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LAST UPDATE | 10 May 2023
THE GAA HAS rebuked Virgin Media Television for their claims that no other broadcaster was approached to air GAA matches after Sky Sports lost their rights to broadcast games.
Virgin Media yesterday said that it was not approached by the GAA to gauge their interest in acquiring rights to broadcast games, which the GAA is now disputing.
Both RTÉ and the GAA have faced pressure in recent days after the Munster senior hurling clash between Tipperary and Cork was aired on the GAAGO platform instead of on free-to-air television.
This backlash was also seen last week after Clare’s victory over Limerick was only available behind a paywall on the app.
In a statement this afternoon, the GAA said that Virgin Media were “afforded every opportunity” to discuss options around broadcasting games, after Sky Sports lost the rights to air matches.
The GAA said: “From as early as February 2021, the GAA contacted VMTV and other parties to gauge their interest in acquiring rights packages that would become available in the renewal of the GAA media rights in 2022. The initial call was followed up by a detailed description of the various packages available.
On Tuesday May 9th, VMTV (Virgin Media Television) issued a statement that called into question the integrity of the GAA Media Rights process. The statement contained several factual errors and misleading comments which obliges the GAA to correct the record. #GAABelong
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 10, 2023
“Thereafter followed several meetings, telephone calls, emails and document exchanges between the parties. The GAA did not receive a formal bid from VMTV or an expression of interest.”
“In June 2022, VMTV were again contacted to clarify that they did not intend to make a bid. VMTV were clear that their model was not to acquire rights but rather to acquire ‘ready to go’ packages ie productions which don’t require outside broadcast set-ups for live match coverage.
“In short, VMTV were afforded every opportunity to discuss options, variations to packages and to submit a confidential offer. VMTV choose not to bid.”
This has directly contradicted Virgin Media, who yesterday stated that no broadcaster was approached by the GAA to acquire rights for matches.
“When Sky Television decided not to renew its GAA rights, the GAA did not approach other broadcasters to ascertain whether they would be interested in broadcasting these games but arbitrarily decided to put them behind a paywall,” the statement said.
Both the GAA and RTÉ have said that it is not feasible to show all GAA matches on free-to-air TV.
This afternoon, the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media agreed to invite all Irish sporting organisations and broadcasters to appear before it, following the GAAGO controversy.
The committee met late this afternoon following proposals to invite both RTÉ and the GAA to the committee.
However, there were some internal disagreements and TDs and Senators instead agreed to invite all Irish sport bodies and broadcasters.
One TD who attended the meeting described it as a compromise,
Invitations are due to be sent to the GAA, IRFU, FAI, Sport Ireland, the Federation of Irish Sport, RTÉ, Virgin Media and Sky Sports.
Yesterday, committee member and two-time Mayo GAA All-Star, Alan Dillon, said that the controversy had increased the perception that both the GAA and RTÉ were in a “cartel”.
“There’s a perceived formulation of a cartel here with the distribution of games. It calls into question issues of competition and fairness,” Dillon said.
He said that he supported both RTÉ and the GAA appearing before the committee and that he had concerns about the state broadcaster’s 50% stake in GAAGO.
Dillon added that it was “concerning” that the GAA had not approached other broadcasters, saying that “not looking at Virgin Media was a mistake”.
“To not afford Virgin the opportunity [to broadcast GAA matches] needs to be investigated.”
Yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that it was “not possible” for RTÉ and TG4 to broadcast all GAA games.
“There could be as many as 10, 15 major [GAA] matches on every weekend. It’s not possible for RTE and TG4 to televise all of those matches,” Varadkar told the Dáil.
“The solution to me seems to lie in making sure that the most popular most important matches are the ones that are on RTE and TG4, and use GAAGO for the other matches.
“I think we all understand that all matches can’t be televised.”
Additional reporting by Christina Finn
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$kum . If caught, Send their parents the bill, or take it out of their dole. Would stop fairly quickly
@DMurph: I was listening to a radio show a couple of days ago, and apparently your not allowed to call them $cum anymore, they would prefer if you would refer to them as children under conflict.
It’s not the kids fault, they had tough upbringings.
….blah, blah, blah
@DMurph: …because the children of middle class families are little angels.
@Matt Connolly: you are the first to mention class.
@DMurph: How do you know they are the kids of the unemployed, have you given the info to the Gardai as you seem to know quite well who the kids are? Children of employed people can be skum too.
Skobes will be skobes
Would a curfew be a solution,imposed on children of a school going age ,with financial liability for any damage done put on the parent /parents,?civil liberty comes with civic responsibility.
It’s worth noting that this a lovely area to live generally, with great amenities and close to town. It has become more settled in the last number of years and a home to many new, young families. Therefore it is crucial that this recent spate of arson is dealt with so that we can all return to enjoying the community we live in. Also, locals have been very supportive since the fire and have volunteered their time to the home owner to help her with repairs to her home. A great testament to community spirit in the midst of this very challenging and upsetting behaviour!
Zero tolerance is whats need in this country now if it can be done in N.Y it can be done here!
The bin companies have a role in this particular risk, in requiring that bins be out before 6 am, which leads to putting them out overnight.
Not alone are they a fire risk, but also a footpath obstruction for prams, wheelchairs & sight handicapped persons.
Also, bin day should also be a no parking day, so that the trucks, & other services can clear gutters, drains, & the bins placed off the paths.
Pyromania is an early indication of a sociopath,I do hope it’s not youngsters,what will they develop into ?The Gaurds should have a free rein,and all the resources necessary to bring these people to book ,and the judiciary be given the powers to impose long sentences on them. The one good thing to come out of this incident is that the community gave support to the victim and only the community can cough the perps up.
Sc00mbags
The new bollards erected to cut off traffic between Millbourne and Millmount Ave travelling to Ferguson and Walsh road is going to encourage more anti social behaviour with less traffic in the area to deter these youths from running riot……
Nightmare store of loons who are criminal and will become worse as they get older?
Locals have a very good idea about who is committing these acts, they’ve have been at it for over two years now. Most of the people who live there have been made aware that this is a bad bad sign for things to come. Guards say there is little they can do. With what I hear about the traffic changes there, its going to go only one way with these young people. While Drumcondra is a good place to live, its actions like this, that made me happy when my youngsters moved.
have your say