TV Coverage for ML

Legion2008

Ok, I know it's been discussed at length in other threads with Setanta losing the rights for live broadcast of the games but now that the first round of fixtures has been announced with the broadcast partners the question becomes how do I get the required channels to watch the games.

As expected RTE are only showing one game a weekend, at it appears that whichever of Munster/Leinster is at home is getting the privilege ... TG4 seems to have exclusive access for Connacht home games .... is there an easy way to get BBC Alba on a UPC package or am I going to have to stream all the games ?

MAGNERS LEAGUE 2010 /11 OPENING FIXTURES

ROUND 1

Fri 3 Sep 19:05 Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Firhill Stadium BBC ALBA

Fri 3 Sep 19:05 Ulsterv Ospreys Ravenhill BBC NI

Sat 4 Sep 19:05 Benetton Trevisov Scarlets Stadio Monigo

Sat 4 Sep 18:30 Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh Cardiff City Stadium S4C

Sat 4 Sep 17:30 Connachtv NG Dragons Sportsground TG4

Sat 4 Sep 19:30 Munsterv Aironi Rugby Musgrave Park RTE

ROUND 2

Fri 10 Sep 19:05 Edinburghv Munster Murrayfield BBC ALBA

Fri 10 Sep 19:05 Ospreys v Benetton Treviso Liberty Stadium BBC W

Sat 11 Sep 19:05 Aironi Rugbyv Ulster Stadio Zaffanella

Sat 11 Sep 18:30 Leinsterv CardiffBlues RDS RTE

Sat 11 Sep 15:00 Scarlets v Connacht Parc y Scarlets

Sun 12 Sep 16:10 NG Dragons v Glasgow Warriors Rodney Parade S4C

ROUND 3

Fri 17 Sep 19:30 Glasgow Warriors v Connacht Firhill Stadium

Fri 17 Sep 20:05 Scarlets v Aironi Rugby Parc y Scarlets BBC W

Fri 17 Sep 20:05 Ulsterv Edinburgh Ravenhill BBC NI

Sat 18 Sep 19:05 Benetton Trevisov Leinster Stadio Monigo

Sat 18 Sep 18:30 Cardiff Blues v NG Dragons Cardiff City Stadium S4C

Sat 18 Sep 20:00 Munsterv Ospreys Thomond Park RTE

ROUND 4

Fri 24 Sep 19:05 Benetton Trevisov Cardiff Blues Stadio Monigo

Fri 24 Sep 19:05 Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster Murrayfield BBC ALBA

Fri 24 Sep 19:30 Glasgow Warriors v Munster Firhill Stadium

Fri 24 Sep 19:05 NG Dragons v Scarlets Rodney Parade BBC W

Sat 25 Sep 19:30 Connachtv Ulster Sportsground TG4

Sat 25 Sep 18:30 Ospreys v Aironi Rugby Liberty Stadium S4C

RAKM

It may be that some games are on more than 1 channel and the 1 listed is the host broadcaster. BBC Alba only available on sat. Either Sky other channels if not on epg or FTA system.

This is a sham of epic proportions.

Firstly you cant watch half your teams matches and then if you do see them they are in bloody scots gaelic on Alba or Irish on Tg4 what a load of bollix.

I dont even know if I would bother watching the game if I cant hear English commentary :mad:

This league is run by idiots.

For BBC ALBA On SKY:

To add channels to your "Other Channels" option, do the following -

With your digibox turned on, press the "Services" button.

Select number 4 (System Setup), and then 4 again ("Add Channels").

In the appropriate fields enter the following (you move through the fields using the up and down arrow keys).

In the Frequency field enter: 11954,

The next three fields are toggle fields, i.e. using the left and right arrows will change the value.

Toggle Polarisation to : H
Toggle Symbol Rate to: 27.5
Toggle FEC to : 2/3

Then select the last button - Find Channels.


For S4C on SKY:


To add channels to your "Other Channels" option, do the following -

With your digibox turned on, press the "Services" button.

Select number 4 (System Setup), and then 4 again ("Add Channels").

In the appropriate fields enter the following (you move through the fields using the up and down arrow keys).

In the Frequency field enter: 12129,

The next three fields are toggle fields, i.e. using the left and right arrows will change the value.

Toggle Polarisation to : V
Toggle Symbol Rate to: 27.5
Toggle FEC to : 2/3

Then select the last button - Find Channels.

Minstrel27

Malcolm Scary Plantation wrote: »

This is a sham of epic proportions.

Firstly you cant watch half your teams matches and then if you do see them they are in bloody scots gaelic on Alba or Irish on Tg4 what a load of bollix.

I dont even know if I would bother watching the game if I cant hear English commentary :mad:

This league is run by idiots.

I would certainly prefer the games to be on free television. Not everybody has Setanta.

Minstrel27

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I would certainly prefer the games to be on free television. Not everybody has Setanta.

yeah but if you are using an aerial or upc then you cant watch half of your teams matches.

for example as a Leinster fan,If I didnt have satelite then I would be able to watch 1 match out of the above 4 matches,that is not good enough.
If Im a Munster fan I can watch 2 and presumably the next round I will only be able to watch 1.

B0X

I miss Setanta already.

PhatPiggins

Malcolm Scary Plantation wrote: »

This is a sham of epic proportions.

Firstly you cant watch half your teams matches and then if you do see them they are in bloody scots gaelic on Alba or Irish on Tg4 what a load of bollix.

I dont even know if I would bother watching the game if I cant hear English commentary :mad:

This league is run by idiots.

Ever listen to the english commentary on S4C? I usually switch back to the Welsh version after 5 minutes. Just wait after 20 minutes of Ryle Nugent you'll be begging for games on TG4.

I know where you're coming from regarding Setanata though, I thought their covergae/pannel/commetary was generally very good

almighty1

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I would certainly prefer the games to be on free television. Not everybody has Setanta.

I agree. A good chunk of the games will be on RTE so we'll have Hooky and Co to look forward to afterwards.

Free matches intermittently in a different language V paying (i dont know) €20-€25 a month for Setanta. Sorry but free rugby wins hands down for me.

Minstrel27

Malcolm Scary Plantation wrote: »

yeah but if you are using an aerial or upc then you cant watch half of your teams matches.

for example as a Leinster fan,If I didnt have satelite then I would be able to watch 1 match out of the above 4 matches,that is not good enough.

Dish and FTA satellite box costs less than €100. A dish doesnt even need to go on a wall. I have had dishes hiding in shrubs

Minstrel27

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Dish and FTA satellite box costs less than €100. A dish doesnt even need to go on a wall. I have had dishes hiding in shrubs

I have access to the channels so thats not my concern,my concern is for fans who dont.They have bunny ears or UPC,they cannot get any decent coverage.

This is a capatilist world,I wish Espn or sky had just won the rights,at least then we could get decent coverage.
And I dont even have those channels,but I would watch a stream or go to the pub.
Remember you dont get anything for free,your licence fee is paying for RTE and you can watch sweet fa regarding matches.

Digifriendly

Malcolm Scary Plantation wrote: »

This is a sham of epic proportions.

Firstly you cant watch half your teams matches and then if you do see them they are in bloody scots gaelic on Alba or Irish on Tg4 what a load of bollix.

I dont even know if I would bother watching the game if I cant hear English commentary :mad:

This league is run by idiots.

Some points to make on this:
(1) Host broadcaster listed probably doesn't automatically mean that this match will only be shown by that channel e.g. Glasgow vs Leinster may well be on RTE as well as BBC Alba. We'll have to wait and see.
(2) S4C has English language alternative commentary so you don't have to listen to Welsh commentary. Admittedly TG4 doesn't have this facility but I guess there may be English subtitles.
(3) Decent aerial systems in and around Dublin and north of it should pick up BBC NI as well so you should get up to 3 games live every weekend without a satellite dish. Don't forget either that BBC2W and S4C is available via an aerial along much of the eastern seaboard.

almighty1

Malcolm Scary Plantation wrote: »

I have access to the channels so thats not my concern,my concern is for fans who dont.They have bunny ears or UPC,they cannot get any decent coverage.

This is a capatilist world,I wish Espn or sky had just won the rights,at least then we could get decent coverage.
And I dont even have those channels,but I would watch a stream or go to the pub.
Remember you dont get anything for free,your licence fee is paying for RTE and you can watch sweet fa regarding matches.

I paid my license fee last year and I didnt get any Magners League rugby. I pay the same license fee this year but I get games. I prefer to look at the half full glass.
RTE is nearly available everywhere on DTT (digital).

Digifriendly

Digifriendly wrote: »

Can't get the sense of this post for follwing reasons:
(1) Host broadcaster listed doesn't automatically mean that this match will only be shown by that channel e.g.

So you think different channels will broadcast the matches simultaneously?

No indication of this is anywhere on the magners league site and this wasnt the case last year apart from a few matches on setanta that were on the welsh channels.

Legion2008

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I would certainly prefer the games to be on free television. Not everybody has Setanta.

I do understand your point, not everyone has setanta but from my perspective this is an absolute diasaster .... I'm going from having the ability to watch 5/6 games a week on Setanta Ireland live, with english commentary and analysis to being able to watch 2 games live, one of which is in Irish ....

I'm looking at the likeilhood of streaming all the matches and possibly exceeding my broadband allowances ....

Free television doesn't exist for all, if you live in an apartment block you're not allowed put up a freeview dish ....

Digifriendly

Legion2008 wrote: »

I do understand your point, not everyone has setanta but from my perspective this is an absolute diasaster .... I'm going from having the ability to watch 5/6 games a week on Setanta Ireland live, with english commentary and analysis to being able to watch 2 games live, one of which is in Irish ....

I'm looking at the likeilhood of streaming all the matches and possibly exceeding my broadband allowances ....

Free television doesn't exist for all, if you live in an apartment block you're not allowed put up a freeview dish ....

Freesat is what you mean. Freeview is UK DTT. You make a valid point re loss of games but dare I suggest on the island of Ireland as a whole many more will now have access to matches than those who won't as RTE/TG4/BBCNI is much more watched and widely available than Setanta though that fact doesn't change your situation.

sock puppet

Malcolm Scary Plantation wrote: »

So you think different channels will broadcast the matches simultaneously?

No indication of this is anywhere on the magners league site and this wasnt the case last year apart from a few matches on setanta that were on the welsh channels.

I'm pretty sure it was agreed that broadcasters could show away games for their teams as well. I'll try and dig up a link for you.

Whether or not RTE and TG4 choose to brodcast these games is another thing.

edit: ah knew it was around somewhere http://www.magnersleague.com/teams/connacht/5365.php

All broadcasters will enjoy reciprocal feeds, so they can follow their local teams for vital away games

icdg

They'll have access to reciprocal feeds alright. The fact that it was suggested that this will only be used for "key" games means we're not sure that they will always be covered. It's possible we will be looking at a lot of Leinster/Munster away games only being shown on RTÉ.ie. It depends how much time RTÉ/TG4 can spend showing sports without annoying their other viewerships.

Looks like an Italian TV deal has yet to materialise. I would have thought Sky Italia could pick up the rights to this for peanuts but maybe they have better things to show in football-mad Italy. The point is that without an Italian deal no Treviso or Aironi home games will be on TV of any sort, full stop.

There are (excluding Leinster v Munster, of course) three times when Leinster and Munster are playing in the same time slot, I rather wish they'd avoid this (as I suspect so do the broadcasters) but I suppose sometimes its unadvoidable. They seem to have been more keen to avoid Leinster and Munster playing at home in the same weekend and the only time this has happened is on the New Year's weekend when both teams are at home.

B0X

If they're on RTE.ie that wouldnt be the worst outcome i suppose considering it's pretty good quality.

thomond2006

IIRC the ML site sometimes only show one broadcaster in the listings when in the fact there are two i.e. Setanta using the BBC/S4C feed and/or commentary.

My point is RTE might show Glasgow vs Leinster on Week 1 using the Beeb's feed.

Edit: Just saw an article on MFs saying "secondary broadcasters" to be added to the list.

thomond2006

http://www.magnersleague.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php

A quick peek on the fixtures list tells me that Leinster vs Munster (Sat 2 Oct) is on TG4, I think I'm going to get sick. :mad:

B0X

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://www.magnersleague.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php

A quick peek on the fixtures list tells me that Leinster vs Munster (Sat 2 Oct) is on TG4, I think I'm going to get sick. :mad:

Break out the irish dictionaries, now what's the irish for 5 in a row... :P

Risteard

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://www.magnersleague.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php

A quick peek on the fixtures list tells me that Leinster vs Munster (Sat 2 Oct) is on TG4, I think I'm going to get sick. :mad:

FFS.

It's bad enough that some of the games are on TG4 but probably one of the biggest in the league? Ridiculous.

Looks like I'll be going back to the old Celtic League area where I mute the telly and turn on the radio.

almighty1

Legion2008 wrote: »

Free television doesn't exist for all, if you live in an apartment block you're not allowed put up a freeview dish ....

These are just 3 I found after a quick google. Im sure you could find something that could do the job (as long as you can get a east/southeast/south view).

Also most apartment blocks now have a communal dish. If you dont Im sure your residents commitee could push to get one in.

thomond2006

Risteard wrote: »

FFS.

It's bad enough that some of the games are on TG4 but probably one of the biggest in the league? Ridiculous.

Looks like I'll be going back to the old Celtic League area where I mute the telly and turn on the radio.

I'm all for the promotion of the Irish language but this is too far...

Digifriendly

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://www.magnersleague.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php

A quick peek on the fixtures list tells me that Leinster vs Munster (Sat 2 Oct) is on TG4, I think I'm going to get sick. :mad:

If you're sick think of Scottish viewers (BBC Alba) - in fact all their matches covered in Scotland will be in Gallic! Many (not all) of the Welsh derbies are in the Welsh language on S4C even though there is alternative English commentary. Is it really a pain to have to listen to Irish? I can't understand a word of Welsh but I find no problem in watching S4C's coverage and hearing Welsh commentary though I don't understand it. At least since Irish is taught in all schools in ROI (correct me if I'm wrong) most watching will have at the very least a modicum of the language and understand much of what is being said.

RAKM

Well at least it's not on Satanta 1 like on Good Friday. I don't mind what lingo the commentary is in as I do my own anyway!

thomond2006

Digifriendly wrote: »

Think of Scottish viewers (BBC Alba) - in fact all their matches covered in Scotland will be in Gallic! Many (not all) of the Welsh derbies are in the Welsh language on S4C even though there is alternative English commentary. Is it really a pain to have to listen to Irish? I can't understand a word of Welsh but I find no problem in watching S4C's coverage and hearing Welsh commentary though I don't understand it. At least since Irish is taught in all schools in ROI (correct me if I'm wrong) most watching will have at the very least a modicum of the language and understand much of what is being said.

I have no problem with the Irish language, Christ I'd love to be able to speak it fluently. The way Irish is taught in schools is ridiculous so I came out of school (as did my classmates) with FA Irish, but that's for another forum though so I'll park that there.

Munster Leinster matches are the flagship matches of the ML IMO, the analysis and commentary should be in English. If we want to attract more fans to the ML (which will happen with FTA rugby) we need the big games to be accessible. Unfortunately with Irish it isn't. I can accept a few mickey mouse games as Gaeilge but not the biggest game of the year.

If I watch the game (and I'd say most of the posters here are like this, correct me if I'm wrong) I will have views on who played well, who didn't play well etc etc. I want to watch analysis after the game to get an alternative view from someone who knows what they are talking about (I hope ). As Gaeilge, that goes out the window and that's half the enjoyment of a match ruined for me. I don't mind the commentary as much, since I'd know most of the players anyway, but for someone who knows little about the game, they learn nothing.

Of course, I have to be thankful I'm not living in Scotland.

The language barrier could really kill the league, I think I'm actually going to miss Franno on Setanta. :eek:

Digifriendly

thomond2006 wrote: »

I have no problem with the Irish language, Christ I'd love to be able to speak it fluently. The way Irish is taught in schools is ridiculous so I came out of school (as did my classmates) with FA Irish, but that's for another forum though so I'll park that there.

Munster Leinster matches are the flagship matches of the ML IMO, the analysis and commentary should be in English. If we want to attract more fans to the ML (which will happen with FTA rugby) we need the big games to be accessible. Unfortunately with Irish it isn't. I can accept a few mickey mouse games as Gaeilge but not the biggest game of the year.

If I watch the game (and I'd say most of the posters here like this, correct me if I'm wrong) I will have views on who played well, who didn't played well etc etc. I want to watch analysis after the game to get an alternative view from someone who knows what they are talking about (I hope ). As Gaeilge, that goes out the window and that's half the enjoyment of a match ruined for me. I don't mind the commentary as much, since I'd know most of the players anyway, but for someone who knows little about the game, they learn nothing.

Of course, I have to be thankful I'm not living in Scotland.

The language barrier could really kill the league, I think I'm actually going to miss Franno on Setanta. :eek:

Very fair points and very well put. Think that RTE/TG4 should be contacted pronto as I guess many others will feel just the same. I'm just relieved I can now watch Irish derbies as for the past 6 seasons I have been unable to. But your arguments here are very cogent and powerful in fact in my view pretty irrefutable. Can I suggest you e mail them to the Irish broadcasters?

almighty1

Well I know that the ditigitization of terrestrial TV will bring extra services to RTE so perhaps the same is possible for TNAG. E.g. Like S4C you could choose the English commentary via the interactive button. And same for BBC ALBA.

Is it to be assumed that a large number of the RTE games covered will be shown online instead of through the TV?

Digifriendly

almighty1 wrote: »

Is it to be assumed that a large number of the RTE games covered will be shown online instead of through the TV?[/QUOTE]

Surely you mean as well as through TV? If RTE are broadcasting them I assume it will mean RTE will broadcast them on RTE2 and in addition (similar to BBCNI's plans) stream them online.

almighty1

Digifriendly wrote: »

almighty1 wrote: »

Is it to be assumed that a large number of the RTE games covered will be shown online instead of through the TV?[/QUOTE]

Surely you mean as well as through TV? If RTE are broadcasting them I assume it will mean RTE will broadcast them on RTE2 and in addition (similar to BBCNI's plans) stream them online.

Well it was a question really.
So its probable that the matches will be on the TV and online concurrently? The best of both worlds then really. I really must now get my digital channels up and running for Sept :rolleyes:

Minstrel27

almighty1 wrote: »

Is it to be assumed that a large number of the RTE games covered will be shown online instead of through the TV?

Why would anybody assume that?

almighty1

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Why would anybody assume that?

It was a question in relation to this comment. Perhaps he knew something more.

icdg wrote: »

T It's possible we will be looking at a lot of Leinster/Munster away games only being shown on RTÉ.ie.

thomond2006

This is taken from Munsterfans:
http://www.munsterfans.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26341&TPN=1


MAGNERS LEAGUE BROADCAST PARTNERS 2010 / 11

BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA will be the exclusive broadcaster for live Magners League rugby in Scotland for the next four years, continuing until the 2013/14 season.

Their package will provide live coverage of at least eight Edinburgh or Glasgow Warriors home games per season.

BBC ALBA has teamed up with Irish and Welsh broadcasters to also provide live coverage of selected away matches for both sides. Coverage of home matches will be provided on Friday nights.

Commentary will be in Gaelic along with expert pitchside analysis and interviews in English.

BBC ALBAis available on Sky 168 and Freesat 110, with each rugby match being made available live and on 7-day catch-up via BBC iPlayer.
For further information on BBC ALBA visit www.bbcalba.co.uk.

BBC Cymru Wales

BBC Sport Wales provides comprehensive coverage of the Magners League in both Welsh and English across its services.

On BBC Two Wales fans can enjoy live games on Friday evenings in Scrum V Live, presented by Gareth Lewis with commentary from Gareth Charles and Jonathan Davies. Digital viewers can press the red button during games for extra commentaries including the Fan Scene with Rick O'Shea.

On Sunday evenings on BBC Two Wales the Scrum V team offers Magners League fans extensive highlights, previews and analysis on all the action.

Fans can also catch up with all the latest rugby news on BBC Radio Wales' Scrum V Radio on Thursday evenings from 7.00pm.

Comprehensive coverage, including reports, updates and commentaries are carried during the year on both BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

BBC Two Walesis available in Wales on Freeview channel 2, digital satellite (Sky and Freesat) 102, and Virgin 102. Outside WalesBBC Two Walesis available on digital satellite channel 991.

BBC Radio Walesis available across Wales on 93.9-95.9, 103.7,103.9 FM and 882 MW (mid Wales1125, Clwyd 657). The station is also available on Freeview 719 and digital satellite 0117.

BBC Radio Cymruis available in Wales on 92.4-96.1, 96.8, 103.5-105 FM and is also available on digital satellite 0154 and Freeview 720

BBC Northern Ireland

BBC Northern Ireland has secured the broadcasting rights for live coverage of Magners League rugby for the next four seasons and all Ulster's home matches, as well as those away to the other Irish provinces, will be screened live on BBC Two NI.

The rest of Ulster’s away matches will be available to watch live either via the red button or online via the BBC Sport NI website – www.bbc.co.uk/sportni - if they are being covered by our partner broadcasters in Scotland, Walesand Italy.

Coverage will be presented by Stephen Watson, with Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable in the commentary box.

RTE

RTÉ Television is set to broadcast up to 40 live Magners League games this season as part of its comprehensive rugby coverage. RTÉ Sport will be broadcasting alongside TG4, ensuring Irish audiences will be able to enjoy the Irish provinces in action every week.

RTÉ’s renowned rugby panel of Tom McGurk, George Hook, Brent Pope and Conor O’Shea will be joined by some new faces as part of the live coverage on RTÉ Two. Ryle Nugent, Tony Ward, George Hamilton, Ralph Keyes, Hugh Cahill and Donal Lenihan will provide the commentary.

RTÉ will also offer fans live streaming of matches on www.RTÉ.ie within the island of Ireland, a catch up service on the RTÉ Player and coverage on RTÉ Radio.

S4C

S4C is one of the UK’s premier sports broadcasters. The Channel’s flagship rugby show Y Clwb Rygbi has live coverage of the Magners League almost every week throughout the season.

Viewers can access English subtitles and English-language commentary of live Magners League games is available on the red button on Sky. The programmes are presented by one of the UK’s strongest rugby presentation teams.

The team includes presenters Gareth Roberts, Sarra Elgan and Arthur Emyr, commentators Huw Llywelyn Davies, Wyn Gruffydd, Lyn Davies and Cennydd Davies and analysts such as former internationals Gwyn Jones, Brynmor Williams, Derwyn Jones and Gareth Edwards.

S4C is available in Wales on Sky 104, Freeview 4, Virgin 167, Freesat 104. In England, Scotlandand Northern Irelandit is available on Sky 134 and Freesat 120. Much of the coverage is also available to view on line, at www.s4c.co.uk/clic

TG4

TG4 will provide comprehensive coverage on each of the 22 Magners League weekends. Full match coverage and analysis each weekend will track the progress of the Irish provinces, home and away.

Match commentary will come from Gearóid Mac Donncha and Gary Mac Donncha, and there will be previews and full match coverage featuring all the latest enhancements , as well as half-time and post match analysis and interviews with players and coaches.

In addition to hosting live coverage from the grounds in Ireland, TG4’s rugby offering will also include the Irish provinces’ away matches.

TG4 is available nationwide on terrestrial television and on all other delivery platforms throughout Ireland (Channel 104 for UPC cable and Sky subscribers in the Republic) on channel 177 for Sky subscribers in Northern Ireland and on channel 877 for ntl: cable subscribers in Belfast.

*Always check with your local service provider for full TV listings and timings.

icdg

almighty1 wrote: »

It was a question in relation to this comment. Perhaps he knew something more.

It was more an educated guess rather than any knowledge, however RTÉ are streaming coverage. I should point out that my comment was in relation to coverage available to terrestrial or UPC viewers rather than Sky/Freesat subscribers. Huge amounts of people don't have Sky or Freesat and as already pointed out, most apartment residents can't get Freesat and may be unwilling or unable to pursaude the management company to install communal Sky.

Basically, it would be a weekend where TG4 are covering Connacht and RTÉ are already covering one of Leinster and Munster. Would RTÉ cover a second game? It would depend on their schedule and what else they have to cover but remember, unlike Setanta, RTÉ have basically only one channel to play with (these games are all being played in prime time and RTÉ is not going to devote both RTÉ One and RTÉ Two to rugby).

I'm looking at the fixture list trying to come up with a weekend this might occur, but they. The closest I can find in the first half of the season is Friday 24th September when both Leinster and Munster are away AND head-to-head, although I guess RTÉ and TG4 could cover a game each in these circumstances. However, TG4 is covering a live game (Connacht v Ulster) the following night and I wonder if they are prepared to give up prime time to rugby two nights in a row. That's the kind of weekend I'd fear we'd end up with a match (Glasgow v Munster) on RTÉ.ie only (in terms of Irish/NI coverage).

EDIT: Its likely that Glasgow v Munster match won't be on TV at all unless RTÉ fly a crew over, BBC Alba are covering the Edinburgh v Leinster game. BBC Alba's budget is about the size of Border Television's so providing live crews at two matches is likely to be beyond it.

almighty1

thomond2006 wrote: »

Match commentary will come from Gearóid Mac Donncha and Gary Mac Donncha

Are these two seperate people?

Digifriendly

almighty1 wrote: »

Are these two seperate people?

Maybe they're related to Donncha O'Callaghan!:)

ScrubsfanChris

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ryle Nugent, Tony Ward, George Hamilton, Ralph Keyes, Hugh Cahill and Donal Lenihan will provide the commentary.

And Frankie Sheehan shurely?

Most learned Rugby commentator RTE have.

Podge_irl

thomond2006 wrote: »

RTÉ’s renowned rugby panel of Tom McGurk, George Hook, Brent Pope and Conor O’Shea will be joined by some new faces as part of the live coverage on RTÉ Two. Ryle Nugent, Tony Ward, George Hamilton, Ralph Keyes, Hugh Cahill and Donal Lenihan will provide the commentary.

May God have mercy on us all...

thomond2006

Podge_irl wrote: »

May God have mercy on us all...

I would have thought many of the Setanta team would have 'defected'.

I thought wrong. I would have liked to have seen Daire O'Brien as the main host and Matt Williams as an analyst. We need an Ulster rumour mill.

Podge_irl

thomond2006 wrote: »

I would have thought many of the Setanta team would have 'defected'.

I thought wrong. I would have liked to have seen Daire O'Brien as the main host and Matt Williams as an analyst. We need an Ulster rumour mill.

Daire O'Brien was okay. Matt Williams, Emmet Byrne and Liam Toland were a league ahead of anything RTÉ have to offer. Setanta's coverage was understated but they let their panellists give their opinion and allowed informed and detailed discussion to take place. RTÉ coverage of the ML is good for the public masses but we're going to get ****e analysis and I'll miss out on hearing genuine experts explaining issues. This is pretty much what I feared when I heard RTÉ were getting the rights.

Digifriendly

Is Conor O'sHea not going to be otherwise engaged as Director of Rugby at Harlequins?