying that the media shouldn't show or report such incidents in any sport, but highlighting the difference in how such incidents are highlighted and analysed in the media post match.

benched (Tyrone) - Posts: 534 - 12/01/2016 16:42:39    1816101

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soma - Janesboro your counterfacts included saying there is no bias because when you add gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies football together RTE show more live games than in men and womens rugby. It is a 'fact' so poorly constructed its hardly worth arguing.

Please explain how it is poorly constructed - i did endeavour to give a breakdown - i note while you seemed to question my computation i did ask you to give me the correct figures -with none forthcoming

And that RTE also show the incidents being viewed by TMO during a game which is similar to the foul play highlighted in GAA coverage, again a fairly poor argument.

I Mention this point as you argued that the cameras hone in on hurling and football incidents and didnt do so in rugby - I am giving an example of where the cameras really hone in on foul play in rugby- you say they dont hone in - i show examples where they do - maybe your arguement is poorer on this one

The viewing figures for the big international games are still excellent, but for the rest of the sport interest appears to be dwindling as crowds at games and the fall-off in playing numbers indicate. It is these competitions that are getting so much attention on RTE just now which it is looking hard to justify.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/esri-study-shows-gaa-enduring-alarming-player-drain-253139.html
according to this article albeit dated - the Gaa is having a fall off in player numbers too, - hurling and football attendances have dropped a bit since their heyday in the 90s still excellent though - maybe these are not problems exclusive to rugby

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 12/01/2016 16:58:51    1816108

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