GAA in indo today say HD is a must, does that mean TG4 will beforced to go HD for all

swoofer

An article in the indo today, says GAA dropped TV3 because no HD and Hurling requires HD!! surprise surprise, does that mean TG4 will be forced to go HD for all of the country and not just UPC areas?

I really hope so.

lertsnim

I doubt it. Will they force Sky to make Sports 3 HD available to all providers? Not a hope.

byte

Could you believe anything in the Sindo though?

I had thought Sky offered more than TV3, hence winning the rights. Not that GAA dropped TV3 coz they didn't have HD. Mind you, TV3 are barely SD, more like a crap internet stream.

The Cush

First it was the diaspora, now HD. Will they ever admit it was just about the money?

STB

That article also said that the availability of TV3 in the 32 counties was also taken into account. This was never a consideration in the past. Neither was it a requirement to broadcast in HD. Sky 3 most certainly wont.

All of these leaks to the press combined with the handling of the whole saga by the commercial director, the GAA president and their PR people has been one monumental fúckup.

One might not be wrong in coming to the conclusion that the real reason to put the 14 championship games behind a pay wall was to put manners on the terrestrial broadcasters in Ireland for future deals.

It is now widely being reported that the difference between TV3's pitch and Sky's pitch was €1m extra. This was the GAA's response with regard to the extra money being generated that would be available for players. None, because of the minimal amount of extra money collected.

Whats the cost of taking the viewing rights off Irish people on this Island ? A minimal amount of money - €1m. In order for Irish people to get back that viewing right it will cost them individually, up to €70 a go. Its the equivelant of debt selling, all for our national sport. The founders of the GAA would be spinning in their graves if they knew what this muppet show were up to.

Never underestimate the greed, ignorance and power of overpaid GAA directors, totally out of sync with the grassroots of the game.

That is why you are seeing these stories starting to miraculously appear in the rags. Window dressing. Unfortunately they have tied themselves up in circles. The Irish people arent thick at the end of the day and can see a stroke a mile off. Sadly they are the losers.

Onthe3rdDay

HD was one reason that could be used against TV3. The picture was truly awful especially when you compare to RTE2 HD. SKY may have been paying a million more but they're getting 6 more matches plus the semi final and final. So in real terms there's not that much extra going into the vault.

However, I think the real reason the GAA went with SKY, is that they don't think TV3 will be around in 18 months. If TV3 go bankrupt in 2015 they won't be paying any installment for rights purchased. You'd have a an ITV digital Situation. Then people would complain why didn't the GAA make a deal with someone else.

watty

Yes, I bet that's it, they are worried TV3 might fold even before UTV launches.
Technically they are bust.