Sports rights: GAA

channelsurfer

according the the star today setanta are set to grab a package of highlights of the gaa championship games . This could mean the end of the sunday game highlights on sunday nights and bbc ulsters highlights. Very worrylingy it also mentions that next on their hitlist was champions league matches.
I said when they started up that it wouldnt be long before they grabbed pretty much all of the free to air stuff in ireland that is on terrestial tv in ireland. Looks like they are on their way to doing it. the same will happen for the premiership saturday matches they will leave rte out of the bidding next time and go alone for those highlights.
looks like We have another sky on or hands when they grabbed most of the sports rights in england when the began.

DMC

IMO, and a lot of others, The Sunday Game is to Ireland as Match of the Day is to England; an iconic programme.

So, if RTÉ had two live games on a Sunday, and then no highlights of other games? There will be uproar.

Mossy Monk

indeed
the uproar would be unbelievable. myself included

Elmo

I think RTE will put up a very big fight as they want more sports on RTE TWO.

I said when they started up that it wouldnt be long before they grabbed pretty much all of the free to air stuff in ireland that is on terrestial tv in ireland. Looks like they are on their way to doing it. the same will happen for the premiership saturday matches they will leave rte out of the bidding next time and go alone for those highlights.

Indeed someone could tell TV3 what competition is. 7 years and very little sports.
The one good thing to come from setanta is that it is willing to compete with RTE for sporting rights.

Drag00n79

Does it say in the report that they are after an exclusive highlights package? If it doesn't, I can see them having a highlights show alright — alongside RTÉ's one.

BrianD

RTE's coverage of the GAA is quite limited. Setanta may expand the amount of coverage.

DMC

In what way do you feel it is limited?

Mossy Monk

limited?

in what way, RTÉ coverage over the last 2 years especially has been far from limited

DMC

Fears unfounded, it seems....

RTÉ secures Championship TV/radio rights
http://www.rte.ie/sport/2005/0302/rights.html

RTÉ secures Championship TV/radio rights

Wednesday, March 02 2005 3:13

RTÉ Television and Radio have secured the broadcasting rights to live coverage of the Bank of Ireland Football and Guinness Hurling Championships for the next three years.

The deal, which begins with this year's Championship, ensures free-to-air access to the Championship for Irish viewers until the end of the 2007 campaign.

The agreement also includes rights to broadcast Saturday qualifiers live throughout the Championships and will see RTÉ expand its coverage to include a number of deferred matches, in addition to comprehensive live coverage. RTÉ's The Sunday Game highlights programme will also be broadcast each week as usual.

In terms of Allianz National League coverage, the agreement secured by RTÉ runs for the three seasons from 2006-2008, and includes the provision of a comprehensive television highlights programme every Sunday night, as well as exclusive national radio rights for the competition.

The managing director of RTÉ Television, Noel Curran, said: "It is clearly good news for all the parties involved, but most of all it is good news for GAA fans who again are guaranteed to be able to watch the championships on free-to-air television.

"RTÉ are keen to continually develop our GAA coverage and last season's innovations in the format of The Sunday Game are a clear illustration of that. We very much look forward to working closely with the GAA and building our partnership into the future."

RTÉ's director-general, Cathal Goan, added: "Gaelic games are a central part of the cultural life of Ireland and they have always been of paramount importance to RTÉ. The provision of such comprehensive GAA coverage across both media platforms is public service broadcasting in its essence."

TG4 has been given the live rights for Allianz National League games played on Sundays and will also show the league semi-finals and finals live. The Irish language station will also hold the rights to live Club Championship games played on Sundays.

Setanta Sports has secured the live rights to Friday and Saturday night games in the Allianz Leagues and Saturday games in the AIB Club Championships. In addition, the station will also carry highlights and deferred coverage of games in the Bank of Ireland Football and Guinness Hurling Championships.

GAA President Sean Kelly welcomed the new deal and said: "Gaelic games receive substantially more television coverage now than at any time in their history. We appreciate the various channels for their continued interest in our games and we hope that the allocation of rights for the next three years will substantially benefit all parties involved."

He went on to say that weekend coverage will be confined to two live and one deferred game per weekend for the League season and three live and one deferred game per weekend during the Championship to prevent over exposure and to avoid impacting on games programmes at club level.

celticfc

Great stuff

Mossy Monk

phew

great news and there will be even more

DMC

Its a good deal, thats for sure.

But no news on a BBC/UTV deal yet?