The coverage of football/hurling on this week's 6.01 RTE News and Sport has gone beyond a joke. There are 5 notable sports events in coming days, 4 competitive fixtures and 1 friendly. So can anyone explain to me why RTE has given priority to the friendly fixture every night this week on the 6.01 News and Sport. Here are the facts.
On Monday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 5th.
On Tuesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA not covered at all.
On Wednesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 6th and last.
On Thursday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 3rd and last.
And remember this is the week of the All-Ireland Hurling Final and the Football semi-final replay both to be covered live by RTE. Yet they are giving priority to a Rugby Union friendly which RTE isn't even showing live. Never has RTE's rugby bias been more obvious.

mediaman (Antrim) - Posts: 355 - 03/09/2015 21:34:28    1781695

Michael Lyster appeared on the George Hook show last Friday.

He spoke of the contract between the RTE & the GAA being up for renewal. He said the recent comments by the GAA President about the Sunday Game were with the contract in mind.

So a lot of mind games may be going on now with Sky on the horizon.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 04/09/2015 08:32:57    1781728

last weekend we had 82,300 in croke park
the largest sporting event in the world last weekend
inside 7 days at three games we will have almost a quarter of a million people attending these three gaa games
what other country in the world would be focusing on the negatives got to do with their sport
pulling in attendances like that
and to add in the fact its an amature sport
media and tv in ireland should be shouting it from the roof tops
but doesnt it just show that we dont have our own media really its only showing what its told to

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 04/09/2015 10:19:09    1781822

03/09/2015 21:34:28 mediaman
The coverage of football/hurling on this week's 6.01 RTE News and Sport has gone beyond a joke. There are 5 notable sports events in coming days, 4 competitive fixtures and 1 friendly. So can anyone explain to me why RTE has given priority to the friendly fixture every night this week on the 6.01 News and Sport. Here are the facts.
On Monday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 5th.
On Tuesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA not covered at all.
On Wednesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 6th and last.
On Thursday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 3rd and last.
And remember this is the week of the All-Ireland Hurling Final and the Football semi-final replay both to be covered live by RTE. Yet they are giving priority to a Rugby Union friendly which RTE isn't even showing live. Never has RTE's rugby bias been more obvious. Rugby World Cup is about to begin. Ireland have genuine shot at doing well. Coverage will be high on the agenda about the world cup.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 04/09/2015 10:21:10    1781825

GAA is the biggest sporting event on this weekend without a doubt (from an Irish perspective). RTE have always built up rugby....see who is head of sport there.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 04/09/2015 10:24:33    1781826

Ormondbannerman - are you for real?

Ireland could be playing in the RWC quarter final this weekend and the GAA should still be topping the agenda. 160,000 will be in Croker this weekend - Ireland played Wales last weekend and there were tickets for sale the morning of the game!

And for all the talk of how cynical the football last week was and how bad a year it's been in general, it's always been better than the rubbish that was on last week. There is no justification for having rugby ahead of the GAA in sports coverage this week.

And this is from someone going to all of Ireland's games plus two QF in the RWC this year!

jason (Mayo) - Posts: 139 - 04/09/2015 10:28:06    1781830

mediaman
County: Antrim
Posts: 226

1781695

Totally agree and the website is usually worse with regular live coverage of the irish cricket team - which generally consists of weather reports. It's hard not to believe their is some agenda at play here - the private (Dublin) schools anglo agenda for those who need it spelled out.

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 10115

Rugby World Cup is about to begin. Ireland have genuine shot at doing well. Coverage will be high on the agenda about the world cup.
Yes the world cup hasn't begun yet, no need for balnket coverage. The GAA season is coming to its climax - there'll be plenty of time to watch/discuss ireland's usual dismal exit when the rugger begins - but now is the time for massive GAA coverage, apparently not for RTE though. Shameful.

rcarragh (Dublin) - Posts: 305 - 04/09/2015 10:34:40    1781835

Ormond I put it to you clearly Ireland have not a chance of winning. We will be doing well to go beyond the Q-Final.

If we are lucky we meet Argentina in Q-Final and we know our history with the Argies

Worse case we meet the All-Blacks and our history is even worse there.

RTE are losing rugby to SKY, been left with the also run League that is Pro12 (if it was any good or important it would be on Sky) and within 10 years the 6 Nations will follow. Sky offer too much money for this not to happen.

If I were RTE I would be taking a different approach to Gaelic Games as it is in there long term interest.

But I honestly think RTE are incapable of developing anything

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 04/09/2015 10:47:27    1781851

RTE have not got a clue how to promote games.if they had any cop on they would buy the international rights to the GAA and try to get partnerships esp in the USA and try to build a viewership base year by year.Hurling has an international appeal if marketed correctly.

I do no really care what RTE do,a very large percentage of the Irish population will support the GAA and watch the games because it provides tremendous entertainment no mater how RTE neglect it.

ifindoubt (Donegal) - Posts: 133 - 04/09/2015 10:48:31    1781853

witnof
County: Dublin
Posts: 796

1781851
Ormond I put it to you clearly Ireland have not a chance of winning. We will be doing well to go beyond the Q-Final.
If we are lucky we meet Argentina in Q-Final and we know our history with the Argies
Worse case we meet the All-Blacks and our history is even worse there.
RTE are losing rugby to SKY, been left with the also run League that is Pro12 (if it was any good or important it would be on Sky) and within 10 years the 6 Nations will follow. Sky offer too much money for this not to happen.
If I were RTE I would be taking a different approach to Gaelic Games as it is in there long term interest.
But I honestly think RTE are incapable of developing anything

they actually get the poorer matches for the pro12 aswell haha
as sky have first choice on the best games each weekend to show live
hence why leinster v munster was not on rte last year.
also gaelic games aint english thats why they take the approach they do
like everything in modern ireland, until the english give their approval of something being good
our media wont give it its deserved attention
father ted, mrs brownes boys are just two examples of the need for english accepting before getting coverage here.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 04/09/2015 10:59:38    1781871

It is a huge weekend for the GAA, a replayed semi final, and the AI hurling final, not that you would know from RTE's coverage. The games will attract huge interest among ordinary people, not the rugby favouring clique in RTE..Our overrated rugby team are playing a friendly v England, and it gets more coverage, they won't do that well in the RWC, and I have to endure Ireland's Call, all to pleaseone or two Ulster players!
At least the GAA will play Amhan Na Fhiann. I know what I will be watching

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 04/09/2015 11:01:11    1781874

Try being up North. If you had watched BBCNI or UTV last week, you would barely have known there was a match on in Dublin that attracted over 82,000 people. Likewise for the replay this Sat and Sunday's final - coverage or build up? Zero. On the other hand, highlights of an Ulster Rugby pre-season friendly? Yes, of course. Ulster announce who their captain will be for the coming league? Main sports headline, followed by interview with player. Coverage of local Irish League soccer matches? Yes, all the goals from all the matches plus a dedicated web programme on BBC's website. Irish League soccer games? Matches broadcast on the FM frequency on BBC Radio. GAA games? No FM broadcast, only available on the poorer MW band. Need I go on?

Aoife1234 (Antrim) - Posts: 17 - 04/09/2015 11:14:57    1781888

The coverage of football/hurling on this week's 6.01 RTE News and Sport has gone beyond a joke. There are 5 notable sports events in coming days, 4 competitive fixtures and 1 friendly. So can anyone explain to me why RTE has given priority to the friendly fixture every night this week on the 6.01 News and Sport. Here are the facts.
On Monday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 5th.
On Tuesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA not covered at all.
On Wednesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 6th and last.
On Thursday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 3rd and last.
And remember this is the week of the All-Ireland Hurling Final and the Football semi-final replay both to be covered live by RTE. Yet they are giving priority to a Rugby Union friendly which RTE isn't even showing live. Never has RTE's rugby bias been more obvious.


The head of sport in RTE is Ryle Nugent. He commentates only on Rugby matches now and has been involved in a couple of widely-reported spats with GAA journalists in the past few years. What you are seeing on the RTE News is a reflection of what is going on behind the scenes and at the top of the sports department in my view.

Beacaire Gorm (Dublin) - Posts: 597 - 04/09/2015 11:22:05    1781898

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 10117

1781825 03/09/2015 21:34:28 mediaman
The coverage of football/hurling on this week's 6.01 RTE News and Sport has gone beyond a joke. There are 5 notable sports events in coming days, 4 competitive fixtures and 1 friendly. So can anyone explain to me why RTE has given priority to the friendly fixture every night this week on the 6.01 News and Sport. Here are the facts.
On Monday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 5th.
On Tuesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA not covered at all.
On Wednesday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 6th and last.
On Thursday the 1st item was Rugby Union. Soccer was 2nd. GAA was 3rd and last.
And remember this is the week of the All-Ireland Hurling Final and the Football semi-final replay both to be covered live by RTE. Yet they are giving priority to a Rugby Union friendly which RTE isn't even showing live. Never has RTE's rugby bias been more obvious. Rugby World Cup is about to begin. Ireland have genuine shot at doing well. Coverage will be high on the agenda about the world cup.


Your as reliable as the Calvary arriving to the defence of the poor defenceless hero and maiden at the end of a 50s movie , I can hear the bugle now as you ride once again to defend rugby .
Lets be honest WC had nothing to do with it , if we were shi7 it would be reported .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 04/09/2015 11:31:08    1781909

Without having given it detailed thought, I have wondered about the potential for the GAA to launch it's own free-to-air channel. They could show any live games that they wanted across all codes, as well as mixing in magazine shows, features, repeats etc. They could sell advertising space directly to pay for it, and you'd also have the internet option to sell passes to people overseas.

In the states, it's something that the NFL do very successfully as, aside from all the coverage they can deliver and revenue they can generate, it also allows them to control the brand/message that they are putting out.

Does anyone know if this is something that the GAA have explored to date, or have any thoughts on whether or not it could be financially viable?

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 04/09/2015 11:31:56    1781912

great point thomas clark
have always tryed to make the same point myself
certainly should be explored

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 04/09/2015 11:42:46    1781922

Welcome back Mediaman, just in time for the GAA inter-county season to finish and the rugby world cup to start. So plenty of RTE News has 20 seconds of GAA coverage, 2 whole minutes of Premier League and that rugby got a full 2 minutes and 41 seconds.RTE are showing the games and they're getting plenty of media coverage already. RTE not showing any World Cup games, no doubt you'll whinge when they give it news coverage.

Why were you not here all summer when RTE had live games, Sunday Game, live radio, etc ? No rugby or soccer then perhaps.

Have you ever contributed anything on this website about sport rather than complaining about RTE and never having a proactive idea?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7337 - 04/09/2015 12:07:05    1781947

RTE are showing the games live . They also have a highlights show. The also have an entire show 'up for the match' dedicated to previewing the match the night before. Rte news will travel to each county showing the school kids,painted sheep etc. They actually used to show the minor game live on TV also as Gaeilge until the GAA sold it off to someone else.

Jesus imagine if they weren't anti GAA....

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4624 - 04/09/2015 12:10:02    1781951

If the GAA have any cop-on they will be getting Thomas Clarke on board. The most innovative idea I've seen in a long time. Well done sir.

ponga (Mayo) - Posts: 648 - 04/09/2015 12:26:40    1781969

Fair play Thomas Clarke, a great idea. Maybe they could also have an internet radio station. Analysis but just by ex-players and journalists but from supporters.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7337 - 04/09/2015 12:53:06    1782024