Allianz is to be the first commercial partner of GAAGO, the joint venture initiative between the GAA and RTÉ Digital which will this year broadcast over 120 events, most of them live matches, to a rapidly growing worldwide audience.
The matches, which will include over 40 from the Allianz Leagues in Hurling and Football will be streamed in High Definition and include full commentary and studio based analysis just as is broadcast on RTÉ to the domestic audience.
The announcement was made at Croke Park on a live stream which was carried here on Sport for Business and a replay of which can be seen below.
GAAGO launched for the first time in May 2014 and within four months of Championship coverage had grown to an potential audience, as judges by engagement with some element of the service, of 600,000 people in 157 countries around the world.
Even taking account of the fact that there is a gap between those who are interested and those who will pay it will still represent a significant revenue stream for the partners involved.
If each of those 600,000 paid for two matches a year over the next two years it would bring in €12 million, and that is more than the value of the main broadcast rights.
Support
“At Allianz we are immensely proud of our long standing support of Gaelic Games,” said Allianz CEO Brendan Murphy speaking at the announcement.
“Our sponsorship of the Allianz Leagues began in 1992 and we have seen the competition, as well as the technology broadcasting the games, go from strength to strength.”
“It gives me great pleasure that this season, for the first time ever, the Allianz Leagues matches will be available on GAAGO and Allianz is proud to partner with RTÉ and the GAA in bringing these games to a global audience.”
Allianz is also supporting the Setanta and TG4 coverage of the Allianz Leagues being broadcast to a home audience here and getting underway next weekend.
Boost
“The addition of the Allianz Leagues to GAAGO’s offering for 2015 is a huge boost to the service,” added Donal Moriarty, Project Leader for GAAGO.
“Allianz have been a major supporter of Gaelic Games for over 20 years through their sponsorship of the Allianz Leagues and Cumann na mBunscoil, and this sponsorship of GAAGO’s coverage strengthens that relationship.”
Pricing of the live streaming service has been pitched for the full season at a level of €160 around the world outside of Ireland and Britain.
The offer in Britain does not include the 20 games to be carried on Sky Sports as part of their three year broadcast deal. The cost of this will be a reduced €100 or less than #75 at current exchange rates.
Global
“Our intention at the outset of the GAAGO project was to bring as many of our games as possible to global audiences,” said Noel Quinn, Media Rights Manager at the GAA.
“Today’s announcement of our partnership with Allianz supports these efforts as followers of football and hurling will be able to enjoy live games from February right through until Autumn.”
“We are delighted to partner with Allianz, long standing league sponsors, and it is fitting that their support of this coverage comes at a time when the leagues occupy centre stage in our calendar.”
Allianz has a history of stepping in to innovative broadcast areas, having enabled Setanta to provide live coverage from the Paralympic Games in London in 2012.
