The GAA and RTE have formally launched GAA Go, the new international streaming service which will provide access in the US and around the world via the RTE Player to an audience that will likely stretch to millions.
The service will go live next weekend and be free for a month. After that viewers will be able to buy a season pass for the equivalent of €110, giving access to 45 Championship matches, or to pay by the game at €10 in the early stages and €14 per game once it gets to the semi final stage of both the Football and Hurling All Ireland Championships.
In Great Britain the games broadcast by Sky Sports will be excluded and the season pass will drop this year to €60.
Matches will be streamed live in HD and available on demand. They will have full commentary, statistics and analysis provided by RTE panellists. They will be accessible on laptop, smart TV’s, tablets and smartphones.
“There is no external relationship we have at the GAA that is more important to us than the one we have with RTE,” said Paraic Duffy, Director General of RTE at the launch. “Like any family we have the odd falling out but the strength of our bond is very deep and this is exactly the right way to bring our great games to a full global audience.”
“Our primary goal in the latest round of media rights was to make the GAA available to the Irish abroad and this delivers.”
“It will be great for the GAA, great for RTE and great for the irish abroad.”
“RTÉ’s relationship with the GAA began in 1926 and has constantly grown and evolved with the audience and changing technologies ever since,” said RTE Director General Noel Curran
“We are proud to be in partnership with the GAA to bring our games to an international audience and provide a sense of home from home for Irish diaspora and GAA fans worldwide”.
For all audiences worldwide, RTÉ’s The Sunday Game highlights programme will continue to be available to view for free on RTÉ Player.
“We are excited to bring a new viewing experience for Gaelic games to fans worldwide,” said Muirne Laffan, Managing Director of RTE Digital.
“Harnessing the best of technologies, the new GAAGO streaming platform will provide fans with the flexibility of watching every match, kick and score, on any internet-enabled device no matter where they are in the world.”
“This is the start of a journey and we look forward to working with the GAA to further develop the offering over the coming seasons”.
As part of the GAAGO brand’s promotional strategy, it was recently announced that GAAGO is to be a sponsor of the GAA All Ireland Senior Football Championship. GAAGO will sit alongside Eircom and SuperValu as the third and final brand in the GAA’s multi-sponsor model, with the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship platform already complete with Etihad, Centra and Liberty Insurance.
