GAA+ has begun rolling out a major refresh of its streaming apps across mobile, connected TV, and smart TV platforms, with improved accessibility at its core.
GAA+ developed the new generation of apps with technology partner Simplestream and is rolling them out across iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Samsung and LG smart TVs
Built on a React framework, the refreshed service loads faster and makes it easier for supporters to navigate live games, highlights, and other GAA+ content.
A new full-screen, video-led homepage brings the user experience closer to major global streaming services, while search has also been redesigned to deliver real-time, predictive results.
Accessibility is a major element of the project. The first phase includes screen-reader support across navigation and content, voice guidance for titles that may not otherwise be visible, and support for subtitles and audio description where these are supplied.
“Gaelic games are for all, and we’re delighted to be improving the accessibility of the GAA+ service with the help of our partner Simplestream,” said Noel Quinn, Head of GAA+.
“Customer feedback has guided our approach, and our new apps and launch of live stream subtitles are a big step forward for the service.”
Dan Finch, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Simplestream, said the project represented the next stage of a long-term relationship between the two organisations.
“GAA+ has been a brilliant long-term partner, and this upgrade shows how much we can achieve together when we keep pushing the platform forward. Getting accessibility right matters to us, and this is just the first phase of that work.”
The upgrade comes amid considerable investment in GAA+ after the GAA took full ownership of the platform. Earlier this year, the Association said its GAA+ match-stream audience grew 25 per cent year-on-year, and it planned more than 200 live matches for the service in 2026.
The GAA has also opened a purpose-built production hub and HD studio at Croke Park, giving it greater control over production, platform monitoring and the development of additional content outside the traditional weekend match schedule.
Simplestream has said it rebuilt the GAA direct-to-consumer platform across eight apps in under ten weeks, highlighting how far the Association is developing its own broadcast and streaming capability.
Sport for Business Perspective
This is more than a cosmetic app refresh.
GAA+ is increasingly becoming an important piece of infrastructure within the GAA’s wider media strategy. The Association has progressively moved from primarily selling broadcast rights to owning the technology, production capability, and direct relationship with viewers for a growing share of its content.
A better user experience should help with subscriber acquisition and retention, while understanding how supporters discover, watch, and return to content gives GAA+ a depth of first-party audience knowledge that traditional rights arrangements do not provide.
Accessibility matters in its own right, but it also belongs in that same conversation. Making live sport easier to access for more supporters expands the potential audience and should increasingly be regarded as a core requirement of a premium digital sports product rather than an additional feature.
The significance grows even more when viewed against the next media-rights cycle. The GAA has explicitly identified building its own capabilities as part of that preparation, and every improvement to GAA+ strengthens the range of options it will have when decisions are made around the future distribution of Gaelic games.
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Image Credit: GAA, AIB and Dan Sheridan, Inpho
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