Magner's League on Free to Air next year

siltirocker

From next year Magner's League will return to free to air channels twice a week on free to air Irish TV.

One for RTE, one for TG4.

Sweet as, but Setanta must be f*cked!

Robbo

Highlights, live games or both?

In a weird way, I've grown fond of watching games on S4C. Could be something to do with their touchline reporter...

chupacabra

Thank god i only have setanta for the year. :pac:

siltirocker

Robbo wrote: »

Highlights, live games or both?

In a weird way, I've grown fond of watching games on S4C. Could be something to do with their touchline reporter...

One live Irish game each. Don't know about highlights.

Connacht and Ulster fans are ****ed though IMO. lol. Anyone catch the lack of mention of Connacht picking up an away win in France or the 40 second highlights of Ulster v Edinburgh. RTE won't show them if they don't have too i.e derby clashes.

il gatto

Sounds good to me. With S4C and BBC2 Wales I'm sure Ulster and Connacht will get some coverage somewhere. It's high time the national broadcaster showed something other than the 6N, AIs and highlights of the HEC. Fair play and none too soon either.:cool:

magma69

This is great news. Fair play to RTE/TG4.

danthefan

Don't see this as good news, the number of games shown live looks like it'll be cut dramatically.

zenmonk

Rte are muppets, check their Heineken cup coverage! No highlights of ANY games bar Munster, Leinster and a minute of Ulster. S4C is waaay ahead.
There goes my Setanta sub next year...even though they have the French league but the coverage of that is haphazard.

Kev_ps3

Great news. Miss the Magners league this season since I got rid of Setanta.

[Jackass]

Absolute disastor for the league.

It's now lost it's only true broadcaster with dedicated time to Magners and live games will be limited to 1 or 2 per week in each country and a 5 channel pie to piece together a highlights package that more or less would be pointless as none of these channels are dedicated sports ones, so very little air time will be given to build up, after match or other game highlights.

Why wont sky show an interest? The league desperatley needs a dedicated broadcaster, this brings us back to the days of farcical league imo.

Setanta is now irrelivant to fans of virtually every sport. Tried too much too soon, Sky was willing to lose premier league football rights, but only at a completely unsustainable price that they knew would put any competitor out of buisness, they're not stupid and could have kept bidding 10 fold more if they wanted and be able to survive...Setanta should have focused on Rugby...they had exclusve Magners rights, they got a T14 highlights package...if they focused on getting Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup and International rights and also maintained Scottish football rights they'd be a serious force as a sports broadcaster with a proper niche, instead of going for the biggest and most expensive rights package on the planet, English football, competeing with the biggest and heaviest backed sports broadcaster BskyB, they wouldn't have been run into the ground.

Terrible shame

PhatPiggins

Robbo wrote: »

Highlights, live games or both?

In a weird way, I've grown fond of watching games on S4C. Could be something to do with their touchline reporter...

I like the Welsh commentry, its like background music thats raises in pitch when something exciting is happening.

I hope TG4 will show the Connacht games. As Dan said I think this could lead to less games being shown live.

Sorry just spoted the above post, I dont think rugby is anywhere near popular enough in Ireland to build a channel around it. To be honest I dont think Ireland is big enough to support a subscription sports channel full stop.

murphym7

I don't see this as good news either. There is no way RTE are going to show many matches and if they do show some games it will be a haphazzard effort. I could be proved wrong (hope I am).

RugbyFanatic

Atrocious news, can anyone really see RTE giving play time to Leinster, Ulster, Munster, Connacht matches week in week out? Especially on prime time Saturday

Because I can't.

Tim Robbins

Why do they keep calling it "free to air" when you have to stump up a hefty license fee?

Oafley Jones

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

Atrocious news, can anyone really see RTE giving play time to Leinster, Ulster, Munster, Connacht matches week in week out? Especially on prime time Saturday

Because I can't.

I can. This will fill help fill up their schedule, looks good from a PR point of view, should have a guaranteed viewership and is probably cheaper than any programming. What else are they currently showing that can't afford to be bumped.

channelsurfer

tg4 will probably show a live friday one and rte a live match on the saturday but there will be at Least 2 live games every weekend there is magners league on if the story is right...i dont know how many setanta show live this year as I dont have setanta.

Podge_irl

channelsurfer wrote: »

tg4 will probably show a live friday one and rte a live match on the saturday but there will be at Least 2 live games every weekend there is magners league on if the story is right...i dont know how many setanta show live this year as I dont have setanta.

They show three or four. They've been known to show all five before (though they were just carrying S4C feeds for some of them). I think this is probably a good thing if you just wanna watch Leinster and/or Munster, but I can't imagine Ulster or Connacht fans are gonna get much out of this (and I won't get to waste an entire weekend on rugby).

crisco10

Bad news for all the provinces i think. The amount of games on the box will drop dramatically.

As other people have mentioned, very unlikely RTE will touch their prime time TV. And they are already a little crowded sportswise due to the obligation to show domestic football (more often than not on Friday night). I can't imagine a situation where RTE 2 will show Leinster/Munster v Scarlets say on a Saturday evening if it clashes with The Premiership. The only match I can see them prioritising is Leinster V Munster.

If its bad news for Leinster and munster, it is awful news for Connacht and Ulster.

On the upside, if TG4 took it and ran with to 60% the level of Setantas coverage, it could be good!

Podge_irl

crisco10 wrote: »

Bad news for all the provinces i think. The amount of games on the box will drop dramatically.

As other people have mentioned, very unlikely RTE will touch their prime time TV. And they are already a little crowded sportswise due to the obligation to show domestic football (more often than not on Friday night). I can't imagine a situation where RTE 2 will show Leinster/Munster v Scarlets say on a Saturday evening if it clashes with The Premiership. The only match I can see them prioritising is Leinster V Munster.

If its bad news for Leinster and munster, it is awful news for Connacht and Ulster.

On the upside, if TG4 took it and ran with to 60% the level of Setantas coverage, it could be good!

From what I gather they have no choice but to show a live match every weekend, so RTÉ will have to put one on somewhere. But it's clearly always going to be either a Leinster or Munster match.

raven136

terrible news for the league,Setanta's coverage is excellent and now we will not see any game not involving Leinster and Munster and be subjected to this ridiculous Rte punditry.

Podge_irl

If they get George Hook to do any punditry I will be less than amused. Sentanta were actually starting to put a decent show together when covering it.

potsy11

Freaked out....This is bad news.

I feel sorry for Setanta. They have gone from being an aggressive lion to a tamed puppy. They tried to get too big too quickly. Consiolidation was what they needed. But then again hindsight is a wonderful thing.

RTE coverage will suck for sure....

EdgarAllenPoo

RTE will probably stick Joanne Cantwell in as presenter just to have a "face" for the coverage which will be appauling but guess what, boards members, this means we may get a weekly dose of "a little bit of afters" as the has/have master that is Ryle Nugent may get more airtime.

potsy11

GDM wrote: »

RTE will probably stick Joanne Cantwell in as presenter just to have a "face" for the coverage which will be appauling but guess what, boards members, this means we may get a weekly dose of "a little bit of afters" as the has/have master that is Ryle Nugent may get more airtime.

Jesus no.....I never thought of that. The most annoying man / voice on TV. He has not got one clue about the game of Rugby.............:mad:

gcgirl

It's a ruck ryle nugent style i'll still be watching it on s4c and yeh your one that's on the touchline is quite nice too on it

themont85

Hang on 2 games a week of the domestic league on 'FTA' is a great advert for rugby and the league. I reckon BBC up North will also take some rights to Ulster games as RTÉ and TG4 will want as many Leinster/Munster games.

As for Connacht, they are never shown apart from Inter Pros and occasionally on Welsh TV. I don't see the number of games they had shown significantly dropping.

If Setanta didn't pay they must be really screwed or if RTÉ/TG4 outbid than that is great. Its not like Setanta were cutting edge in their coverage, it was decent but no better than RTÉ's six nations Pope and Hook who will obviousely be wheeled out for games. People who aren't as big rugby fans know who Hook and Pope are and they are more likely to watch due to this change than Franno ect. I like the Setanta pundits but they aren't a draw like Hook is.

siltirocker

With RTE showing 1 Irish game, TG4 showing 1 Irish game, S4/C showing 1 sometimes 2 Welsh games, BBC Wales showing another Welsh game and STV showing 1 Scotish game.

It looks like every match will be shown in some capacity live every round.

How can this be worse than forking out for a Setanta subscription?

And i'll be happy never to listen to Neil Francis again!

murphym7

Will the amount clubs get for TV rights drop or be the same?

laugh

gcgirl wrote: »

It's a ruck ryle nugent style i'll still be watching it on s4c and yeh your one that's on the touchline is quite nice too on it

Is she a hot lil blonde? She was at RDS last year almost geting blown over by the wind, heavily in pup too.

NotWormBoy

laugh wrote: »

Is she a hot lil blonde? She was at RDS last year almost geting blown over by the wind, heavily in pup too.

Isn't that Simon Easterby's wife? Or is that a different one I'm thinking of? Sarra Elgan?

Mossy Monk

I do believe she is Mrs. Easterby. Hot stuff.

Podge_irl

themont85 wrote: »

If Setanta didn't pay they must be really screwed or if RTÉ/TG4 outbid than that is great. Its not like Setanta were cutting edge in their coverage, it was decent but no better than RTÉ's six nations Pope and Hook who will obviousely be wheeled out for games. People who aren't as big rugby fans know who Hook and Pope are and they are more likely to watch due to this change than Franno ect. I like the Setanta pundits but they aren't a draw like Hook is.

Unfortunately Hook is an eejit and Emmet Byrne or even Liam Toland know orders of magnitude more about the game of rugby and can actually impart interesting analysis. And I thought Setanta's coverage was pretty good and I'll be surprised if RTÉ can match it.

big dan

Keep in mind that it's the tv stations that determine what time the matches are being played.

So matches may be played earlier to suit the rte tv schedule.

Koloman

siltirocker wrote: »

And i'll be happy never to listen to Neil Francis again!

Give me Neil Francis over George Hook any day!

Chucky the tree

Oafley Jones wrote: »

I can. This will fill help fill up their schedule, looks good from a PR point of view, should have a guaranteed viewership and is probably cheaper than any programming. What else are they currently showing that can't afford to be bumped.

It costs RTE far more money to do a livebroad cast then to buy the rights for some movie or show. The premiership is on RTE2 on saturdays and I'd be very surprised if they re-schedule that so I'd say they might go for the friday night games.

NickNolte

So long Magners League. It was nice knowing you.

Aidric

GDM wrote: »

RTE will probably stick Joanne Cantwell in as presenter just to have a "face" for the coverage which will be appauling.

This is a truly despairing thought. She makes my skin crawl.

themont85

NickNolte wrote: »

So long Magners League. It was nice knowing you.

You have to be joking me?!

Why is being on pay TV such a big deal? The only pay Tv channel worth anything is Sky because of their dominance and this means any sport of league on their gets hyped to the max. The biggest games in the ML are usually shut away on Setanta 1 which is terrible for the Magners League. Who subscribes to Setanta 1? They have muck sport left barring the occasional good ML game and 3pm Prem games. Most people have ditched Setanta and they are a shinking ship, much better for the Magners to be FTA.

Setanta coverage wasn't amazing. Some decent pundits but they general populace prefer Hook and he draws in the general public. RTÉ will probably show a lot of games on Saturday evenings before their Premier League highlights which is prime sporting TV time. TG4 I'd say will return to the old days of Rugbaí Beo.

What exactly does Setanta have that will cripple the ML like some people think?

PhatPiggins

themont85 wrote: »

You have to be joking me?!

Why is being on pay TV such a big deal? The only pay Tv channel worth anything is Sky because of their dominance and this means any sport of league on their gets hyped to the max. The biggest games in the ML are usually shut away on Setanta 1 which is terrible for the Magners League. Who subscribes to Setanta 1? They have muck sport left barring the occasional good ML game and 3pm Prem games. Most people have ditched Setanta and they are a shinking ship, much better for the Magners to be FTA.

Setanta coverage wasn't amazing. Some decent pundits but they general populace prefer Hook and he draws in the general public. RTÉ will probably show a lot of games on Saturday evenings before their Premier League highlights which is prime sporting TV time. TG4 I'd say will return to the old days of Rugbaí Beo.

What exactly does Setanta have that will cripple the ML like some people think?

To answer your question: Do you remember what the ML was like before Setanta came along? Hint it was called the Celtic league, couldn't get a sponsor and you were lucky to see one game a week.

themont85

PhatPiggins wrote: »

To answer your question: Do you remember what the ML was like before Setanta came along? Hint it was called the Celtic league, couldn't get a sponsor and you were lucky to see one game a week.

Hmm I could swear that the deal we have heard about is for 2 games a week, that is what happened before not now.

The Magners League has piggy backed on the overall expansion of the game, the Heineken Cup and Ireland' success has made Leinster and Munster hot property in the Irish sporting public. The ML problems pre sponsorship weren't just TV based, they were problems of a league in its infancy and not having a clear strategy of what it was or what it wanted to be bar being a filler between the HCup and internationals.

Interestingly RTÉ are a major reason for the Hcup's success certainly in Ireland. The fact that Munster's various games were broadcast up until 2006 is a key reason why the competition is so popular.

FTA is good for a sport's profile.

Btw its not like Sky show a lot of GP games every week, in fact its at maximum 2 a week.

Setanta did nothing for Connacht or Ulster really apart from showing a cheap feed of their games from Wales or when they played Leinster/Munster. Get this clear Setanta made money of Leinster and Munster, the rest were an after thought and rightly so from a business POV. Now so what if RTÉ and Tg4 do the same, at least more people will see it.

danthefan

Haven't read the whole thread but is everyone forgetting about S4C and BBC Wales?

themont85

danthefan wrote: »

Haven't read the whole thread but is everyone forgetting about S4C and BBC Wales?

Probably I would say die to some of the responses here.

The ML has probably more games broadcast a week than most other rugby league and this looks to be continuing from next year, only its all pretty much FTA.

shoegirl

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I like the Welsh commentry, its like background music thats raises in pitch when something exciting is happening.
.....

Sorry just spoted the above post, I dont think rugby is anywhere near popular enough in Ireland to build a channel around it. To be honest I dont think Ireland is big enough to support a subscription sports channel full stop.

Agreed RE the Welsh. I think rugby fandom is big enough in Ireland alright, but its considered way too small a market by the UK marketeers to develop much. Our almost complete lack of a DTV infrastructure to date has only worsened this situation as Setanta could only broadcast via Sky (i.e. their competition) or NTL/Chorus/UPC. Ireland remaining so far behind the rest of Europe and the UK in particular on this has cost us dearly in terms of real choice.

It always incenses me when I hear about the amazing number of people who have "digital" tv via Sky - 1) its not truly "digital" and 2) many subscribers have little choice as much of the country doesn't even have reliable quality terrestrial coverage.

LeopoldButters

this is a much better option than Sky taking over the league...their coverage of the GP is very poor...atleast this way there should be 4-5 live games every weekend spread across the four staions!

ALH-06

siltirocker wrote: »

One live Irish game each. Don't know about highlights.

Connacht and Ulster fans are ****ed though IMO.

Is this fact or speculation? If only one provincial game was shown by each of the two broadcasters, then that would be an absolute disaster for the league. Ulster is one of the better supported teams in the Magners - what the hell are their fans going to do? Hope they're playing Leinster, Munster or a Welsh team? Because that's the only case in which Ulster (or Connacht) games will ever be televised if the above is true.

I REALLY hope RTE give the Magners the attention it deserves. Because the production values of TG4 will be even worse than those of Setanta, thus lowering the quality of the product / diminishing the status of the league.

siltirocker

ALH-06 wrote: »

Is this fact or speculation?

Fact. Looking for a link but im sure google will answer that.

ALH-06 wrote: »

If only one provincial game was shown by each of the two broadcasters, then that would be an absolute disaster for the league. Ulster is one of the better supported teams in the Magners - what the hell are their fans going to do? Hope they're playing Leinster, Munster or a Welsh team? Because that's the only case in which Ulster (or Connacht) games will ever be televised if the above is true.

2 games by Irish broadcasters
1 by STV
2 by (S4C & BBC WALES)

Which last time i read is a full catalogue of games (although BBC Wales might only show Welsh derbies). That is a guarenteed 45 televisied games next year in the 1st half of the season, the same as this season.

The only difference is that next year it'll all be free with a basic digital package. Instead of an €15 a month.:cool:

Can people not get this or something?

NickNolte

themont85 wrote: »

Why is being on pay TV such a big deal?

Because you actually get to watch some of the league and not just two games a week. Besides, I don't pay for Setanta Ireland. It comes free with UPC.

themont85 wrote: »

The biggest games in the ML are usually shut away on Setanta 1

Most of the games, including most (but not all) of the biggest ones, are on Setanta Ireland.

themont85 wrote: »

which is terrible for the Magners League.

Only showing Leinster and Munster matches is hardly good for the League either.

themont85 wrote: »

Who subscribes to Setanta 1?

Me.

themont85 wrote: »

Most people have ditched Setanta and they are a shinking ship, much better for the Magners to be FTA.

Obviously it's better if the ML is free. I have no problems unsubscribing from Setanta 1 and saving myself money every month. However, I would like to be able to watch most of the ML matches, or at least delayed coverage, on any given weekend if I so choose. If the League goes free to air, coverage will be completely watered down.

As I subscribe to Sky Sports anyway, I'd have preferred if they had bought it and I could watch any of the matches I wanted. The funding would also ensure the commercial survival of the League.

themont85 wrote: »

Setanta coverage wasn't amazing. Some decent pundits but they general populace prefer Hook and he draws in the general public.

I agree, the coverage wasn't amazing. But to say that Hook should be brought in because most fly-by-night rugby fans want him is laughable.

themont85 wrote: »

RTÉ will probably show a lot of games on Saturday evenings before their Premier League highlights which is prime sporting TV time. TG4 I'd say will return to the old days of Rugbaí Beo.

As far as I know, there will only be two live games shown per weekend. That's the deal. Leinster and Munster I'd imagine.

themont85 wrote: »

What exactly does Setanta have that will cripple the ML like some people think?

It's very simple - people who traditionally watched a lot of ML matches can't anymore. At least not without scouring Welsh channels and, even then, need digitial TV (as far as I'm aware) to watch English commentary.

NickNolte

siltirocker wrote: »

Can people not get this or something?

I don't think everyone can get those channels. Will have to look around my UPC and check.

dave13

NickNolte wrote: »

I don't think everyone can get those channels. Will have to look around my UPC and check.

You can't get s4c and bbc wales on UPC, only sky.

channelsurfer

I wonder how much they actually bid for these matches and what happened with setanta.. did they acutually outbid setanta which would mean setanta is surviving on peanuts or did Magners league go for the higher exposure at the request of Magners perhaps???

anonymous_joe

This kinda sucks.

If there was one game a week on, RTÉ would be fantastic, but given that Setanta tends to show all the games every weekend, that;s just not going to happen.