The date and time for the Munster Football Final replay between Cork and Kerry have been fixed but a heated debate over TV coverage has yet to be resolved.
The game will take place back in Fitzgerald Park in Killarney, a result of Pairc Ui Caoimh being out of action due to redevelopment and Cork’s second stadium Pairc Ui Rinn being too small.
Throw in time has also been set for 7pm on Saturday Evening, July 18th, confirming what had already been agreed in advance.
The problem this poses is that as part of the TV rights deal signed last year Sky Sports have exclusive rights to coverage of games in that slot and that these are fixed for what will be Football Qualifiers.
Traditionally a replay would be included as part of the same rights package which covered the original game. This fact was certainly trumpeted by Newstalk who had the radio commentary rights to the drawn game on Sunday and stated that they would be back for the replay.
With the game almost certain to be a sell out there will be high demand for TV coverage, and the demand will be loud for that to be on free to air with RTE.
Whether or how the demands will be met remains open to negotiation around Croke Park and the broadcasters.
Bearing in mind this is a game that is a bonus for the broadcasters perhaps there is some scope for everyone to give a little and everyone to win a bit.
If Sky were to give up the exclusivity of the time slot, but gain coverage of the game in parallel with RTÉ, just as is the case in the final stages of the Championship they would gain an additional high profile match and avoid the inevitable loud protests that would follow a non TV appearance of the game.
RTÉ would gain a high profile match but have to concede the UK rights that would normally accrue to GAAGo, the joint venture for global online distribution with the GAA.
We believe that negotiation should start from the point of delivering the best possible solution and working back to see what that would cost and whom.
The best possible solution here, in our humble opinion, is to provide live coverage of a high profile game to as many irish viewers as possible free to air and as many in the UK through the Sky Sports Channel.
