New Tv Deal RTE/Skysports

Awesomeness

New deal agreed with bith RTE and Skysports to Show November tests.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/28227.php

Good job by IRFU here. Keep all games on Irish TV, increase the number of games with u20s etc and get a few extra quid from Skysports in the process

bilston

Awesomeness wrote: »

New deal agreed with bith RTE and Skysports to Show November tests.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/28227.php

Good job by IRFU here. Keep all games on Irish TV, increase the number of games with u20s etc and get a few extra quid from Skysports in the process

This is interesting. It doesn't affect me as I have Sky but Sky do have a habit of switching RTE off in NI if RTE are showing the same thing as Sky (ie CL football).

I wonder if they'll switch RTE off in NI when Ireland are playing. If they do then effectively rugby fans in NI will have to pay Sky Sports to watch Ireland while those in ROI will just have to continue to watch on RTE paying via their license fee.

Digifriendly

bilston wrote: »

This is interesting. It doesn't affect me as I have Sky but Sky do have a habit of switching RTE off in NI if RTE are showing the same thing as Sky (ie CL football).

I wonder if they'll switch RTE off in NI when Ireland are playing. If they do then effectively rugby fans in NI will have to pay Sky Sports to watch Ireland while those in ROI will just have to continue to watch on RTE paying via their license fee.

3 points to make here:
(1) Very little rugby has been blacked out on RTE to date (mostly soccer) though this could change as you indicate.Will be interesting to see.
(2) Saorview is now available to vast majority of viewers in NI. Strength of signal was much improved at DSO last October.
(3) I presume this means BBC no longer have rights to Irish autumn tests. This further denudes BBC's decreasing portfolio of sports coverage. In international rugby terms they're left with live coverage of Wales/Scotland in autumn and highlights of England's autumn tests as well as live 6 Nations.

bilston

Digifriendly wrote: »

3 points to make here:
(1) Very little rugby has been blacked out on RTE to date (mostly soccer) though this could change as you indicate.Will be interesting to see.
(2) Saorview is now available to vast majority of viewers in NI. Strength of signal was much improved at DSO last October.
(3) I presume this means BBC no longer have rights to Irish autumn tests. This further denudes BBC's decreasing portfolio of sports coverage.In international rugby terms they're left with live coverage of Wales/Scotland in autumn and highlights of England's autumn tests as well as 6 Nations..

But Sky only seem to black out RTE in NI if soemthing they have the rights to is being shown on RTE. This hasn't applied to rugby before as far as I know. Still as you say Saorview is available to most anyway.

Regards the Beebs rugby portfolio are the Welsh and Scottish rights up for re-negotiation as well. Sky have also announced that they have bought the rights to Italian and French AIs (and obviously they have England's already) as well so they will now have 4 of the 6 European nations November tests on their books, I would have thought they would fancy the whole lot especially given they've lost the Premiership rights.

Are the AIs on the protected list? If not I wouldn't be surprised if Sky got exclusive rights next time round. People will complain BUT if the IRFU want to keep the Jonny Sexton's of this world in Ireland then maybe that's the bitter pill that rugby fans will have to swallow.

totallegend

bilston wrote: »

Are the AIs on the protected list?

Nope. In fact, no live rugby is.

This seems like a win-win for IRFU (so long as the matches are still free to air in the North), extra cash for no extra work = no-brainer.

For those of us with Sky Sports, it's something to flick over to when Hook gets up on his ill-informed high horse.

Good job.

jacothelad

The IRFU can hardly agree to a deal that excludes N.I. It's our Union also, not the R.O.I.s

JustinDee

jacothelad wrote: »

The IRFU can hardly agree to a deal that excludes N.I. It's our Union also, not the R.O.I.s

It doesn't exclude Northern Ireland. RTE however cannot be included in a deal involving the Northern Irish market, which obviously lies within the UK.

BeardySi

JustinDee wrote: »

It doesn't exclude Northern Ireland. RTE however cannot be included in a deal involving the Northern Irish market, which obviously lies within the UK.

Which they broadcast to via freeview since this year... (as opposed to having their channels carried by a third party - ie. Sky)...

totallegend

JustinDee wrote: »

It doesn't exclude Northern Ireland. RTE however cannot be included in a deal involving the Northern Irish market, which obviously lies within the UK.

Well that's not quite true is it, since RTE already accesses the NI market via Sky, Freeview and web streams.

A couple of very, very simple questions arise here:

1. If someone is accessing RTE in the North via a Sky dish, will RTE be blacked out during the matches?
2. If someone is accessing RTE in the North via Freeview, will RTE be blacked out during the matches?
3. Currently, Ireland rugby matches are available via live streaming across the 32 counties; will IP addresses in the North still be able to access the feed?

lertsnim

totallegend wrote: »

A couple of very, very simple questions arise here:

1. If someone is accessing RTE in the North via a Sky dish, will RTE be blacked out during the matches?
2. If someone is accessing RTE in the North via Freeview, will RTE be blacked out during the matches?
3. Currently, Ireland rugby matches are available via live streaming across the 32 counties; will IP addresses in the North still be able to access the feed?

I would be very surprised if RTÉ did not get broadcasting rights for the whole island of Ireland. The IRFU wouldn't be that stupid surely.

An email to RTÉ or the IRFU might get you your answer.

Digifriendly

totallegend wrote: »

Well that's not quite true is it, since RTE already accesses the NI market via Sky, Freeview and web streams.

A couple of very, very simple questions arise here:

1. If someone is accessing RTE in the North via a Sky dish, will RTE be blacked out during the matches?
2. If someone is accessing RTE in the North via Freeview, will RTE be blacked out during the matches?
3. Currently, Ireland rugby matches are available via live streaming across the 32 counties; will IP addresses in the North still be able to access the feed?

1. Hard to know for IRFU covers the whole of the island and RTE's rights could be for the whole of the island. If not the Ireland matches will probably be blacked out.
2. If the matches are blacked out on Sky they will undoubtedly be blacked out via NI mini-mux on Freeview. Interestingly Home and Away is blacked out on NI mini-mux Freeview but clear via Sky.
3.One would hope so but we'll have to wait and see I guess.

Kayless

I think it's disgraceful that we are being made to pay to watch or own country play I know N Ireland part of the UK but we also live in Ulster one of the provinces represented by the IRFU so to exclude people in the North would be really unfair.

Was actually thinking about getting about getting a new HD box for the ROI football match's till I saw this on the NIgov website

"Some programmes, including certain sport and films, may not be broadcast owing to rights restrictions"

The whole N.Ireland is part of the UK thing suits bskyb down to the ground as they know half of the population will want to watch ROI and the other half will want to watch the AIs that = around 1 million customers who wouldn't otherwise want sky sports, like I said disgraceful!

Kristopherus

totallegend wrote: »

Nope. In fact, no live rugby is.

This seems like a win-win for IRFU (so long as the matches are still free to air in the North), extra cash for no extra work = no-brainer.

For those of us with Sky Sports, it's something to flick over to when Hook gets up on his ill-informed high horse.

Good job.

Whatever warts George has, the RTE panellists are miles ahead of the Sky nancy-boys:).

icdg

totallegend wrote: »

Nope. In fact, no live rugby is.

Ireland's games (but only Ireland's) in the Rugby World Cup are, as demonstrated in the RWC 2011 when Ireland's games (for which the rights were held by Setanta) had to be sold to RTÉ. Ireland's games in the Six Nations consist of the entirety of the "B" list, they must be offered to free to air stations for delayed coverage. There is however absolutely no protection for the autumn or summer test series (indeed Sky usually gets exclusive rights to Ireland's summer tours though these are presumably sold on a one-off basis by the host unions).

RTÉ could have obtained the NI rights, we don't know. There is no law stopping them from doing so or saying that the NI rights *must* go to a UK domicilled broadcaster. Eurosport, a French based company, has the UK rights to plenty of sports (if no rugby union) and indeed closer to home Sky, a UK based company, holds the Irish rights to plenty of sports including the Heineken Cup.

totallegend

icdg wrote: »

Ireland's games (but only Ireland's) in the Rugby World Cup are, as demonstrated in the RWC 2011 when Ireland's games (for which the rights were held by Setanta) had to be sold to RTÉ. Ireland's games in the Six Nations consist of the entirety of the "B" list, they must be offered to free to air stations for delayed coverage. There is however absolutely no protection for the autumn or summer test series (indeed Sky usually gets exclusive rights to Ireland's summer tours though these are presumably sold on a one-off basis by the host unions)..

Yes, you're correct of course, thanks.

icdg wrote: »

RTÉ could have obtained the NI rights, we don't know. There is no law stopping them from doing so or saying that the NI rights *must* go to a UK domicilled broadcaster. Eurosport, a French based company, has the UK rights to plenty of sports (if no rugby union) and indeed closer to home Sky, a UK based company, holds the Irish rights to plenty of sports including the Heineken Cup.

It's not about RTE being legally prevented from obtaining NI rights, it's about whether Sky would have sought exclusivity. They're not generally in the habit of sharing TV rights with their competitors.

So the big question is whether IRFU have signed a deal which will deny FTA access to fans in the north. We'll just have to see how it develops.

jacothelad

JustinDee wrote: »

It doesn't exclude Northern Ireland. RTE however cannot be included in a deal involving the Northern Irish market, which obviously lies within the UK.

So it doesn't exclude N.I but you just can't see the games as they are ....err....excluded. That's o.k. then.

thomond2006

jacothelad wrote: »

So it doesn't exclude N.I but you just can't see the games as they are ....err....excluded. That's o.k. then.

I can see the headline now:

Hugh Farrelly: "Good for Irish Rugby that Northern Ireland can't see games for free"

lertsnim

Kayless wrote: »

Was actually thinking about getting about getting a new HD box for the ROI football match's till I saw this on the NIgov website

"Some programmes, including certain sport and films, may not be broadcast owing to rights restrictions"

This isn't the case though if you can get Saorview. 80% of Northern Ireland can receive it. Saorsat is also another FTA option and that covers all of Northern Ireland.

totallegend

lertsnim wrote: »

This isn't the case though if you can get Saorview. 80% of Northern Ireland can receive it. Saorsat is also another FTA option and that covers all of Northern Ireland.

But you need a separate box. Saorview is in MPEG4 format which is not compatible with the UK Freeview boxes or TVs.

lertsnim

It will work on Freeview HD tv's and boxes

totallegend

lertsnim wrote: »

It will work on Freeview HD tv's and boxes

Fair enough so. This business of getting TV through anything other than a cable in the ground is a mystery to me.

Genuine question here, is that 80% saorview coverage by geography or by population? Because if it's geography and the 20% not covered includes Belfast, then we're back to square one.

All irrelevant if the RTE freeview feed is still ok of course.

Digifriendly

totallegend wrote: »

Fair enough so. This business of getting TV through anything other than a cable in the ground is a mystery to me.

Genuine question here, is that 80% saorview coverage by geography or by population? Because if it's geography and the 20% not covered includes Belfast, then we're back to square one.

All irrelevant if the RTE freeview feed is still ok of course.

Most of Belfast can pick up Saorview but there are blackspots e.g. parts of East Belfast blocked by Castlereagh Hills, parts of West Belfast in shadow of Black Mountain and those in North Belfast blocked by Cavehill/Carnmoney etc. The NI Freeview mini-mux (RTE via Black Mountain/Carnmoney transmitters) was specifically introduced to serve these parts. However if the rugby is blacked out due to UK rights issues then Saorsat is the only solution for rugby viewers in these parts.

Digifriendly

This new deal between IRFU and Sky was referred to on Radio Ulster this morning and it clearly inferred that as with ROI's soccer internationals so with Ireland's rugby Autumn Internationals i.e. there will be a blacking out on RTE for viewers in NI via satellite and local mini-mux. So rugby fans north of the border will either have to receive Saorview/Saorsat or have a Sky sports subscription to see these games live.

bilston

Digifriendly wrote: »

This new deal between IRFU and Sky was referred to on Radio Ulster this morning and it clearly inferred that as with ROI's soccer internationals so with Ireland's rugby Autumn Internationals i.e. there will be a blacking out on RTE for viewers in NI via satellite and local mini-mux. So rugby fans north of the border will either have to receive Saorview/Saorsat or have a Sky sports subscription to see these games live.

Well as I said before I have Sky so it won't affect me but this seems ridiculous that NI rugby fans (not all because of Saorview) will have to pay Sky to watch Ireland and viewers in the Republic won't.

Won't play our players, won't fly our flag, now won't let us watch the games...;)

That last sentence was intended as a joke and not meant to create outrage on here...

jacothelad

bilston wrote: »

Well as I said before I have Sky so it won't affect me but this seems ridiculous that NI rugby fans (not all because of Saorview) will have to pay Sky to watch Ireland and viewers in the Republic won't.

Won't play our players, won't fly our flag, now won't let us watch the games...;)

That last sentence was intended as a joke and not meant to create outrage on here...

Personally it won't affect me as I also have Sky but the principle is that we are all in this together, equal partners as it were. Shamefully, we've been kicked in the balls again by a bunch of self serving scrotes. You are right though, we do get the ****ty end of the stick though they can fly a 'fleg' with Gerry Adams on it for all I care and start the game with 'Phil the Fluters Ball' We don't get any Wolfhounds games or U20 games played here as it is. Imagine if the situation was the other way round and the IRFU had concluded a deal which gave free to air games to N.I. while R.o.I citizens had to pay to watch their own team. The outrage would be along the lines of Paisley being elected President for Life. F*ck them. If it is the case that we are now not even worthy of consideration in any regard the Ulster Branch needs to take some sort of action on our behalf. I hope they give Kidney a 12 year deal. As Mrs Brown would say, "Useless baxtards." or words to that effect.

themont85

Perks of freedom yo;)

.ak

jacothelad wrote: »

I hope they give Kidney a 12 year deal. As Mrs Brown would say, "Useless baxtards." or words to that effect.

Don't be so cruel.

jacothelad

themont85 wrote: »

Perks of freedom yo;)

I'll see your freedom perk and raise you one Angela Merkel Is it a case of IRFU Uber Alles and f*£k you mate perhaps?

Disgraceful.

A game always heralded as crossing the divide, introducing a divide.

Shambolic from the IRFU.

themont85

The IRFU know they would have a **** storm if they sold the rights in the south. The NI Government are less likely to intrude as the NI football team have already been sold off to Sky.

It also comes down to what is strategically important to the broadcasters. RTÉ may well have been willing to beat and match what Sky were willing to pay. A downsizing BBC Sports department aren't.

Not the best situation but at least there is a FTA option for most people on the island.

themont85

themont85 wrote: »

The IRFU know they would have a **** storm if they sold the rights in the south on the Island. The NI Government are less likely to intrude as the NI football team have already been sold off to Sky.

It also comes down to what is strategically important to the broadcasters. RTÉ may well have been willing to beat and match what Sky were willing to pay. A downsizing BBC Sports department aren't.

Not the best situation but at least there is a FTA option for most people on the island.

They have sold the rights to watch the Irish Rugby team in Ireland.

Whatever about any political ****e, that's what's happened.

Can of worms blasted open.

Edit: Surely BBC are irrelevant here. RTÉ is available in the North, and should not be blocked whatsoever for these games. It's that simple.

OldRio

I would like the IRFU to explain this cock up.
What an utter feck up.

totallegend

OldRio wrote: »

I would like the IRFU to explain this cock up.
What an utter feck up.

Let's play "write your own IRFU press release" boys and girls!

Seriously though, it will be along the lines of

• The international game funds the sport in this country
• Great opportunity to build a relationship with a new broadcast partner
• Well, if you want us to keep the best players in Ireland, this is the price you have to pay
• Six Nations is still free, what are you b*tching about?

Which is all fair enough, but none of it answers the question as to how it's OK to have the games FTA in the Republic and not in the north.

thomond2006

Is RTE free-to-air in Northern Ireland?

If yes, I'd like to think the IRFU got assurances that RTÉ would not be geoblocked in NI. If they didn't, then this is a colossal feck up.

totallegend

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is RTE free-to-air in Northern Ireland?
.

Yes, via Freeview HD, i.e. not if you have a standard Freeview box/tv. The Saorview signal covers most of NI too, but again you need compatible equipment.

thomond2006 wrote: »

If yes, I'd like to think the IRFU got assurances that RTÉ would not be geoblocked in NI. If they didn't, then this is a colossal feck up.

It appears not.

bilston

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is RTE free-to-air in Northern Ireland?

If yes, I'd like to think the IRFU got assurances that RTÉ would not be geoblocked in NI. If they didn't, then this is a colossal feck up.

I don't think we'll know the extent of it until November 2014 when the games are actually played.

A lot of people probably don't even know the deal has happened. I can just see it now, thousands of rugby fans in NI switching on BBC 1 on a Saturday afternoon in November 2014 to watch Ireland play the All Blacks only to be met by the sight on Julie Andrews and a bunch of kids running into the mountains singing songs to get a way from the Nazis!

Digifriendly

bilston wrote: »

I don't think we'll know the extent of it until November 2014 when the games are actually played.

A lot of people probably don't even know the deal has happened. I can just see it now, thousands of rugby fans in NI switching on BBC 1 on a Saturday afternoon in November 2014 to watch Ireland play the All Blacks only to be met by the sight on Julie Andrews and a bunch of kids running into the mountains singing songs to get a way from the Nazis!

I have the feeling this story will run for some time and by Nov. 2014 most rugby viewers will know the score to use a pun. Maybe if a storm is kicked up the games may not be geo blocked although I somehow doubt it. We need to contact IRFU making the point that it is an all Ireland team playing and IRFU covers NI at least in rugby terms. If geo bocked this will cause great annoyance to rugby fans without Saorview/Saorsat.

themont85

Deleted User wrote: »

They have sold the rights to watch the Irish Rugby team in Ireland.

Whatever about any political ****e, that's what's happened.

Can of worms blasted open.

Edit: Surely BBC are irrelevant here. RTÉ is available in the North, and should not be blocked whatsoever for these games. It's that simple.

I'm just pointing out some of the reasons as to why it has happened. It's not "political ****e", it's the reality of the situation.

themont85

themont85 wrote: »

I'm just pointing out some of the reasons as to why it has happened. It's not "political ****e", it's the reality of the situation.

you seem to be neglecting to realise that Northern Ireland is in Ireland.

And that the IRFU is the Irish Rugby Football Union

The political divide of the countries of ROI and NI is irrelevant in the above two sentences.

jacothelad

Deleted User wrote: »

you seem to be neglecting to realise that Northern Ireland is in Ireland.

And that the IRFU is the Irish Rugby Football Union

The political divide of the countries of ROI and NI is irrelevant in the above two sentences.

It seems some at Lansdowne seem to think that it's the Republic of Ireland Rugby Football Union.

themont85

Deleted User wrote: »

you seem to be neglecting to realise that Northern Ireland is in Ireland.

And that the IRFU is the Irish Rugby Football Union

The political divide of the countries of ROI and NI is irrelevant in the above two sentences.

You seem to be ignoring what I posted.

Which is reasons why the IRFU thought they could get away with it. Simple. Stop having an emotional strop over reasons behind a decision.

themont85

themont85 wrote: »

You seem to be ignoring what I posted.

Which is reasons why the IRFU thought they could get away with it. Simple. Stop having an emotional strop over reasons behind a decision.

What?

You have given some reasons why the decision could have been made.

I've pointed out how ****ing absurd it is to even consider "the decision".

themont85

Deleted User wrote: »

What?

You have given some reasons why the decision could have been made.

I've pointed out how ****ing absurd it is to even consider "the decision".

Yes you are getting really emotional over someone pointing out the reasoning behind a decision, right or wrong. If X closes Y hospital, there will be reasons behind that decision even if people don't agree with the decision.

.ak

Folks take a breath, attack the post not the poster.

lertsnim

totallegend wrote: »

The Saorview signal covers most of NI too, but again you need compatible equipment.

We need compatible equipment here too.

totallegend

lertsnim wrote: »

We need compatible equipment here too.

Yep, all discussed in the part of my post that you selectively deleted when you quoted me. Nice one.

totallegend

Given the news that has come out this evening, I thought it might be worth bumping this thread. Mods, if that's not allowed, please delete this.

I, for one, would like to retract the compliments I paid to the IRFU on the first page.

justsomebloke

Closing this off as there were 2 other active threads on this so no need for another one