RTÉ secures new GAA rights package

[Zulu]

Taken from www.rte.ie

RTÉ secures new GAA rights package
Tuesday, 19 February 2008 13:08
The GAA today announced that RTÉ has secured the rights for comprehensive GAA Championship coverage across television, radio and RTÉ.ie for the next three seasons, guaranteeing free-to-air coverage up to and including 2010.

Today's announcement ensures that the public will enjoy quality coverage of our national games across all of RTÉ's media platforms.

RTÉ has secured:
- four live television packages for the GAA Championships
- the Sunday night television highlights package
- all available live national radio rights in both the English and Irish language
- rights to simulcast televised matches on RTÉ.ie throughout the island of Ireland. 

RTÉ partnered BBC Northern Ireland to ensure that viewers throughout the island of Ireland will have free-to-air coverage of the Ulster Championships.

Today's announcement means that the RTÉ audience will, over the next three years, have access to:
- 120 live Championship games on RTÉ Television
- Highlights of every Championship game each week on RTÉ Television's The Sunday Game
- Live and exclusive Championship coverage on RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
- Extensive RTÉ News coverage on RTÉ One and RTÉ Two television, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2 fm, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, RTÉ.ie and RTÉ Aertel
- All televised Championship matches, highlights and video clips on demand on RTÉ.ie throughout the island of Ireland.

Cathal Goan, Director-General, RTÉ, said: 'In a highly competitive media marketplace, it is of vital importance that the GAA Championship rights, a central part of Irish cultural life, have been retained by Ireland's Public Service Broadcaster. RTÉ made a significant investment to secure these rights and ensure that the public will continue to enjoy high quality coverage of our national games across all RTÉ services. The provision of such comprehensive GAA coverage across all of RTÉ's media platforms is public service in its essence. This new agreement further builds on the proud shared history between RTÉ and the GAA and we look forward to continuing to develop our partnership into the future.'

Glen Killane, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ, added: 'The awarding of these rights to RTÉ is testament to our commitment to ensure that Gaelic Games are showcased to the best possible standard across RTÉ television, radio and RTÉ.ie. We are passionate about what we do and our dedication to delivering quality Gaelic Games coverage is unstinting. In a new development, I'm particularly delighted that RTÉ's partnership with the BBC has ensured that fans throughout the island of Ireland will enjoy Ulster Championship games free-to-air. The awarding of these new rights to RTÉ enables us to continue to deliver and enhance our Championship coverage for the next three years for the public throughout the island of Ireland to engage with and enjoy."

Nickey Brennan, President of the GAA, stated that he was very pleased that the negotiations in regard to Television and Radio Rights had now concluded. The President said that the GAA's relationship with RTÉ went back many decades and that he was very happy that the national broadcaster continues to be the Association's primary media partner. 

The President added: 'RTÉ Radio and Television coverage of Gaelic Games has been part of the fabric of Irish society for generations and I look forward to this relationship being maintained with quality coverage over the next three years.'

[AZOffaly]

Is there any other rights granted? Will Setanta still be showing deferred coverage? Or will they be allowed show the 'non-RTE' games? Towards the start of the championship there's always a pile of games which don't get live coverage. I bet Setanta would pick that up if they were allowed. Alternatively, what about TG4? They do absolutely trojan work in the winter broadcasting Club games and national League and other cups. They'd be well worthy of showing an 'alternate' live game as well.

[Jinxy]

So what exactly do TV3 have the rights for with their package?

[AZOffaly]

TV3? Jaysus if they start showing GAA the competitions will end or something. They're the Jonah of broadcasting

[ziggysego]

So does that mean live coverage of the Ulster Championship is back on the BBC?

[Hardy]

Nicky Brennan on News at One said Setanta will have rights to deferred showings on weekdays. Also, disappointingly, Cathal Goan stated that while they have committed to improve the quality of coverage and commentary, nobody would be fired as a result of that commitment. So prepare for three more years of Spillane, Canning, McStay, Flynn, Davis. And Tommy "Gain" Lyons.

[Farrandeelin]

And Morrissey.

[ziggysego]

The RTÉ GAA experts will remain integral features of the next three Championship campaigns

ha! 

[Donagh]

No mention of the BBC coverage being live so I assume we are left with the usual highlights program with no fixed start time and which usually goes up against The Sunday Game 

[cavan4ever]

And Morrissey.

Anyone see him sitting on the Camel on the show about the ladies All-stars form Dubai last nite?

[offtheground]

Does anyone know if these on demand video clips they mention can be downloaded or are they streamed...will you be able to copy them onto a DVD or media player to watch on a TV?

[The Biff]

TV3? Jaysus if they start showing GAA the competitions will end or something. They're the Jonah of broadcasting

TV3 DO have some package of matches already secured, according to their own website announcement from last November.
http://www.tv3.ie/media.php?action=news&id=136
.... TV3 today confirmed it has secured a package of live and exclusive GAA Championship matches for the next three years. The package includes provincial finals, provincial semi-finals and three football championship qualifiers. .....

The bit about the "provincial finals, provincial semi-finals" is the part that most interests/concerns me, and I've yet to see exactly which games are covered by either broadcasters packages.

Tell that whale to try swallowing Jonah again.  

[Jinxy]

And Morrissey.

Anyone see him sitting on the Camel on the show about the ladies All-stars form Dubai last nite?

I'm nearly sure he said Johnny Murtagh was a Kildare man too.

[AZOffaly]

Jaysus, speaking of Betty Boop, aka Marty Morrissey, he was doing 'warm up' at the UL arena before the Andy Lee fight. Getting the crowd 'going' "Is there anybody here from Tipperary?". "Is there anyone here from Clare?" 'Isssss therrreeee anyboddddyyyy hereeeee from LLLLllllimmmmerrriickkkkk".

Holy God, it was cringeworthy. Good job I had a scatter of pints drank at that stage, or there'd have been an extra bout on the card

[Croí na hÉireann]

[groan]So Brush Shiels has competition for the next International Rules match...[/groan]