irish independent article re ryder cup

channelsurfer

todays indo accurate as ever says the government may try to stop a bidding war by sky for the ryder cup. there is no bidding war as far as I know. sky has exclusive uk and irish rights to it up until 2008/09. anyone know whether the independent knows something that noone else knows or is this just a case of the indo having nothing else to write about during the christmas period.

DMC

RTÉ are running with it... its daft, for the reasons you outlined..... but BSkyB did let the soccer internationals go without too much fuss.....


Minister to look at Ryder Cup rights

http://www.rte.ie/business/2005/1229/broadcast.html
December 29, 2005 10:58

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey is to carry out a review of the list of events designated as events of major importance to society. Such events must be provided on a free television service in the public interest.

The Minister also announced that he would consider the possible designation of the 2006 Ryder Cup - which will be held in Ireland - in the course of the review.

The Department is inviting submissions on the issue by January 27.

DMC

Press release from the department....

Dempsey Announces Review of Designated Sporting Events

http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Dempsey+Announces+Review+of+Designated+Sporting+Events.htm

Dublin 29th December 2005

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey T.D., today announced his intention to conduct a review of the list of events designated as events of major importance to society for which the right of a qualifying broadcaster to provide coverage on a free television service should be provided in the public interest.

In announcing the review Minister Dempsey invited submissions from members of the public on the designated events and the possible designation of additional events. The events currently designated are listed in the Order dated 13 March 2003, an electronic copy of which is available on the Department’s Website at http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Broadcasting/Designation+of+sporting+events.htm

The Minister also announced his intention to consider the possible designation of the 2006 Ryder Cup in the course of the review. If, following the review, the Minister proposes to add to the list of designated events, he will publish a notice of any additional events that he intends to designate and invite comments on the said list.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 27 January 2006. Submissions may be provided by the following means:
· Through an electronic forum which will be available shortly on the Department’s website at http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/forum
· In electronic format to broadcast@dcmnr.gov.ie
· In hard copy to Major Events Coverage, Broadcasting Policy Division, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, 29 – 31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.

Further information is also available at the above link, http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Broadcasting/Designation+of+sporting+events.htm

Ends

DaveH

I have always found this one strange. I could see the uproar caused by the soccer internationals, which in my opinon was RTE playing politics. The Ryder cup hasnt been on RTE since 1993, If im not mistaken? I think 1995 in the U.S was the first on Sky, '97(spain), '99(had to listen to on BBC r5), '02, '04 were all on Sky. I saw the Sunday World kick up about it a few months ago, but my big question in this would be, why are they kicking up about when it hasnt been on Irish terristal for 10 years??? I know its in the K Club but still. If wrestlemanina was in Ireland would they list that??

Mossy Monk

pity the government would worry about something important. who the hell would watch the Ryder Cup because it is on RTÉ? i would say most who watch it will have it on Sky Sports anyway

mike65

Mossy I'll certainly be watching as will coutless thousands of others who dont want to spend 40 euro a month or whatever on SKY sports.

Mike.

channelsurfer

then ya know what to do. get writing or emailing Mr Dempsey and tell him that it should be listed on fta. As for Me I dont really care not that interested in golf but guess to golfers it would be the equivelant of the world cup finals in importance.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

DMC

I'm very protective of what should be free-to-air and what shouldnt. I feel I'm very vocal on sports rights and their impact on the public... It's a matter very close to my heart.

I enjoy watching golf on TV. I watch the Masters and the British Open etc on the BBC, and the Irish Open on RTÉ. I'd have no problem with these matches being protected on either countries list...

But the Ryder Cup doesnt instil the same "it must be on terrestrial TV live" that other sports have. Yes, its important in golf, yes, I watch it on Sky, and great that its in Ireland... but I do feel that the rights for this have been done and dusted years ago, and I accepted that decision.

It's not the same as the All-Ireland or soccer, in those terms.