GAA doing a deal with SkySports

[hectorsheroes]

tommy walsh could be right

[orangeman]

I think the GAA know that the crowds / fans are still going to attend regardless. Pitting Gaelic games in sky make it more appealing to advertisers and the few patrons they might lose at the turnstiles will be made up for when the TV rights are being bid for again.

So it's win win. More money. Higher profile. And the power of Sky means you can hardly get a better marketing tool.

Smart boys alright.

[BennyHarp]

It's great to have lads like Tommy to defend the amateur ethos of the GAA. It must frustrate him that this ethos and tradition of our great organisation has been tossed aside at the first sign of a few dollars.

[babarino]

This is a load of dung. The founding principles of the GAA and SKY are polar opposites. The GAA suits are losing the run of themselves.

[Kimbap]

I think people are ignoring the realities of demographics, lt'll be filler in Sky's schedules, between Ireland & GB I'd say there'll be as many, if not more, who'll be tuning in for Tightlines, Cycling or Speedway. It'll not be a seismic development & will have as much impact on their schedules as the already mentioned sports. On a side note I'm delighted to see it as I can't get TV3 at all but I have Sky Sports. I also have Sky Broadband that unfortunately blocks all those sports internet links.

So do I Benny, you can get past that pretty easy, firstrow was banned in britain, they set up firstrow.eu and works perfectly. People be wary of the streams because they believe the false pop ups.

~on the murdoch issue, i would be as anti murdoch as they come. However Sky do sport top class, like a spoiled bitch they ignore what they dont have (prem rugby union/ FA Cup etc) but when your on board with them they create a phenomenal buzz/hype about a game. I have to admit I have booked many a box office boxing match when previously I had no intention of doing and i for one do get sucked in. My wee man loves the WWE and I end up watching it as I did when I was younger.

Lots of ways around sky blocking the sites,google it.
Use firefox,install an ad blocker and you'll never see a pop up.

[orangeman]

This is a load of dung. The founding principles of the GAA and SKY are polar opposites. The GAA suits are losing the run of themselves.

A lot worse has happened since 1884 than the GAA cashing in in its product. A lot, lot worse.

[PaoloRossi]

Looks like http://myp2p.ec/ will come in handy 

[PaoloRossi]

This is a load of dung. The founding principles of the GAA and SKY are polar opposites. The GAA suits are losing the run of themselves.

Whatever you think about Rupert Murdoch or his organisation, you can't deny that Sky Sports' coverage is top class. I for one am looking forward it.

[BennyCake]

Boxing and Rugby League have went down the pan since they sold their souls to Rupert Murdoch. I fear Gaelic Games will join them.

[Syferus]

Boxing and Rugby League have went down the pan since they sold their souls to Rupert Murdoch. I fear Gaelic Games will join them.

As much as ye all love the Connacht final I don't think Roscommon playing on Sky Sports will particularly negatively effect the future of the sport.

[BennyCake]

Boxing and Rugby League have went down the pan since they sold their souls to Rupert Murdoch. I fear Gaelic Games will join them.

As much as ye all love the Connacht final I don't think Roscommon playing on Sky Sports will particularly negatively effect the future of the sport.

Maybe not, but big QFs/SFs like Tyrone/Kerry, Dublin/Kerry, Mayo/Dublin etc should be enjoyed free to all of us, especially the kids. They're the future Coopers, Brogans, Murphy's. No point spending money on coaches, centres etc if the kids can't see their heroes on TV, and aspire to be like them.

[PaoloRossi]

Boxing and Rugby League have went down the pan since they sold their souls to Rupert Murdoch. I fear Gaelic Games will join them.

.... A lot of scare mongering here

[RealSpiritof98]

Boxing and Rugby League have went down the pan since they sold their souls to Rupert Murdoch. I fear Gaelic Games will join them.

I have to disagree with Rugby League. The professional stance of Union was a shot to the heart for League and through the evolution of the sport should have killed it off. The Super League on SKY has kept invigorated a sport that would have died otherwise. You only have to look at the demise of the Challenge Cup which stayed within the ranks of the BBC for so long and it gradually lowered in importance of League faithful. The same can be said of the FA cup in soccer circles. SKY has its downfalls I do know that, Barry McGuigan was its bitch until he wanted more of the pie and got shot to the ground by Matchroom (Hearns Empire), the lad young Frampton would have been world champ by now, but there has hardly been a dickybird about him with exception of UTV.  As much of a  republican I claim to be be i know the Irish as a nation has been infiltrated by British society and culture throughout this Island and I feel somehow with acquisition of GAA, not only the British public but the British influenced societies (former colonies in Asia/Africa/south america etc) they will be receptive to our games given the right platform. Snooker and Darts were so popular with the 3/4 channel option in Britain in the 80/90s and when the commercialism of Sky came Darts split in half and you had a breakaway. The BBC backed BDO suffered slightly at the start and has survived because many working class couldnt afford SKY TV, but now they can and the PDC has taken-over big style.

Honestly who knows what's ahead of us with this partnership, but bullshit tweets from former players earning a living playing Aussie Rules (because partly to the dedication of their amateur coaches) stinks imho, we sell games rights every year to RTE and Setanta, WHAT GIVES US THE RIGHT TO TURN DOWN THE OVERTURES OF sky tv. Our players are not paid but they presently get compensated for their efforts. The GAA will become professional if it takes off worldwide because the best players will want to play for the best team et al. If our games become a worldwide phenomenon then professionalism is an inevitability but thats a long way away. I just hope that Hurling semis and Final are involved in this set up.

[Syferus]

Boxing and Rugby League have went down the pan since they sold their souls to Rupert Murdoch. I fear Gaelic Games will join them.

As much as ye all love the Connacht final I don't think Roscommon playing on Sky Sports will particularly negatively effect the future of the sport.

Maybe not, but big QFs/SFs like Tyrone/Kerry, Dublin/Kerry, Mayo/Dublin etc should be enjoyed free to all of us, especially the kids. They're the future Coopers, Brogans, Murphy's. No point spending money on coaches, centres etc if the kids can't see their heroes on TV, and aspire to be like them.

Emotion can't really come into business decisions. The GAA gains a lot in its potential reach with this move. You only need to look at the growth of American football (at mad hours) to see the power television exposure has. It may seem bad for the end consumer but it has every chance of being a huge success for the GAA down the road.

[BennyCake]

Boxing and Rugby League have went down the pan since they sold their souls to Rupert Murdoch. I fear Gaelic Games will join them.

As much as ye all love the Connacht final I don't think Roscommon playing on Sky Sports will particularly negatively effect the future of the sport.

Maybe not, but big QFs/SFs like Tyrone/Kerry, Dublin/Kerry, Mayo/Dublin etc should be enjoyed free to all of us, especially the kids. They're the future Coopers, Brogans, Murphy's. No point spending money on coaches, centres etc if the kids can't see their heroes on TV, and aspire to be like them.

Emotion can't really come into business decisions. The GAA gains a lot in its potential reach with this move. You only need to look at the growth of American football (at mad hours) to see the power television exposure has. It may seem bad for the end consumer but it has every chance of being a huge success for the GAA down the road.

Er, that's the point I was making.