GAAGo and StripeRTÉ Digital and the GAA stole some commercial thunder at the Web Summit yesterday by announcing the extension of Stripe as the payment services provider for GAAGo as it continues its expansion around the world.

Stripe was founded by brothers John and Patrick Collison who now live in San Francisco but who were born in North Tipperary and went to school in Limerick.

“I played a bit of gaelic football in school as a kid and I love to watch it but providing the payment facility is as close as I would ever get to influencing events at Semple Stadium or Croke Park” said John Collison speaking to Sport for Business yesterday.

The company is currently valued at almost $2 Billion having raised €80 million earlier this year.  It provides easy transaction facilities and reporting for companies of all sizes and was first choice for Sport for Business as we grew our own subscription base.

Access

GAAGo provides access to the All Ireland Championship series to any viewer worldwide on any internet enabled smartphone, PC or tablet. At present media rights in Ireland mean that it is not available here but Ireland has still been a major market with people buying subscription packages for friends and family overseas.

On the eve of the All Ireland Football Championship Sport for Business interviewed GAA Digital Rights Manager Noel Quinn about the success of the service in its first year.  You can read that interview here.

“We’re very excited to be working with GAAGO to enable Gaelic Games fans to have access to the latest games wherever they are in the world,” said Collison.

“Whether fans just want to stream one game or subscribe for a season, Stripe’s payment solution ensures that they will be able to do so seamlessly.”

Global

“GAAGO is essentially a start-up and over the course of our first five months, the business grew its global reach with customers in over 150 countries worldwide,” added Muirne Laffan, managing director of RTÉ Digital and a passionate believer in the value of the GAAGo service to the sport and the broadcaster.

“Stripe has provided us with the best way to accept payments online and we look forward to working with them long-term as we grow the business into the future.”

“John and Patrick Collison are a great example of GAAGO’s target audience.”

“They represent the young Irish, who are forging their own path abroad but who want to still stay connected to Ireland no matter where they are in the world.”

Muirne Laffan will be among the keynote speakers at Digital Sport 2014 in Dublin on November 27th. A limited number of tickets are still available. Today is the last day they can be bought at a reduced ‘getting closer’ rate.  See details below.

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