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Sky Sports To Stop Showing GAA

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So all the whiners that RTÉ and tv3/virgin were been robbed of Gaa games cause of the big bad murdochs. Sky are gone. Last year RTÉ showed 31 games. For the next 5 years they show 31 games per year. No increase. Of skys showing last year 14 were exclusive. So 14 games gone. I have gotten gaago and you can't watch matches that are on RTÉ on it. What I want to hear from is alll those so worried about the older gaels who don't have sky that we were told we're been let down by the Gaa, (remember the outcry) do all these old gaels have a laptop ? Or a smart tv ? Where's the outcry now ?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/10/2022 08:55:15    2445456

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Replying To tearintom:  "The pundits get paid an annual fee so the championship season ending earlier or there being more club games matters nothing to them in terms of making a few pound when theyre arguing about the split season.

And the fact is the vast majority of those pundits are involved with clubs, very much so, this idea that theyre somehow anti club is moot, they just dont agree with the shortening of the intercounty season.

And to be frank the opportunity is there for broadcasters to cover more club games but they dont because the appetite for viewership isnt there, thats just it. The amount of club games being shown at the moment is probably adequate for the interest thats out there, in 2020 there was a programme called "RTE does comic relief" and its a programme ive never heard of, never even knew existed yet it took in on average 2.5 times the viewers that TG4's most watched club game did in the same year. And that was during COVID when ye couldnt even get to a game.

If it was a viable commercial opportunity the fact is RTE would be showing more club games than they are."
Think you've hit the nail on the head there. RTE will make most of their decisions bases on cold hard economic facts. If broadcasting more club games doesn't make sense financially then they're hardly going to do it. I think they're doing OK with what they're doing, and alongside TG4 we can hardly complain that we're being starved of action.

Another point I'd make is that if something doesn't have a novelty factor then people can lose enthusiasm pretty quickly. I know a lot of people who have dodgy box TVs and have access to watch pretty much any soccer match they'd care to see. Whether it be Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 etc. But when asked they'd struggle to tell you the last time they watched a full match that didn't involve their own team.

If RTE were to provide say, 4 games a weekend would there be an appetitie for it? For sure there would be some diehard GAA fans who would watch them all but I think tearintom's post has it sussed. The viewership figures probably wouldn't justify the effort and expense RTE would have to put in.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9541 - 26/10/2022 08:58:53    2445457

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "€120? I paid €49 for an 'Annual Pass GB' last May. This gives me, I quote:

12 months of access to GAAGO.
Every televised game in the 2022 Allianz Leagues.
Action from both All-Ireland Championships (excludes 12 months of access to GAAGO.
Every televised game in the 2022 Allianz Leagues.
Action from both All-Ireland Championships (excludes senior All-Ireland Finals and semi-finals) live and on demand in full HD.
Access to the Allianz League Sunday and Sunday Game highlights programmes.
Exclusive access to classic games and GAA documentaries on GAAGO TV.) live and on demand in full HD.
Access to the Allianz League Sunday and Sunday Game highlights programmes.
Exclusive access to classic games and GAA documentaries on GAAGO TV.

It doesn't mention club games in the above, but you also get plenty of them. I think the reason the senior All-Ireland Finals and semi-finals were excluded was that Sky had the rights to show those in Britain.

How is the Irish pass different?"
I'm not sure how the Irish Pass is different to be honest. It may even be that the full details for next year haven't been worked out.

I would expect that there would have to be some kind of special offer around the start of the year to tempt people to subscribe - I can't see a lot of people signing up with an annual subscription for €120.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 370 - 26/10/2022 09:53:08    2445459

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Replying To festinog:  "Respectfully disagree with you on that. I'm in the US and from Galway. GAAGO has no Galway club games so there's little of interest to me since the end of the championship. Meanwhile I'm stuck paying for a service I don't use because when you sign on there's a warning that if you cancel your monthly payment, they won't let you sign up again later. Which means this year, with rising inflation, cost of living, etc. etc. I'm paying for a streaming service for nearly half the year that I won't use. Very poor value for money."
I agree with you - I didn't know that was the case. I had thought it was either Annual or pay per game. Pretty poor form to charge monthly for a service you aren't using.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 370 - 26/10/2022 09:57:43    2445461

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Replying To brianb:  "I agree with you - I didn't know that was the case. I had thought it was either Annual or pay per game. Pretty poor form to charge monthly for a service you aren't using."
Sojust like anything like Netflix etc. Not poor form at all.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3695 - 26/10/2022 10:21:08    2445469

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Yeah, but back to my other bugbear about how I feel there should be more highlights, and less analysis.

Particularly for club matches. Say for example they're showing three matches in an hour-long programme. You mightn't even need analysis. Show 12 to 15 minutes of highlights of each game, and two to three minutes of post-match interviews. Throw in the obligatory ad break or two, and there's your hour of TV."
I've thought that about TSG a number of years. Too much self important opinion and not enough match highlights or real analysis of the action. Sky were much better all round. Better camera work, better analysis, and less irrelevant opinion.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14234 - 26/10/2022 10:44:11    2445475

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Replying To royaldunne:  "So all the whiners that RTÉ and tv3/virgin were been robbed of Gaa games cause of the big bad murdochs. Sky are gone. Last year RTÉ showed 31 games. For the next 5 years they show 31 games per year. No increase. Of skys showing last year 14 were exclusive. So 14 games gone. I have gotten gaago and you can't watch matches that are on RTÉ on it. What I want to hear from is alll those so worried about the older gaels who don't have sky that we were told we're been let down by the Gaa, (remember the outcry) do all these old gaels have a laptop ? Or a smart tv ? Where's the outcry now ?"
Exactly. It's all horse manure.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14234 - 26/10/2022 10:46:07    2445477

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about the lack of exposure/coverage of Ulster hurling. Can I ask why I can't see coverage of the Kilkenny club football championship?"
A bee in my bonnet about Ulster hurling? Where did you get that from?
I don't know why you can't see coverage of the Kilkenny club football championship, but I suspect it's for the same reason you don't see coverage of most counties football championships.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2668 - 26/10/2022 11:02:57    2445482

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Replying To Fionn:  "https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2022/1025/1331313-rte-announces-expanded-gaa-rights-deal/"
'Dee Forbes said today's announcement reinforces the national broadcaster's commitment to offer the best GAA coverage to free-to-air audiences'.

That's the €160 per annum-to-air or go to jail alternative Dee. Not exactly free in the winter when many will struggle to pay their fuel bills. Never mind, when families huddle together watching Netflix or Disney or other streaming service, because a lot of RTE TV is unwatchable, the VAT on their streaming service will make it's way back to you to prop up RTE television. In the real world.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7704 - 26/10/2022 11:04:14    2445483

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "A bee in my bonnet about Ulster hurling? Where did you get that from?
I don't know why you can't see coverage of the Kilkenny club football championship, but I suspect it's for the same reason you don't see coverage of most counties football championships."
You seemed affronted that I didn't specify "Ulster Club Football Championship" on another thread and then you appeared to infer that BBC's coverage would be inferior due to a lack of hurling pundits? Maybe I've taken you up wrong though.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9541 - 26/10/2022 11:33:43    2445491

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Replying To royaldunne:  "So all the whiners that RTÉ and tv3/virgin were been robbed of Gaa games cause of the big bad murdochs. Sky are gone. Last year RTÉ showed 31 games. For the next 5 years they show 31 games per year. No increase. Of skys showing last year 14 were exclusive. So 14 games gone. I have gotten gaago and you can't watch matches that are on RTÉ on it. What I want to hear from is alll those so worried about the older gaels who don't have sky that we were told we're been let down by the Gaa, (remember the outcry) do all these old gaels have a laptop ? Or a smart tv ? Where's the outcry now ?"
The Sky deal was a retrograde step as it hid games away from people and a lot less people were able to watch them in comparison to when the secondary TV package was with TV3. The viewing figures on Sky were pathetically low.

I agree that this is also a retrograde step though.

It would have been preferable to see the games return to terrestrial TV where people could actually see them rather than on Sky where no one was watching them or on a streaming service.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13780 - 26/10/2022 11:50:04    2445494

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Replying To anotheralias:  "I see your point to an extent . But these lads are well paid so surely a little bit of extra work with some research wouldn't go amiss.
Most games at this stage have a handful of county players that everyone ( even these "experts") recognise.
And a 20 minute conversation with a local expert would fill in any gaps they would need.
If these guys aren't knowledgable enough to comment about , or to analyse, club games then they shouldn't be anywhere close to the job for inter county gigs."
I think you have to realise every county isnt like Galway club hurling where everyone seems to know everyone. In Tipp the lads in the south division wouldnt be well schooled on the north clubs and vice versa for example. Even less would an expert from outside the county. Its slightly off point anyway and I agree with your initial proposal

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 26/10/2022 12:53:48    2445500

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Replying To royaldunne:  "So all the whiners that RTÉ and tv3/virgin were been robbed of Gaa games cause of the big bad murdochs. Sky are gone. Last year RTÉ showed 31 games. For the next 5 years they show 31 games per year. No increase. Of skys showing last year 14 were exclusive. So 14 games gone. I have gotten gaago and you can't watch matches that are on RTÉ on it. What I want to hear from is alll those so worried about the older gaels who don't have sky that we were told we're been let down by the Gaa, (remember the outcry) do all these old gaels have a laptop ? Or a smart tv ? Where's the outcry now ?"
Some parts of the country can't even get high enough internet speeds to stream games also

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 304 - 26/10/2022 15:03:55    2445516

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Replying To DuhallowRed:  "Some parts of the country can't even get high enough internet speeds to stream games also"
We only got good enough Internet to watch a game this year in our area. And that includes all the boxes etc.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14234 - 26/10/2022 16:09:01    2445528

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Replying To KillingFields:  "Sojust like anything like Netflix etc. Not poor form at all."
The exact opposite of Netflix actually. It's a rare day I don't find something to watch on Netflix, and when I do run out of things I cancel the service, give it a few months so they can 'restock' their programs, and then sign back up no questions asked. I've been on and off with Netlfix for years and find their business model very user friendly.

As opposed to GAAGO, and I'll say this again, where I pay for a service that offers nothing of specific interest for months on end (sure, I could watch the Donegal club championship, just the same way I could watch the Teletubbies. But being from Galway would I want to?), but anyone questioning the point of throwing money at them every month for nothing in return is threatened with not being let sign back up should they quit. Total nonsense.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3143 - 26/10/2022 21:04:03    2445571

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Replying To royaldunne:  "So all the whiners that RTÉ and tv3/virgin were been robbed of Gaa games cause of the big bad murdochs. Sky are gone. Last year RTÉ showed 31 games. For the next 5 years they show 31 games per year. No increase. Of skys showing last year 14 were exclusive. So 14 games gone. I have gotten gaago and you can't watch matches that are on RTÉ on it. What I want to hear from is alll those so worried about the older gaels who don't have sky that we were told we're been let down by the Gaa, (remember the outcry) do all these old gaels have a laptop ? Or a smart tv ? Where's the outcry now ?"
I'm sure the Sunday papers this Sunday will have "an ode to the auld Gael" who doesn't have the internet from the usual suspects.
Here's the thing though.
The "auld Gael" grew up with hurling and football on the radio. The other options were cycle to a match, or get a lift, or try see if the car will make it.
The "auld Gael" is much more accustomed to a bit of hardship and things not being perfect and not seeing every match than anybody 60 or under ever will be.
I look at my father in his 90s now. He is originally from outside Dublin so didn't have matches on his door step but he is just as happy listening to a match on the radio as he is with me going through the palaver of buying a game or a Sky day pass, connecting it all up, HDMI cables, sources, and so on as I try to figure out do I need an ethernet cable, re-starting the box. I am not a tech wizard.
This generation of people have an ability to imagine what is happening through the radio, and a part of me suspects when he is listening to a match with his eyes closed he is imagining a time in his life when that was all they had, and neighbours, etc came over to stick their head in the window or any way they could at all. And happy with it they were.
The "auld Gael" is much happier than people think. Certainly much happier than the moany, preachy, referee enraged, Twitter enraged "young Gael" who thinks the club team needs a person to iron their socks before a game.
I wouldn't worry about that generation in the least. They know contentment and REAL hardship, something plenty in this world don't.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1267 - 27/10/2022 09:41:00    2445587

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I'm sure the Sunday papers this Sunday will have "an ode to the auld Gael" who doesn't have the internet from the usual suspects.
Here's the thing though.
The "auld Gael" grew up with hurling and football on the radio. The other options were cycle to a match, or get a lift, or try see if the car will make it.
The "auld Gael" is much more accustomed to a bit of hardship and things not being perfect and not seeing every match than anybody 60 or under ever will be.
I look at my father in his 90s now. He is originally from outside Dublin so didn't have matches on his door step but he is just as happy listening to a match on the radio as he is with me going through the palaver of buying a game or a Sky day pass, connecting it all up, HDMI cables, sources, and so on as I try to figure out do I need an ethernet cable, re-starting the box. I am not a tech wizard.
This generation of people have an ability to imagine what is happening through the radio, and a part of me suspects when he is listening to a match with his eyes closed he is imagining a time in his life when that was all they had, and neighbours, etc came over to stick their head in the window or any way they could at all. And happy with it they were.
The "auld Gael" is much happier than people think. Certainly much happier than the moany, preachy, referee enraged, Twitter enraged "young Gael" who thinks the club team needs a person to iron their socks before a game.
I wouldn't worry about that generation in the least. They know contentment and REAL hardship, something plenty in this world don't."
Excellent post. We are actually not badly off at all when it comes to games to watch these days compared to years gone by. In 2022 I watched games involving Sligo, Westmeath, Leitrim, Louth, Limerick, Tipperary etc and not to mention club games from other counties. It seems that no matter what platform is offered some people won't be satisfied. Another symptom of rampant consumerism I suppose.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9541 - 27/10/2022 09:59:05    2445594

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I'm sure the Sunday papers this Sunday will have "an ode to the auld Gael" who doesn't have the internet from the usual suspects.
Here's the thing though.
The "auld Gael" grew up with hurling and football on the radio. The other options were cycle to a match, or get a lift, or try see if the car will make it.
The "auld Gael" is much more accustomed to a bit of hardship and things not being perfect and not seeing every match than anybody 60 or under ever will be.
I look at my father in his 90s now. He is originally from outside Dublin so didn't have matches on his door step but he is just as happy listening to a match on the radio as he is with me going through the palaver of buying a game or a Sky day pass, connecting it all up, HDMI cables, sources, and so on as I try to figure out do I need an ethernet cable, re-starting the box. I am not a tech wizard.
This generation of people have an ability to imagine what is happening through the radio, and a part of me suspects when he is listening to a match with his eyes closed he is imagining a time in his life when that was all they had, and neighbours, etc came over to stick their head in the window or any way they could at all. And happy with it they were.
The "auld Gael" is much happier than people think. Certainly much happier than the moany, preachy, referee enraged, Twitter enraged "young Gael" who thinks the club team needs a person to iron their socks before a game.
I wouldn't worry about that generation in the least. They know contentment and REAL hardship, something plenty in this world don't."
Terrific post I come from a very rural area and I remember we were the first house in the town land to get a black and white tv what excitement we could watch al these cowboy films glued to the screen also wrestling on a Saturday afternoon but no doubt the highlight was being able to watch the all Ireland our house would be full with all the neighbours straining to see it over peoples shoulders and watching in amazement all these players that they had only ever read about and my dear mother making sandwiches and cups of tea for them all , what memories. The magic of all Ireland final days whether your county is playing or not is something special.

[email protected] (Cavan) - Posts: 138 - 27/10/2022 11:07:25    2445618

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I'm sure the Sunday papers this Sunday will have "an ode to the auld Gael" who doesn't have the internet from the usual suspects.
Here's the thing though.
The "auld Gael" grew up with hurling and football on the radio. The other options were cycle to a match, or get a lift, or try see if the car will make it.
The "auld Gael" is much more accustomed to a bit of hardship and things not being perfect and not seeing every match than anybody 60 or under ever will be.
I look at my father in his 90s now. He is originally from outside Dublin so didn't have matches on his door step but he is just as happy listening to a match on the radio as he is with me going through the palaver of buying a game or a Sky day pass, connecting it all up, HDMI cables, sources, and so on as I try to figure out do I need an ethernet cable, re-starting the box. I am not a tech wizard.
This generation of people have an ability to imagine what is happening through the radio, and a part of me suspects when he is listening to a match with his eyes closed he is imagining a time in his life when that was all they had, and neighbours, etc came over to stick their head in the window or any way they could at all. And happy with it they were.
The "auld Gael" is much happier than people think. Certainly much happier than the moany, preachy, referee enraged, Twitter enraged "young Gael" who thinks the club team needs a person to iron their socks before a game.
I wouldn't worry about that generation in the least. They know contentment and REAL hardship, something plenty in this world don't."
Great post - but I would worry about the young Gael and making sure they turn into the future auld Gael.
The young Gael has the sports channels.
This week the young Gael had access to watch 24 soccer games across Premier League and Champions league and plenty more if you include the Europa league, the conference league, the LOI and various other top flight leagues around Europe.
This week the young Gael could watch 8 top level URC rugby games.
This week the young Gael can waste away a Sunday evening watching 2/3 NFL games live from America
The young Gael can still watch 31 GAA games a year. In an age of information overload where there's so much noise to cut through keeping the coverage at the current level is going backwards rapidly.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 370 - 28/10/2022 10:54:22    2445758

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Replying To brianb:  "Great post - but I would worry about the young Gael and making sure they turn into the future auld Gael.
The young Gael has the sports channels.
This week the young Gael had access to watch 24 soccer games across Premier League and Champions league and plenty more if you include the Europa league, the conference league, the LOI and various other top flight leagues around Europe.
This week the young Gael could watch 8 top level URC rugby games.
This week the young Gael can waste away a Sunday evening watching 2/3 NFL games live from America
The young Gael can still watch 31 GAA games a year. In an age of information overload where there's so much noise to cut through keeping the coverage at the current level is going backwards rapidly."
I've a few young gaels in the house and they have absolutely no interest watching football or hurling on TV. And even less in watching soccer or rugby. They are outside now tearing around as it's not raining and would only watch a game, club or county, if I bring them to it live, once they weren't playing in it. All they watch at home are kids cartoons or movies, if any TV, and obscure YouTube videos, on almost any subject from cooking to rearing animals and planting vegetables to mad American and English young fellas acting the clown, on their tablets. They might give Minecraft a lash on the PlayStation from time to time also. Think I might get them to clean up leaves with the promise of a puck around after!!!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14234 - 01/11/2022 15:30:18    2446134

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