Sky wants to broadcast our leaders debate "around the world"

darkman2

Sky News expresses interest in broadcasting leaders’ debate

By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

SKY News has joined the race to broadcast a live leaders’ debate in the run-up to the general election.





Sky’s political editor Adam Boulton confirmed the Rupert Murdoch outlet is competing to air the head-to-head debates with RTÉ, TV3 and potentially TG4.

Highlighting the extreme international interest in this country’s recent political implosion, the potential programme will be aired live across all Sky News outlets.

As a result, coverage will stretch as far as far as Israel, Australia and north America. Speaking on RTÉ’s 2fm, Mr Boulton said the plan at this stage is only a proposal.

He said should the show go ahead, it is almost certain to involve a five-way tussle between the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and the Greens.

"I certainly make of it that it is a very difficult time for the Irish people, and that has a knock-on effect for the rest of us," the senior Sky New correspondent told interviewer Ryan Tubridy.

"We would broadcast it globally, to our general audience. The focus of our coverage is the UK and Ireland but we have many international viewers as well," he said.

Boulton has been put forward for the potential leaders debate as he chaired a similar discussion between British party leaders Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg last year, though he admits to not being an expert on Irish politics.

The channel’s political editor said he will step aside from the likely role if any of Ireland’s parties wished.

RTÉ, which held the leaders’ debate in 2007 chaired by Miriam O’Callaghan, has yet to confirm its general election coverage arrangements.

TV3 has also announced leaders’ debate plans, which will involve a three-way tussle between the largest parties based on the number of TDs held.

It will give the two smaller parties "air time" on current affairs programme Tonight With Vincent Browne.

A debate on Irish-language channel TG4 has also been mooted but has yet to be confirmed.



This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Read more: http://examiner.ie/ireland/sky-news-expresses-interest-in-broadcasting-leaders-debate-143265.html#ixzz1CFq0L0C6

Oh dear God - this cannot end well. Kenny :eek: , Gilmore, Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, Martin and Gormley on the international stage. Tis sure to lift the mood of the planet to know there are such competent people in politics;)

Mark200

sky news will do an actual debate though. RTE's 'debate' last time was just a two-way interview. It was cringey.

hondasam

something to look forward to.

darragh16

"BREAKING NEWS: Gerry Adams refuses to attend the leaders debate due to republican committments"

TheZohanS

Well they haven't seen a hole dug as deep as this since the Chilean miners.

darkman2

TheZohan wrote: »

Well they haven't seen a hole dug as deep as this since the Chilean miners.

whoopdedoo

CHRIST!! :eek:

mikom

Comedy Central expresses interest in broadcasting leaders’ debate

ejmaztec

TheZohan wrote: »

Well they haven't seen a hole dug as deep as this since the Chilean miners.

Adam Boulton's good at digging holes.:pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gkHwU4DRA8

barnaclebill

Sepp Blatter can start the chorus of laughter and the rest of the world can join in! Enda Kenny will be the most embarassing taoiseach in this country

Hogzy

If Sky News end up covering the debate they will do so from an international stand point which will be useless for us. If RTE do it they will focus more on national issues when discussing it afterwards.

I really cannot see politicans agreeing to allow sky cover it.

darkman2

mikom wrote: »

Comedy Central expresses interest in broadcasting leaders’ debate

They should get John Stewart to host it...

El Horseboxo

Press the red button to kill them all.

bonerm

I can see it now.

darkman2

This would look amazing in Sky HD.

Sanjuro

Jesus. Have we not been embarrassed enough over the last month?

KeithAFC

darkman2 wrote: »

Oh dear God - this cannot end well. Kenny :eek: , Gilmore, Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, Martin and Gormley on the international stage. Tis sure to lift the mood of the planet to know there are such competent people in politics;)

I think the Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead has a good chance of winning this debate.

skywalker

Is it just me or does this seem like a microcosm of the different attitudes & ways of doing business in general in the two countries. Sky are right in there with a professional proposal of what they'd like to do, inclusive of everyone, presenter in mind, & broadcasting globally. Surely this is the only way to have a debate like this?

RTE havent a fecking clue what they want yet. TV3 have already decided to exclude(or at best marginalise) 2 parties. & the parties themselves cant agree as to whether they want multiple debates with various parties involved in each. . . .FOR FECK SAKE. Why is everything so hard in this country?

1 debate, everyone involved. Impartial knowledgable person chairing it. Is it that difficult?

TheZohanS

Hogzy wrote: »

If Sky News end up covering the debate they will do so from an international stand point which will be useless for us. If RTE do it they will focus more on national issues when discussing it afterwards.

I really cannot see politicans agreeing to allow sky cover it.

SKY will do it in conjunction with RTÈ.


The latter will probably cut short their coverage of the debate anyhow is it's handy to have a backup.

squod

All of our esteemed, honest, selfless leaders in the one place at the one time. Sounds like great fun! In fact eh.....Hope they have a blast.

jimthemental

Oh Jesus, it'll be like when your parents show your baby photos where you run around the kitchen pissing on everything or eating a battery to girls you bring home. Embarrassment on a global scale here people!

Biggins

darkman2 wrote: »

Oh dear God - this cannot end well. Kenny :eek: , Gilmore, Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, Martin and Gormley on the international stage. Tis sure to lift the mood of the planet to know there are such competent people in politics;)

LOL - Lets Get Jackie Healy Rea on. That would be the icing on the cake!

ejmaztec

barnaclebill wrote: »

Sepp Blatter can start the chorus of laughter and the rest of the world can join in! Enda Kenny will be the most embarassing taoiseach in this country

You've obviously never heard of Brian Cowen.

Skid

Sky have a bit of a cheek doing this after they dropped their Irish News bulletins a few years ago.

We have enough Irish stations to do plenty of debates.

KeithAFC

Will Gerry Adams turn up?

Degag

Looking forward to the Sky News presenter pronouncing Micheál and Eamon wrong.

mconigol

Don't worry. They'll probably talk such incomprehensible ****e the rest of the world will naturally assume that they are simply not progressive enough to understand the musings of such fine philosophers....right?? :pac:

Mark200

SkidMark wrote: »

Sky have a bit of a cheek doing this after they dropped their Irish News bulletins a few years ago.

They dropped it because it was getting less than 200 viewers.

KeithAFC

Will Gerry go into one of his Irish language acts he does like Derek Acorah does when calling up spirits.

up them Schteps

As embarrising as it will be on an international stage, I have more confidence in Sky News handling our debates than RTE!

whydoibother?

El Horseboxo wrote: »

Press the red button to kill them all.

Very good.:D

On a serious note though, I think it's a great idea. Let's see how they handle it.
It may be taken more seriously knowing it's going out all over the world. It could raise their game. Us voters could benefit from a higher quality of debate.

happyoutscan

barnaclebill wrote: »

Sepp Blatter can start the chorus of laughter and the rest of the world can join in! Enda Kenny will be the most embarassing taoiseach in this country

Why do you think? Worse than Cowen? Doubtful.

Minstrel27

Sky News should be told to go **** themselves. They do not pay a cent to the Irish taxman.

Celly Smunt

KeithAFC wrote: »

Will Gerry Adams turn up?

nah he'll just give them half a century to GTFO

Son Of A Vidic

Anyone except RTE would do nicely.

Wolfe Tone

KeithAFC wrote: »

I think the Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead has a good chance of winning this debate.

KeithAFC wrote: »

Will Gerry Adams turn up?

KeithAFC wrote: »

Will Gerry go into one of his Irish language acts he does like Derek Acorah does when calling up spirits.

Transparent stuff here Keith!

DB10

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Transparent stuff here Keith!

Keith's obsession with Adams and SF is really sad tbh. What sort of life can the man have when he sits by his computer ever day waiting for SF related threads to pop up so he can spread his vitroil.

How he hasn't been banned yet is a mystery, then again it justs backs up the claims the modmins want this to be a west brit site.

charlemont

Id say they will advertise the debate as a COMEDY. But the joke is on us.

newballsplease

should look something like this.......

opinion guy

SkidMark wrote: »

Sky have a bit of a cheek doing this after they dropped their Irish News bulletins a few years ago.

We have enough Irish stations to do plenty of debates.

Mark200 wrote: »

They dropped it because it was getting less than 200 viewers.

THey made the right decisions dropping the Irish news bulletins. They were godawful cringeworthy stuff

TanG411

I for one am delighted that Sky are doing this. It will get Ireland back on the political map, and provide a big boost to the economy. *Optimism*.

Minstrel27

DerangedDreamer wrote: »

I for one am delighted that Sky are doing this. It will get Ireland back on the political map, and provide a big boost to the economy. *Optimism*.

Sky paying tax from Irish viewers to the Irish state instead of all of it to the UK government would probably help the economy too.

Cantona's Collars

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Sky paying tax from Irish viewers to the Irish state instead of all of it to the UK government would probably help the economy too.

If we got back all the money the likes of Harney etc. squandered the economy would boom again.Wouldn't need Sky to pay tax here then.
I think Jackie Healy Rea should take part-imagine the poor fecker trying to type the subtitles.

SEPT 23 1989

They could have a tournament of debates to rival the World Cup,countries adopting different politicians for the duration of the event.Big screens erected in every major city across the world so the hoards of passionate,drunken fans can watch and hang on every word of the potential new leaders of this once great Republic

Tigger

tell rupert whatever we did we're sorry now please don't.

mikemac

Sky News?

They'd probably interrupt the leaders debate for some breaking news as Kate and William have decided on their floral arrangements or something trivial

ilovesleep

Coverage about this on Sky would be great. RTE are crap. When will this be on.

orourkeda

Jay Leno could have a field day with this baby

Liam Byrne

Adam Boulton was on with Matt Cooper earlier and said that it'd be very useful for Irish overseas to see it on Sky before they voted.

If the guy doesn't even realise that this country has different laws to his (i.e. overseas voting, among other things), how the hell could he chair a debate ?

Idiot!