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RTE - Change Of Direction

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Replying To Kurt_Angle:  "TG4 needs to be properly audited and provide a public service catering to everyone

I don't get this statement. TG4 (or TnaG) was set up as an Irish language channel for Irish language speakers and to promote the language. It was a coup for them to get the GAA games that RTE etc. really didn't appear to be that interested in. Now that they provide these, I see no reason they should go back on their mandate to appease what appears to be a minority. Most people seem to be just glad of the service they provide (i.e. the facility to watch several matches that would, otherwise, not be available to them) without nit picking regarding what they don't do."
You do realize that rte owns tg4

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 15:40:36    2157343

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Replying To royaldunne:  "And if you believe that then you also believe the earth is flat."
If there was a huge groundswell of opinion that the games should always be broadcast in English then they would be broadcast in English.

Quit your strawman arguments.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 15/01/2019 15:56:12    2157350

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Read your fellow county mans first hand experience of tnag th4 or whatever it's calling itself these days before commenting"
Whose comments?

You can't watch a game unless it's broadcast in English.

The vast majority of people can.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 15/01/2019 15:57:57    2157351

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Whose comments?

You can't watch a game unless it's broadcast in English.

The vast majority of people can."
Where did I say that? That's right I didn't, what I said was I watch it with commentary turned down, please if you gonna quote me do it properly. What I asked was with the vast vast amount of money that is wasted on tg4 (the world and its brother knows that it is a huge loss maker for rte , but is so subsidized that it doesn't matter) that a red button option could be included for those of us who wish to hear commentary with our games. Also this could be a subscription option of say €5 per match. It makes economic sense and would help those one percent of us who don't speak fluent Irish. :) . Now give me a reasonable argument as to what is wrong with my proposal?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 16:20:22    2157357

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Replying To royaldunne:  "
Replying To Kurt_Angle:  "TG4 needs to be properly audited and provide a public service catering to everyone

I don't get this statement. TG4 (or TnaG) was set up as an Irish language channel for Irish language speakers and to promote the language. It was a coup for them to get the GAA games that RTE etc. really didn't appear to be that interested in. Now that they provide these, I see no reason they should go back on their mandate to appease what appears to be a minority. Most people seem to be just glad of the service they provide (i.e. the facility to watch several matches that would, otherwise, not be available to them) without nit picking regarding what they don't do."
You do realize that rte owns tg4"
I'm not sure how that affects their mandate. While owned by RTE, they're independently run with their own agenda. They also have only about 2% share of the ROI TV market. They are, by nature, a minority provider catering for a minority market. They just happened to have obtained rights for a popular program(s), one which RTE have only just recently, it seems, shown interest in and obtained a share of.

Kurt_Angle (Dublin) - Posts: 567 - 15/01/2019 17:04:39    2157365

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Where did I say that? That's right I didn't, what I said was I watch it with commentary turned down, please if you gonna quote me do it properly. What I asked was with the vast vast amount of money that is wasted on tg4 (the world and its brother knows that it is a huge loss maker for rte , but is so subsidized that it doesn't matter) that a red button option could be included for those of us who wish to hear commentary with our games. Also this could be a subscription option of say €5 per match. It makes economic sense and would help those one percent of us who don't speak fluent Irish. :) . Now give me a reasonable argument as to what is wrong with my proposal?"
Very simple argument and the bottom line really.. They have no mandate to do so. Over 600,000 tuned into watxh league final this year. Most likely if there was a red button, many would have switched to English. As there was no red button, I assume, most watched in Irish (with some turning the sound down). Success for TG4. It would defeat the purpose of there being an Irish language TV station if their flagship show was in English. I am abivalent to the language also but think they do a good job showing GAA so it bothers me not an iota that ir is in Irish.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 15/01/2019 17:14:39    2157367

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Where did I say that? That's right I didn't, what I said was I watch it with commentary turned down, please if you gonna quote me do it properly. What I asked was with the vast vast amount of money that is wasted on tg4 (the world and its brother knows that it is a huge loss maker for rte , but is so subsidized that it doesn't matter) that a red button option could be included for those of us who wish to hear commentary with our games. Also this could be a subscription option of say €5 per match. It makes economic sense and would help those one percent of us who don't speak fluent Irish. :) . Now give me a reasonable argument as to what is wrong with my proposal?"
So you want them to spend more tax payers money?

Or allow you and a few others to give them a fiver per match to watch a game that's already available to free!

I can't imagine there'd be a huge queue of people behind you with their wallets out for that one. I know people can be foolish but they'd hardly be that foolish.

You do realise that instead of turning off the commentary you could leave it on and with the amount of games you watch you'd be able to understand most of the commentary by now? Literally zero effort required on your part.

But no, you'd rather waste money and effort answering questions no one is asking!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 15/01/2019 17:43:32    2157375

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Replying To bloodyban:  "You don't think there would be much of a demand for an English option even though 100% of Ireland's population speak English. I think you may be part of the Irish languages problem. We have a native language it's English, same as America ,Australia, half the world ect. It's only a means of communication at the end of the day. TG4 needs to be properly audited and provide a public service catering to everyone not just Republican Gaelgoiris and a narrow strata of middle class pseudo Marxists."
How would you describe yourself then? A DUP supporter? A monoglot suffering from the usual post-colonial inferiority complex? There used to be lots of Gaels in Limerick, whatever happened to you, maybe they're just pseudo Gaels? In case you have conveniently forgotten, the 'G' in GAA stands for Gaelic!

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 15/01/2019 17:50:35    2157377

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Replying To royaldunne:  "ahh look I mean when you get a guy (who has zero connection to a county ) to pick up a hurl for 27 seconds, so he can pretend to be living in a county) just so he can be transferred to play for a county football (even though NO CONNECTION to that county ) , and then people like yourself are happy with it , that does a lot more damage to hurling and gaa in general. Never forget the shame that a certain geezer and sj brought to the gaa, all cheered on by people now proclaiming to be great gaels. Yeah right"
Typical response I suppose...you can't debate with anyone without mis quoting and skewering things into something else.

As has been said before never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience:)

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1724 - 15/01/2019 17:50:46    2157378

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Replying To St.Conleth:  "Typical response I suppose...you can't debate with anyone without mis quoting and skewering things into something else.

As has been said before never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience:)"
So you weren't all for the sj saga? That everyone including many in ur own county had said was wrong. And the hurling people up and down the country were outraged by the disgraceful sight of picking up a Hurley. Then you have nerve to question anyone about been a true Gael. Give over will you.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 18:09:28    2157385

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For me TG4 do a great job. I've no ideological reason for that, I just think their coverage is quite good and they've traditionally shown games that no one else wanted. If they were to lose their coverage to RTÉ or Virgin that'd be fine too.

I just think some people's inability and refusal to watch games with Irish commentary to be kinda dumb. It's just so silly. Some people even want to pay extra money just because they have an inability to watch games with Irish commentary. That is just simply dumb and silly in my opinion.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 15/01/2019 18:12:18    2157386

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Replying To baire:  "How would you describe yourself then? A DUP supporter? A monoglot suffering from the usual post-colonial inferiority complex? There used to be lots of Gaels in Limerick, whatever happened to you, maybe they're just pseudo Gaels? In case you have conveniently forgotten, the 'G' in GAA stands for Gaelic!"
I'd call myself a sports fan. Who isn't so insecure about my nationality that I have to use a form of sport to reaffirm it. I don't like hurling, I'm not into soccer as I feel they all overpaid prima donnas , I'll watch rugby (once there's no football match on) but have only been to 2 matches in my life, I use to love F1 when you had the likes of lada prost, senna and Schumacher, not so much these days. I still love horse racing and my annual pilgrimage to cheltenham is a must. I'm not religious, I believe in live and let live. So that's it. I have a problem with politics being brought into sport in 2019, I think if you want to be a political then there is better ways of doing it than through sport . My sport is just that. Sport, to get away from the everyday. Going to watch Meath is my only vice these days, I don't drink and gave up the cigs long time ago.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 18:26:23    2157390

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Replying To MesAmis:  "So you want them to spend more tax payers money?

Or allow you and a few others to give them a fiver per match to watch a game that's already available to free!

I can't imagine there'd be a huge queue of people behind you with their wallets out for that one. I know people can be foolish but they'd hardly be that foolish.

You do realise that instead of turning off the commentary you could leave it on and with the amount of games you watch you'd be able to understand most of the commentary by now? Literally zero effort required on your part.

But no, you'd rather waste money and effort answering questions no one is asking!"
Plenty of people would pay for it. And no I have better things to be doing than listening/learning a language that has zero benefits to anyone. Now German or French have both economic value , and while through a past business I know a limited amount of French , German is one language I may learn. As for what I spend my money on? That's entirely up to me, I work damn hard for it

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 18:50:27    2157395

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Plenty of people would pay for it. And no I have better things to be doing than listening/learning a language that has zero benefits to anyone. Now German or French have both economic value , and while through a past business I know a limited amount of French , German is one language I may learn. As for what I spend my money on? That's entirely up to me, I work damn hard for it"
But you're watching the games in anyways.

It would clearly be of benefit to you as you've already admitted that you don't have the ability to watch a match with Irish Commentary and sit there in silence instead.

Bare in mind that you'd pick up the language without making any effort.

You say you've better things to be doing but you clearly don't as you're already watching the matches.

Try it out.

Bonne chance

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 15/01/2019 18:58:39    2157400

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Replying To baire:  "How would you describe yourself then? A DUP supporter? A monoglot suffering from the usual post-colonial inferiority complex? There used to be lots of Gaels in Limerick, whatever happened to you, maybe they're just pseudo Gaels? In case you have conveniently forgotten, the 'G' in GAA stands for Gaelic!"
So if your not a Republican Marxist then you must be a Unionist. There's a way of thinking. I'd consider myself an ordinary Irish Man. I want politics to stay out of sport. I don't care what you believe in politically but I do have a problem with people hijacking the Irish language and Gaelic games for a Republican agenda. Carson played hurling and he was a Dublin Unionist...Now that we have Jackeens up to a decent standard of hurling we should be getting the Other Northern unionists back playing.

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 15/01/2019 19:20:27    2157407

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I'd call myself a sports fan. Who isn't so insecure about my nationality that I have to use a form of sport to reaffirm it. I don't like hurling, I'm not into soccer as I feel they all overpaid prima donnas , I'll watch rugby (once there's no football match on) but have only been to 2 matches in my life, I use to love F1 when you had the likes of lada prost, senna and Schumacher, not so much these days. I still love horse racing and my annual pilgrimage to cheltenham is a must. I'm not religious, I believe in live and let live. So that's it. I have a problem with politics being brought into sport in 2019, I think if you want to be a political then there is better ways of doing it than through sport . My sport is just that. Sport, to get away from the everyday. Going to watch Meath is my only vice these days, I don't drink and gave up the cigs long time ago."
You wrote: " I believe in live and let live. So that's it".
Then you should not have a problem allowing choice and diversity when it comes to media and languages in Ireland. Unity in diversity! English speakers have hundreds of channels to choose from whilst Irish speakers and learners have one i.e TG4. TG4 in the main does every effort to cater for English speakers.

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 15/01/2019 19:24:12    2157408

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Replying To baire:  "You wrote: " I believe in live and let live. So that's it".
Then you should not have a problem allowing choice and diversity when it comes to media and languages in Ireland. Unity in diversity! English speakers have hundreds of channels to choose from whilst Irish speakers and learners have one i.e TG4. TG4 in the main does every effort to cater for English speakers."
I have absolutely no problem with a Irish station, once they not infringing on my sport , paid for by my taxes and license fee, not offering a diverse service, by all means do it as a private company but owned by rte who get my license fee, subsidized considerably by government grants, gives them a unfair advantage over other stations, so at least offer it to us. Was reading that for every person who can speak Irish fluently there is two people who can speak polish. Should we have commentary on gaa in polish, would u have a problem with that??

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 20:21:32    2157417

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Replying To baire:  "How would you describe yourself then? A DUP supporter? A monoglot suffering from the usual post-colonial inferiority complex? There used to be lots of Gaels in Limerick, whatever happened to you, maybe they're just pseudo Gaels? In case you have conveniently forgotten, the 'G' in GAA stands for Gaelic!"
Is there a Gael criteria? Many Irish people don't speak Irish or having an interest in it. It's up to them. Doesn't make them any less Irish. We got rid of the Brits so we could live in a democracy with the right to choose to speak our own language but also to be able to choose not to. Live and let live or die from an ulcer from being vexated by people whose thinking differs from your own.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7981 - 15/01/2019 20:26:19    2157420

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Replying To bloodyban:  "So if your not a Republican Marxist then you must be a Unionist. There's a way of thinking. I'd consider myself an ordinary Irish Man. I want politics to stay out of sport. I don't care what you believe in politically but I do have a problem with people hijacking the Irish language and Gaelic games for a Republican agenda. Carson played hurling and he was a Dublin Unionist...Now that we have Jackeens up to a decent standard of hurling we should be getting the Other Northern unionists back playing."
That Carson played hurling is a myth by the way.

It's a good one but not true unfortunately.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 15/01/2019 20:27:32    2157421

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I have absolutely no problem with a Irish station, once they not infringing on my sport , paid for by my taxes and license fee, not offering a diverse service, by all means do it as a private company but owned by rte who get my license fee, subsidized considerably by government grants, gives them a unfair advantage over other stations, so at least offer it to us. Was reading that for every person who can speak Irish fluently there is two people who can speak polish. Should we have commentary on gaa in polish, would u have a problem with that??"
It's not your licence fee, it's everyone's. They don't just use your taxes for it either, entitlement or wha!

And thousands of people are willing to watch GAA through Irish in TG4.

If a Polish TV station paid for the rights and got thousands and thousands of people to watch GAA through Polish then so be it. Maybe we'd even pick up a few phrases! Except for you of course, you'd be in the corner with your fingers in your ears watching in silence in fear of you learning something!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13797 - 15/01/2019 20:35:30    2157423

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