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RTE And Older GAA Fans

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Replying To avonali:  "Kerry fans can't be too happy that Dublin gets another free to air showcase while they have to use GAAgo again. Weird decision."
Could it be that they know the vast majority of Kerry supporters won't travel for a QF but will still want to watch the game so they have them by the short and curlies?

MachaireConnacht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1000 - 28/06/2023 10:28:33    2490342

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "The GAA is not a "drop in the ocean." The natives are obviously an inconvenience at this stage."
GAA people don't form the majority of the population of Ireland. Hoganstand posters are s drop on the GAA people ocean.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7927 - 28/06/2023 10:30:23    2490343

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I know it's not the full story. I said it was the main reason, not the only reason.

It's true that RTE showed more Munster Hurling games last year than they did this year. But don't forget that last year, there were complaints from the football fraternity that Munster Hurling was dominating the airwaves too much, and that football wasn't getting enough of a look-in. So they reacted to that, and then other people complained this year about the exact opposite.

A real can't win situation."
There is a 'hot air hype' element to this round robin Munster hurling championship. This was clearly evident in Limerick last Saturday evening, and for the second year running too, after the KK Clare semi-final debacle of '22.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4118 - 28/06/2023 10:58:49    2490357

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Replying To avonali:  "Kerry fans can't be too happy that Dublin gets another free to air showcase while they have to use GAAgo again. Weird decision."
How do you manage the typing using a wooden spoon?!!!

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7927 - 28/06/2023 10:59:33    2490359

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "GAA people don't form the majority of the population of Ireland. Hoganstand posters are s drop on the GAA people ocean."
GAA sports are the most popularly watched sport in the country, and the GAA has the biggest membership of any sporting or indeed any other organisation in the country.

If RTÉ claims to be a public broadcaster responsive to the demands of the paying public then surely the All Ireland football champions playing the previous holders of that title fit somewhere into what they might be getting paid to do?

And if it comes to "drop in the ocean" minorities then elderly people in Kerry, Monaghan, Armagh and Tyrone are deserving of as much consideration as all the other drop in the ocean minorities that both RTÉ and the GAA are falling over themselves to accommodate. Often to a absurd and embarrassing level.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3476 - 28/06/2023 11:51:51    2490379

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What happened to the Saturday game programme that RTE had on? anyone without GAAGO will not see highlights if Saturdays games now until a condensed programme on Sunday night?
I suppose after all the money they squandered on Tubridy they can't afford to produce the Saturday game programme now.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3175 - 28/06/2023 12:16:41    2490387

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "How do you manage the typing using a wooden spoon?!!!"
All OK?

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1468 - 28/06/2023 13:00:57    2490409

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "How do you manage the typing using a wooden spoon?!!!"
and you need a long spoon to sup with the devil .

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1990 - 28/06/2023 15:09:49    2490444

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Replying To KillingFields:  "So who is then to show games.
GAAgo exists because there isnt tv channels to show the games. they have to cover costs.
So if GAA go doesnt exist then who will cover the games.
it cant operate for free and yes people who do pay for their clubs lotto, etc will have to pay for this. thats life.
sky sports are irrelevant to this discussion."
You are making an assumption that nobody else will show them free to air. TG4 and Virgin Media don't use pay per view for the seccer, rugby and underage GAA games that they show and their coverage is pretty good.

RTE are given a very low bar to clear. In the 1980's they used to cover one all Ireland hurling semi final and if Antrim were in the other they'd not even bother to show the game if it was on anywhere other than Croker. We only saw Antrim's glorious win over Offaly in 1989 because it was part of a double header mandated by the GAA.

Let's face it the GAA and RTE saw an opportunity on the back of Sky's Now TV and greed took over. The idea that either the GAA or RTE have any interest in parochial development or customer satisfaction is laughable. Sky's Now TV is a budget version of their sky box package. They offer NowTV for less than their sky sports package. With the GAA/RTE GAAGO is an extra on top of the TV license. It is potentially an extra cost to older fans who need to buy equipment to watch GAAGO (eg smart TV, Apple TV box) compared to switching on their non smart TV and viewing the game).

I really wonder about those who continue to defend RTE and the GAA. RTE go on about the number of games they cover in comparison to yesteryear while paying money to pretty poor presenters through all sorts of shady deals. They employ people on zero hours contracts who do research for these highly paid presenters and then use pay per view TV to find such items too. The GAA are no better. Croke Park has long since left the idea of community behind. These days it is all about concerns, conferences and maximizing revenue. It is still the clubs who produce u derage talent where volunteers give up the same time as an RTE presenter spends at work each week, to their local GAA club.

If RTE and the GAA were credible organisations the first thing they'd do in the wake of the RTE controversy would be to have every remaining game free to air in 2023. They need to restore the trust of the people and abandoning GAAGO would be a great start. They should be working with us, not us working to fund them.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 28/06/2023 19:33:37    2490511

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I have GAAGO and it can be a nightmare at times. I am totally at the mercy of broadband coverage.

KnockaineyAbú (Limerick) - Posts: 96 - 29/06/2023 11:05:08    2490581

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Replying To slayer:  "You are making an assumption that nobody else will show them free to air. TG4 and Virgin Media don't use pay per view for the seccer, rugby and underage GAA games that they show and their coverage is pretty good.

RTE are given a very low bar to clear. In the 1980's they used to cover one all Ireland hurling semi final and if Antrim were in the other they'd not even bother to show the game if it was on anywhere other than Croker. We only saw Antrim's glorious win over Offaly in 1989 because it was part of a double header mandated by the GAA.

Let's face it the GAA and RTE saw an opportunity on the back of Sky's Now TV and greed took over. The idea that either the GAA or RTE have any interest in parochial development or customer satisfaction is laughable. Sky's Now TV is a budget version of their sky box package. They offer NowTV for less than their sky sports package. With the GAA/RTE GAAGO is an extra on top of the TV license. It is potentially an extra cost to older fans who need to buy equipment to watch GAAGO (eg smart TV, Apple TV box) compared to switching on their non smart TV and viewing the game).

I really wonder about those who continue to defend RTE and the GAA. RTE go on about the number of games they cover in comparison to yesteryear while paying money to pretty poor presenters through all sorts of shady deals. They employ people on zero hours contracts who do research for these highly paid presenters and then use pay per view TV to find such items too. The GAA are no better. Croke Park has long since left the idea of community behind. These days it is all about concerns, conferences and maximizing revenue. It is still the clubs who produce u derage talent where volunteers give up the same time as an RTE presenter spends at work each week, to their local GAA club.

If RTE and the GAA were credible organisations the first thing they'd do in the wake of the RTE controversy would be to have every remaining game free to air in 2023. They need to restore the trust of the people and abandoning GAAGO would be a great start. They should be working with us, not us working to fund them."
Slayer it seems so many people are just willing to open their wallet any time they are asked without asking why or just assuming well look "that's life". People who experienced hardship or tough times when things didn't come easy to them will always and rightly so question when the big suits just dress a wolf up in sheep's clothing and expect us to believe it and pay up.. The corporates are steamrolling mpst of us all but we still need to take a stand. Some very good points made there.

Inatfullforward (Longford) - Posts: 111 - 29/06/2023 11:18:47    2490583

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Replying To slayer:  "You are making an assumption that nobody else will show them free to air. TG4 and Virgin Media don't use pay per view for the seccer, rugby and underage GAA games that they show and their coverage is pretty good.

RTE are given a very low bar to clear. In the 1980's they used to cover one all Ireland hurling semi final and if Antrim were in the other they'd not even bother to show the game if it was on anywhere other than Croker. We only saw Antrim's glorious win over Offaly in 1989 because it was part of a double header mandated by the GAA.

Let's face it the GAA and RTE saw an opportunity on the back of Sky's Now TV and greed took over. The idea that either the GAA or RTE have any interest in parochial development or customer satisfaction is laughable. Sky's Now TV is a budget version of their sky box package. They offer NowTV for less than their sky sports package. With the GAA/RTE GAAGO is an extra on top of the TV license. It is potentially an extra cost to older fans who need to buy equipment to watch GAAGO (eg smart TV, Apple TV box) compared to switching on their non smart TV and viewing the game).

I really wonder about those who continue to defend RTE and the GAA. RTE go on about the number of games they cover in comparison to yesteryear while paying money to pretty poor presenters through all sorts of shady deals. They employ people on zero hours contracts who do research for these highly paid presenters and then use pay per view TV to find such items too. The GAA are no better. Croke Park has long since left the idea of community behind. These days it is all about concerns, conferences and maximizing revenue. It is still the clubs who produce u derage talent where volunteers give up the same time as an RTE presenter spends at work each week, to their local GAA club.

If RTE and the GAA were credible organisations the first thing they'd do in the wake of the RTE controversy would be to have every remaining game free to air in 2023. They need to restore the trust of the people and abandoning GAAGO would be a great start. They should be working with us, not us working to fund them."
Slayer, I'm far from a fan of RTE, but they can only show so much. They have to maximize revenue for the amount of games they show compared to 20 years ago. GAA fans have never had it so good with all the matches on show. I couldn't make it to the Donegal v Tyrone game at the weekend and was glad I had GAAGO. This weekend it down to Dublin and then look forward to full days football on RTE on Sunday. GAAGO is unbelievable value for money when you sign up to the early bird package.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2288 - 29/06/2023 12:02:38    2490601

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Replying To Inatfullforward:  "Slayer it seems so many people are just willing to open their wallet any time they are asked without asking why or just assuming well look "that's life". People who experienced hardship or tough times when things didn't come easy to them will always and rightly so question when the big suits just dress a wolf up in sheep's clothing and expect us to believe it and pay up.. The corporates are steamrolling mpst of us all but we still need to take a stand. Some very good points made there."
Both yourself and Slayer make good points.

I was actually surprised at Kelly being so critical the other day - although he is presumably running for re-election next year! - but he hit nail on head.

We all know that GAA needs money to run itself, but the danger is that the bottom line will take over. The GAA, in co-operation with RTÉ, has obviously decided to cash in on what it a hugely lucrative market. Especially if they can charge for even more games in the future.

However, in doing so they risk alienating the hundreds of thousands of people who keep the thing going, not only for nothing, but at their own cost. And that includes the players they are charging us to watch!

There really ought to be some criteria that people who get into top administrative and financial positions are members of the Association rather than people who could be running any company for all the difference it makes. The day we start to regard our Association as a business is the day it will have signed its own death certificate.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3476 - 29/06/2023 12:09:07    2490603

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Both yourself and Slayer make good points.

I was actually surprised at Kelly being so critical the other day - although he is presumably running for re-election next year! - but he hit nail on head.

We all know that GAA needs money to run itself, but the danger is that the bottom line will take over. The GAA, in co-operation with RTÉ, has obviously decided to cash in on what it a hugely lucrative market. Especially if they can charge for even more games in the future.

However, in doing so they risk alienating the hundreds of thousands of people who keep the thing going, not only for nothing, but at their own cost. And that includes the players they are charging us to watch!

There really ought to be some criteria that people who get into top administrative and financial positions are members of the Association rather than people who could be running any company for all the difference it makes. The day we start to regard our Association as a business is the day it will have signed its own death certificate."
They're suits, not GAA people. It's easier for them to put the hand out looking for government subsidies or handover the keys to a promoter for a Snoop Madra gig that will fill a stadium rather than get more people to go to go games. More people at games means a few more quid for businesses around that venue too, more VAT for government coffers.
Different deal for clubs, admin and money. The WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter will be hopping with alerts every week, looking for lifts to games, raising money for a new astro pitch, training times, who's available before we schedule a game for next Friday, etc. If they've a big game they'll let as many people know about for whatever means. Local paper, radio station, podcast, will mention itOn match day it's a charge in for the match or for parking and volunteers selling raffle tickets, an (edible) food stall, stuff that supporters like.

The suits sitting on the Golden Goose in Croke Park have very little idea how clubs raise funds to survive, nor do they seem to care. They'll be happy to turn the Division One and Division Two All Ireland into the Premier League and in five years see kids from so called weaker counties wearing jersies for the 'top' counties, they're native counties barely getting mentioned in the media. It's hard to get sponsors if you're not getting much publicity.

On the big games, when they know they'll have empty seats, why don't they get grassroots club members from participating counties to look to get more into the games and split that extra revenue generated between clubs involved?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7927 - 29/06/2023 13:13:19    2490620

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "They're suits, not GAA people. It's easier for them to put the hand out looking for government subsidies or handover the keys to a promoter for a Snoop Madra gig that will fill a stadium rather than get more people to go to go games. More people at games means a few more quid for businesses around that venue too, more VAT for government coffers.
Different deal for clubs, admin and money. The WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter will be hopping with alerts every week, looking for lifts to games, raising money for a new astro pitch, training times, who's available before we schedule a game for next Friday, etc. If they've a big game they'll let as many people know about for whatever means. Local paper, radio station, podcast, will mention itOn match day it's a charge in for the match or for parking and volunteers selling raffle tickets, an (edible) food stall, stuff that supporters like.

The suits sitting on the Golden Goose in Croke Park have very little idea how clubs raise funds to survive, nor do they seem to care. They'll be happy to turn the Division One and Division Two All Ireland into the Premier League and in five years see kids from so called weaker counties wearing jersies for the 'top' counties, they're native counties barely getting mentioned in the media. It's hard to get sponsors if you're not getting much publicity.

On the big games, when they know they'll have empty seats, why don't they get grassroots club members from participating counties to look to get more into the games and split that extra revenue generated between clubs involved?"
I think the points you've raised are valid points. As I see it there are two versions of the GAA these days. In a lot of counties like my own; bye and large, there is a disconnect between the county team and club teams. A lot of people focus on their clubs because they feel a connection with the community and the people involved. Sadly for the players at county level, people don't go see the county team on a regular basis anymore because they perceive that as a weak county we have been left behind and we don't really have any means of catching up as the gap is getting bigger and bigger all the time. For me, the real essence of the GAA is at underage and club level where people are not expecting to be paid and do it for the love of the club and their community; this is long gone at county level where it is all about money and as you put it - the people paid large salaries in croke park and in corporations that use county teams to advertise their brands. As it is, there are about five counties in football and probably 7 in hurling who can win the big prize, the rest are just making up the numbers in lesser competitions. No one really believes that there are 16 teams in football capable of competing seriously for the All Ireland; it is a figment of the GAA's imagination and the numbers able to compete will continue to dwindle unless there are changes in each team having the same resources. I think there are a huge amount of football people who love the game but don't go to watch intercounty games any more because it is too expensive, there are too many games and the product in its current form is boring beyond belief. Maybe winning or the chance of winning for the big counties hides the quality of the product on the field.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2092 - 29/06/2023 14:33:45    2490644

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I think the points you've raised are valid points. As I see it there are two versions of the GAA these days. In a lot of counties like my own; bye and large, there is a disconnect between the county team and club teams. A lot of people focus on their clubs because they feel a connection with the community and the people involved. Sadly for the players at county level, people don't go see the county team on a regular basis anymore because they perceive that as a weak county we have been left behind and we don't really have any means of catching up as the gap is getting bigger and bigger all the time. For me, the real essence of the GAA is at underage and club level where people are not expecting to be paid and do it for the love of the club and their community; this is long gone at county level where it is all about money and as you put it - the people paid large salaries in croke park and in corporations that use county teams to advertise their brands. As it is, there are about five counties in football and probably 7 in hurling who can win the big prize, the rest are just making up the numbers in lesser competitions. No one really believes that there are 16 teams in football capable of competing seriously for the All Ireland; it is a figment of the GAA's imagination and the numbers able to compete will continue to dwindle unless there are changes in each team having the same resources. I think there are a huge amount of football people who love the game but don't go to watch intercounty games any more because it is too expensive, there are too many games and the product in its current form is boring beyond belief. Maybe winning or the chance of winning for the big counties hides the quality of the product on the field."
Your 100% right

Thejampot (Leitrim) - Posts: 354 - 29/06/2023 14:51:06    2490661

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I think the points you've raised are valid points. As I see it there are two versions of the GAA these days. In a lot of counties like my own; bye and large, there is a disconnect between the county team and club teams. A lot of people focus on their clubs because they feel a connection with the community and the people involved. Sadly for the players at county level, people don't go see the county team on a regular basis anymore because they perceive that as a weak county we have been left behind and we don't really have any means of catching up as the gap is getting bigger and bigger all the time. For me, the real essence of the GAA is at underage and club level where people are not expecting to be paid and do it for the love of the club and their community; this is long gone at county level where it is all about money and as you put it - the people paid large salaries in croke park and in corporations that use county teams to advertise their brands. As it is, there are about five counties in football and probably 7 in hurling who can win the big prize, the rest are just making up the numbers in lesser competitions. No one really believes that there are 16 teams in football capable of competing seriously for the All Ireland; it is a figment of the GAA's imagination and the numbers able to compete will continue to dwindle unless there are changes in each team having the same resources. I think there are a huge amount of football people who love the game but don't go to watch intercounty games any more because it is too expensive, there are too many games and the product in its current form is boring beyond belief. Maybe winning or the chance of winning for the big counties hides the quality of the product on the field."
Great post!!

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1990 - 30/06/2023 10:11:38    2490786

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The bottom line is the GAA has broken the Amateur code of practice and mould it is now a professional entity in every sense of the word. If no game was shown it would be more acceptable than showing them behind a pay wall, even one, It's wrong and inaccurate to suggest that GAAGO exists because there isn't enough TV channels to show the games, GAAGO is there only to take advantage of a sport that's in high demand, to make money and to get their toe inside the door of professionalism, why don't they do the decent thing and rebrand championship football and tag it "Professional Championship."

To ask the question, "if GAA go doesnt exist then who will cover the games" that is total nonsense, and elitest lingo. Is it being suggested here that div,3 and div 4 counties has a reasonable chance of seeing their county games football and hurling being televised live and thanks only to GAAGO.?? I'll answer that, - not a chance.

Two previous posters,slayer (Limerick and wicklowsupport (Wicklow) have said all I was going to say and only mentioned the TV license once, so it's not all about the license rather it's the add On's. and rip off's.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3166 - 30/06/2023 10:25:04    2490792

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https://m.independent.ie/opinion/comment/hugh-oconnell-ministers-can-barely-hide-their-delight-as-rte-scandal-takes-heat-off-coalition/a184049369.html

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15560 - 30/06/2023 11:21:58    2490807

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Replying To Viking66:  "https://m.independent.ie/opinion/comment/hugh-oconnell-ministers-can-barely-hide-their-delight-as-rte-scandal-takes-heat-off-coalition/a184049369.html"
Not to forget that the real villain here, as regards the games, is the GAA, not RTE.

Midleton (Cork) - Posts: 644 - 30/06/2023 12:56:24    2490836

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