TV3 HAS RESPONDED to news of Sky Sports’ acquisition of GAA coverage, expressing disappointment with the organisation’s decision to end its partnership with the Irish broadcaster.
The GAA have defended the decision, arguing that it’s not primarily financially motivated and explaining that it was agreed with the intention “to bring our games to as many people as possible in all parts of the world”.
Nevertheless, TV3 have accused the organisation of having a “preference for a pay television strategy”.
The channel released a statement today, which read:
“TV3 has been proud to broadcast the GAA Championship free to viewers throughout the country over the past six years. TV3 made a very commercial bid for the next three years but this appears to have been superseded by the GAA’s preference for a pay television strategy.”
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“While this was obviously not our choice, it leaves TV3 in a better position to secure other sports properties to sit alongside our prime-time Champions League coverage like tonight’s Manchester United v Bayern Munich fixture. We hope to be in a position to make announcements in this regard in the near future.”
GAA authorities have explained the factors behind their deal with Sky announced earlier today, citing the wider availability of the sport to people abroad as crucial to the decision.
Speaking following today’s announcement, Peter McKenna, Croke Park Stadium and GAA Commercial Director, said:
“While negotiation of these rights was a lengthy process, we were determined to bring our games to as many people as possible in all parts of the world.
“Supporters of hurling and football living outside Ireland will have easier access to our games than ever before, while viewers in Ireland can watch almost 100 live games on free-to-air terrestrial TV, in addition to games on Sky and Setanta Sports.”
Meanwhile, GAA director general Páraic Duffy also highlighted the importance of promoting the sport abroad while denying that they were motivated primarily by financial concerns.
“In the negotiation of these rights, the GAA was guided by a wish to drive the promotion of Gaelic games and we believe the new rights’ contracts will provide Gaelic games with their widest-ever global audience reach.
“We look forward to working with all of our broadcast partners in television and radio, and are enthused by the prospect of having our games presented to the highest standards of sports’ broadcasting. We are delighted to have retained our domestic partnerships with RTÉ, TG4, Setanta Sports, Newstalk and Raidió na Gaeltachta. We welcome our new partnership with Sky Sports and firmly believe that their coverage of our games will bring a new excitement to our championships.”
“Financial considerations were far from being the guiding criterion in our negotiations, and were of lesser importance than the issue of making our games more widely available to Irish people living abroad. In fact, the financial benefit to the GAA from the new broadcast contracts compared to the previous ones is marginal.”
In addition, GAA President Liam O’Neill also expressed enthusiasm for the move.
“We are pleased to confirm arrangements for the broadcast of our games for the next three years, particularly as we believe that they represent an exciting development for the Association.”
“Making our games more widely available to Irish people abroad was a critical factor in our approach to these negotiations. We felt an obligation to them not to neglect their legitimate appeals to be able to watch live TV coverage of our games. We are also glad that this brings the quality and excitement of our games to a wider international audience. Gaelic games are national games played in a small country, and which must compete for audience loyalty with the hugely powerful sporting and marketing resources of international sports.
“The GAA has to fight its corner, and must ensure that it maintains a strong presence across a range of media outlets so that we can continue to fund our clubs in the important sporting, cultural and social roles they perform in their communities.”
TV3 disappointed with GAA's 'preference for a pay television strategy'
TV3 HAS RESPONDED to news of Sky Sports’ acquisition of GAA coverage, expressing disappointment with the organisation’s decision to end its partnership with the Irish broadcaster.
The GAA have defended the decision, arguing that it’s not primarily financially motivated and explaining that it was agreed with the intention “to bring our games to as many people as possible in all parts of the world”.
Nevertheless, TV3 have accused the organisation of having a “preference for a pay television strategy”.
The channel released a statement today, which read:
“While this was obviously not our choice, it leaves TV3 in a better position to secure other sports properties to sit alongside our prime-time Champions League coverage like tonight’s Manchester United v Bayern Munich fixture. We hope to be in a position to make announcements in this regard in the near future.”
GAA authorities have explained the factors behind their deal with Sky announced earlier today, citing the wider availability of the sport to people abroad as crucial to the decision.
Speaking following today’s announcement, Peter McKenna, Croke Park Stadium and GAA Commercial Director, said:
“While negotiation of these rights was a lengthy process, we were determined to bring our games to as many people as possible in all parts of the world.
“Supporters of hurling and football living outside Ireland will have easier access to our games than ever before, while viewers in Ireland can watch almost 100 live games on free-to-air terrestrial TV, in addition to games on Sky and Setanta Sports.”
Meanwhile, GAA director general Páraic Duffy also highlighted the importance of promoting the sport abroad while denying that they were motivated primarily by financial concerns.
“We look forward to working with all of our broadcast partners in television and radio, and are enthused by the prospect of having our games presented to the highest standards of sports’ broadcasting. We are delighted to have retained our domestic partnerships with RTÉ, TG4, Setanta Sports, Newstalk and Raidió na Gaeltachta. We welcome our new partnership with Sky Sports and firmly believe that their coverage of our games will bring a new excitement to our championships.”
“Financial considerations were far from being the guiding criterion in our negotiations, and were of lesser importance than the issue of making our games more widely available to Irish people living abroad. In fact, the financial benefit to the GAA from the new broadcast contracts compared to the previous ones is marginal.”
In addition, GAA President Liam O’Neill also expressed enthusiasm for the move.
“We are pleased to confirm arrangements for the broadcast of our games for the next three years, particularly as we believe that they represent an exciting development for the Association.”
“The GAA has to fight its corner, and must ensure that it maintains a strong presence across a range of media outlets so that we can continue to fund our clubs in the important sporting, cultural and social roles they perform in their communities.”
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